The Cross Keys, WC2

On 24th July 2019 - rating: 5 Built in 1848 and Grade II-Listed, the pub has a very fine frontage and is renowned for the luxuriousness of foliage draped across the ground floor windows, admired by a multitude of drinkers outside on this very warm evening. The place is cited in various must-visit lists, though oddly I'd never been here before. It's described as having a very small interior but I didn't find this to be the case, but maybe that's because all the drinkers were outside. What's undeniable is that it's incredibly gloomy in here with little illumination coming from the red/orange lamps. It's noted also for the eclectic mix of knick-knacks suspended from on high, including a copper and brass helmet from an old diving suit. Walls are adorned with old prints as well as newer ones depicting the Beatles, Stones and Barbra Streisand, who I presume must all have drunk here. Furniture is traditional in dark wood, along with studded chocolate brown banquettes to the periphery. In all: atmospheric. The barmaid was friendly enough but needs to watch her language. Ales: an unused pump, Hardy & Hanson's Old Tripe, GK's London Glory, Brodie's California and Windsor & Eton's Corker at a very agreeable £2.00 a half, though 'corker' is a somewhat optimistically self-congratulatory description. I'm afraid I'm not as enamoured of this place as other reviews. It's ok, but the uninspiring ale choice doesn't help and there are actually better pubs in this area, not that Covent Garden has that much appeal, being the tourist hell-hole that it is and if this is indeed a Brodie's pub, why the one beer competing alongside the likes of GK and Tripe? ---------------- A return last night and gone is the gloomy red lighting, illumination being quite conventional; that's the good bit. However, there was just Pride on offer with several unused pumps and a reversed Hophead clip, so I doubt that this is a Brodie's pub due to lack of their hugely superior ales. The brighter lighting affords a greater level of interior scrutiny, which revealed a filthy table with sticky ring marks and abandoned crisp packet; we had to clear the bottles and glasses from our own table, whilst the young barmaid sat behind the bar, hunched over her phone and doing nothing. Customers were very few in number, when all the other pubs were doing a roaring trade. The pub's website is now devoted to cookery and 'lifestyle' choices; I wonder if this pub is being deliberately run into the ground, because on the basis of last night's experience, I certainly wouldn't bother making a third visit.

GBG brought me here and what a result. Perfect levels of pubbiness. Very good Wadworth 6x at the best price for the area - £3.60. Loved my visit and will be my destination of choice when in the area. Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2kkezym

Not a bad start to my crawl today. Bit dark inside as all the lights were red but soon got over that. Nice 5.0% Brookes pale ale and amazingly cheap food which I did not sample. Would return to this pub.

Quite a characterful dark interior with lots of bric a brac and photos. 5 real ale taps 4 on during my visit. Food served.