The Crosse Keys (JD Wetherspoon), Leadenhall, EC3

I paid my long overdue first visit to this place the other day, and was duly impressed. This is a vaulted cathedral of a pub. There is a large open space, like most ‘spoons, crammed full of normal tables and chairs with a few tall tables/tall stools at the sides. The majesty of the place is diminished somewhat by the banks of fruit and games machines flashing away in a distracting manner, but I suppose they must be there to make money. The most unusual things here are the TV displays above the bar showing the available ales. This could be very useful when the pub’s busy, but as I was in very early for a traditional breakfast, and being a bit of a traditionalist, I found looking at the pumpclips easier. There are three banks of handpumps. The two banks at the front to the left of the server were all guest ales with no doubling up as far as I could see. The third bank is tucked away at the back out of sight behind the servery; fair enough as it contained only the usual suspects. You would be very unlucky if you couldn’t find something you fancy drinking in here. My Oakham Inferno was to notch. For a ‘spoons it’s good. Magnificent it is; cosy it ain’t.