The Cross Keys, Nottingham

Attractive pub, partly hidden behind some substantial trees at the front. The interior is set on two levels, with the bar accessed by the main corner entrance, and the lower restaurant area down a short flight of steps with another door off the side street. With large windows on both facades and relatively high ceilings, it feels airy and light inside during the daylight hours. Pavement tables can also be found on each side. With five of the six handpumps in use, I found four Castle Rock beers - Harvest Pale, Elsie Mo, Preservation (£5.05) and the Brian Clough pilsner- style pale - plus what appears to be the 'house' Crossroads from St Austell.

I visited this pub completely at random having no idea what to expect. It's a split level single room with the main bar area at the top. The floor is wooden and it wasn't that busy on my Friday morning visit. There were some TV screens on but with the sound off. There are two sets of three hand pumps that had four Navigation beers (Splendor, Rebel, New Dawn & Saviour), Doom Bore and Fernandes Chinook. I went for the Fernandes beer (£3.80) which was excellent but expensive. The beer quality was a real bonus on a hot day. This place was better than I expected it to be from outside.

The Cross Keys was a Bass tied house when i first went in it with keg Bass products on the bar. We visit this pub quite often,so i thought i would do an updated review. Once inside there is a single L shaped room with the bar facing,the floor is carpeted and the seating comfy bench type and normal tables and chairs,the rear left side is down one step and seems to be popular with diners. There were five real ales on the bar on my recent visit,i had a drink of Navigation Golden Anchor,which was a very nice drink,the other real ales were Navigation Apus,Navigation Britannia,Navigation New Dawn Pale and a guest beer Everards Tight Head. A very pleasant pub to have a drink in and the food is also quite good here. Cross Keys first visited 1981 Recent visit 18/2/2017