Cross Keys, Birmingham

Official site of the Cross Keys - www.thecrosskeyserdington.co.uk

A large detached Edwardian corner pub and eatery mainly in undressed brick, with patio at the back. Originally an M&B house as shown by the glass in the windows, it is now a part of the Marstons family. The interior has a couple of rooms. The bar is in grey, yellow, wood panel, yellow tile and there is a nice blue tiled and wood surround fire place. There is a TV or two in this room showing Sky Sports News at my visit and loud charty music was playing, but it was a Friday night. There is a pool table and dart board. We headed into the lounge where the food is served, i didn't eat so can't comment on that. This room is in blue and white, with wood panel and a cream ceiling. There is a small tiled fireplace and again, there is a TV which had the sport on. General prints are on the walls. Both rooms look a little tired, but the place was busy enough with a mixed crowd and the service was fine. Beer; no real ale, just EPA on fast-cask and Banks's Bitter and a decent enough Banks's MILD on keg along with the usual keg stuff. A general run of the mill pubco kind of place really.

Official site of the Cross Keys - www.thecrosskeyserdington.co.uk

Largish roadside pub between town and station. Its a nice old building, does need some TLC but interesting features including tiling and the benches bending around to surround the fire (pity its boarded up!). Nice enough place, two rooms, pool table and darts in one. There is one real ale, Marstons EPA, though the quality was not too good!

It was closed when I tried to get in. Only to found out it was open from 5pm. Will visit it when I get the time.

Standard town pub, generally relaxed, but gets full when the football is on the TV or in the evening after Aston Villa home games. On the main Erdington/Sutton route, and an easy walk from Erdington Railway Station.