Cross Keys, York

Likejohn says not much atmosphere i bit like being on MARS

A large Nicholson's pub that had a fair range of real ales but not a lot of atmosphere.Full of tourists but this is to be expected in such a great city as York.

Now a Nicholson's house and recently refurbished in tasteful style at a cost local gossip puts anywhere between 40k and 4 million, it's certainly nicely done. Twelve handpumps on the two bar counters although some beers are repeated I saw beers from Brains, Titanic, York, White Horse, Nethergate, Harviestoun plus John Smiths Cask as a sop to local tastes. The usual kegs also make an appearance. It's an elegant three area design utilising the residual walls, with counters in the middle and front (Goodramgate) sides. The staff are very much on the ball and the ale of good quality, mainly a dining type layout there is bench seating for the mixed clientèle. One of those places with the Gents upstairs.

The beer policy appears to have changed recently, as there were eight hand pumps available with eight different breweries represented, mostly well known brands but including Terrier from local York brewery, Caledonian's wheat beer, Flying Dutchman, and Old Vic Porter from Butcombe. According to some information I found in a menu on my table, this is a Grade II listed building, dating to 1904. There's some interesting pargetting in the porch and the walls are adorned with a number of framed drawings and engravings. Like a lot of these tourist pubs, the impression a casual visitor can get depends largely on the time of day and the number and quality of the guests as much as the staff, but my early evening visit left me with a favourable impression and I would certainly return. I hope the piped music is less obtrusive next time.