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Poll for date of Halifax crawl. with ROBCamra
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Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Wednesday, 1st January 2020
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Detail Pages
Cross Keys, Chelsea, SW3
SW3
SW3 5NB
Served areas
The Cross Keys Pub
we look forward to welcome all women tonight, all bookings for dinner will receive a complementary G&T. only a few… https://t.co/XxZTlzHv3Y
4:52 PM Mar 8th 2018 from Twitter Web Client
Reviews of Cross Keys (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Cross Keys
From the late ‘80s until the early ‘90s, this was a regular meet-up point for about five of us; we were regulars and on first name terms with the eccentric couple who ran the place. It was lovely, a small intimate place with an island bar, real fire, rear snug, oak settles and knickknacks aplenty. Back then we were happy drinking Wadsworth XXXXXX or Flowers; in short, it was one of my all-time favourite London pubs.
A return visit the other night after more than 30 years and what an absolutely monumental shock, though I gather that this incarnation is the result of a property developer ripping out the interior for a failed residential conversion, but it's now a lot more tasteful than what was encountered by Malden Man, for it appears to have undergone another makeover. For some strange reason, the pub appears to be about four times the size of the original; quite where they got the extra space from is beyond me, but the entire layout has changed, with nothing of the original remaining, apart from some faded Courage lettering – ‘Public Bar’ – to the right-hand leaded door. There’s a modern boarded floor, some distressed wood panelling, a bar front with applied ‘plankette’ finish, a cream of mushroom soup colour scheme though with some bare brick, downlighters paired with some industrial hanging lamps, contemporary modern furniture and miscellaneous prints. Customers were probably local, mixed in age with most seemingly eating, which is the primary focus here.
At least there was something on the ale front, with two unused pumps, then Sambrook’s Wandle and Junction at £2.60 a half (this is the most expensive part of Chelsea and I’ve paid 40p a half more in Preston), too cold though fine once warmed up, served by a friendly barman.
This place may be ok as a restaurant, but to describe it as a pub takes a great leap of imagination. This isn’t the worst place in Chelsea, the title probably going to the Chelsea Pig up the road (pig being the operative word), but surprisingly there are other, better places so I don’t envisage a return.
On 2nd November 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Cross Keys
Situated in a back street not far from the river, The Cross Keys is apparently under new management and appears to have undergone a recent refurbishment. There are some strange features to this place, the entrance doors are guarded by brown stone figures (although the swans above shown in earlier photos are now gone), the conservatory style dining area behind the bar has a rectractable roof for warmer weather, above the bar is a galleried area, and within the bar itself is a newly installed large table seating around ten which has its own self-service beer fonts, with meters provided to keep the tab. The friendly Irish landlord told me this had just been installed and was not yet operational as there were some issues to be overcome regarding weights and measures legislation.
The main bar area in the front room has a flagstone floor, leaded windows, a couple of exposed brick fireplaces, both with fires lit yesterday, not much seating however, a bench between the fireplaces, a couple of sofas under the front window and some stools at a ledge and along the bar. Much of the lower wood panelling and the bar front have been painted purple. The original layout can be seen by the remaining presence of the two doors, one of which still says "Public Bar"....not much call for that type of accommodation around here these days. I didn't spot a TV and there were no games machines.
The upper gallery has its own bar, and I saw that there was another bar and room on the second floor. Both these areas are available for private hire.
As said earlier the landlord was friendly and jovial, and this pub was the only one I visited in Chelsea where I received a full pint without asking twice. The ale choice was limited to Doom Bar and Courage Directors, the Doom Bar was ok at £3.30.
Its certainly not a very pubby place but I imagine it is a popular spot for the younger affluent locals.
On 19th October 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
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- Official site of Cross Keys - www.thecrosskeyschelsea.co.uk
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- CAMRA WhatPub :: Cross Keys - whatpub.com
Battersea Park, 1.42 miles, 27 min walk (show)
West Brompton, 1.54 miles, 29 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : No last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Darts : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
- Jukebox : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Karaoke : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Live Music : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Micropub : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Pinball : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Pool Table : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Quiz Night : No last updated 02 November 2022 by Tris C
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : No last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
- WiFi : Yes last updated 16 March 2015 by ROB Camra
