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The Cross Keys, WC2
WC2
WC2H 9BA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Cross Keys
Seems a bit dark when you first go in but after a couple of minutes you get used to it.One bar serving very good Brodies beers with a guest beer normally on (Twickenham Grandstand on my visit)Good value food.
On 13th February 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Cross Keys
Back in again last night for another evening session.
This continues to be a really good pub for all the reasons well described by the previous reviewers.
Lively mixed crowd, decent service levels and one of the most interesting interiors in this part of town.
The only damper on the evening was the currently available Brodies Beers..
I am very partial to their Amarilla and English Best, but the current crop of Bethnal Green Bitter, Old Street Pale and Kiwi really didn't impress. The Bethnal green Bitter was passable but the Kiwi was agreed by all to be a pretty awful drop. So much so that the still available Windsor and Eton Guardsman was by far the best beer on and consequently run out first, at which point we moved on.
But Brodies brewing experimentation aside, this is still an excellent pub and I will be back in when next in the Covent Garden area..
On 1st February 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Cross Keys
A small traditional boozer situated in a tourist hot spot but avoiding the temptation to pander to the transient trade.The interior is charming with a long red leather bench seating running around the opposite wall to the wooden bar.Circular tables and stools means that punters can hotch about to allow new comers to grab a seat,although you may have to drink vertically at busy pre theatre times.The wall are packed with paintings and prints with some interesting atifacts hanging from the beams.There is a narrow windy descent to the gents,while the ladies is up an equally rickets staircase where there is also an upstairs room for hire.
Leased by Brodies with five handpumps serving their Kiwi,Bethnal Green Bitter and London Fields Pale Ale (£3.50) on my trip,with two reversed clips on the other handpumps for guests Sambrook Wandle and Windsor and Eton Guardsman.Despite the narrow range,all beers tasted were in top nick,and the bar service was efficient and friendly.
There is a wide age range among the clientele and it was pleasing to report that this is most certainly not a totty freezone.It's esay to get chatting to your seated neighbours and the atmosphere was friendly and lively.
It's on the list for a revisit given Brodies brew some interesting ale and judging from my trip they also know how to run a great pub.
On 31st December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2728 recommendations about 2728 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
John Bonser left this review about The Cross Keys
Update – December 2012
A very impressive and enjoyable visit here last week. 4 Brodie’s beers were on – Amarilla, Kiwi, Citrus and London Fields. A Redemption beer was on as a guest ( the previous week it was a beer from Windsor and Eton )
I’m pleased to report that the poor customer service reported in my earlier review wasn’t experienced this time round although again I was offered a taster, with the chirpy well endowed barmaid enquiring of me – “do you want to try it first, babe?”
This is a cosy, comfortable and welcoming pub and, along with The Old Coffee House in Beak Street is an excellent pub to sample Brodie’s beers, which I’ve generally found pretty reliable.
I shall continue to make a point of popping in here when the opportunity presents itself
Original review – August 2009
Fine traditional long darkish single bar pub in a Covent Garden side street. Note the 2 crossed keys outside and the foliage - see picture here.
The pub is decorated with a fine collection of bric a brac, pots, pans, stuffed fish etc and there is also much Beatles memorabilia. Note also the large Truman Hanbury Buxton mirror which has pride of place at the front of the pub on the right. There's also an Isleworth Brewery mirror over an old Grandfather Clock. There's also a signed photo of David Beckham and several handwritten letters at the start of his footballing career.
Comfortable leather banquettes, carpets, brass foot rail etc and subdued lighting help contribute towards a fine atmosphere.
On my recent Saturday lunchtime visit, upon ordering a pint of Brodies IPA, I was a bit bemused to be asked, unsolicited, if I wanted a taster beforehand. My trademark puzzled expression elicited a comment from the barman that they had had several recent complaints that it "tasted bitter". Anyway it tasted fine to me. Other beers on were Brodie's English Ale, Twickenham Original and Harveys Best.
Whilst I got served promptly, several people coming in soon after me were not so lucky. For reasons which I never really discovered, the barman ( he who had previously offered me a taster of the Brodies ) who was the sole staff member on duty, kept on disappearing either upstairs or downstairs, leaving the bar unattended. I saw several groups of customers come in, wait patiently for several minutes, and then disappear simply because no one appeared behind the bar to serve them.
Had I entered the pub 20 or so minutes later than I did, it is fairly clear that the pub would have easily failed the "John Bonser 3 minute service standard test" that I rigorously apply on all pub visits.
I like this pub immensely - I think it's the best all round pub experience in the immediate Covent Garden area, but I do hope that there isn't a general customer service issue here.
On 12th December 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Cross Keys
Original review July 2012.
Been here twice before and quite liked the pub ,very dark in the lighting department,but this adds to the character and atmosphere of the place,having spent most of the day in the Harp down the road I needed a wander and came here with the aim to try a couple of Brodie's beers. Not a brewery iv'e managed to experience much in the past,in fact only in here on the previous two occasions ,which condition wise I found rather poor. Having heard positive reports of their beers from various sources I was determined to try again,I ordered a pint of Citra which took half a pint until I got the taste of it but once I did it was quite a revalation, I moved on to Brodie's London Fields Pale Ale,this was excellent easily the best beer of the week so far. a pub that has grown on me with each visit ,now a firm favourite.
Update. Another visit 25/10/12,the quality of the Brodies seems to get better every time.On this time were Kiwi,London Fields Pale Ale, Bethnal Green Bitter and Old Street Pale plus a guest which unfortunately now escapes my memory ,a pub I still very much like.
On 26th October 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
paulof horsham left this review about The Cross Keys
I popped in expecting a good choice of Brodies beers, so was disappointed to find only one available. In fact, of the 5 or 6 pumps, only 3 were in action. Fortunately, the beer was of good quality, so the diminished selection was of little consequence.
As it was a warm evening, there was quite a crowd outside. Inside, however, a few seats were free. I could just make them out, as the Cross Keys keeps it pretty dark inside. I was able to read the Standard, but a little more illumination would have been nice.
Not bad then and I'd like to return, in the hope of finding more of the pumps with the clips facing forwards.
On 3rd June 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 453 recommendations about 425 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Cross Keys
Small dark pub, walls covered in paintings and lots of bric-a-brac.
All dark and moody in contrast to the mass of flowers outside.
Obviously making an effort here and the beer was very good as well.
On 1st October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Cross Keys
A small, friendly pub just off the main drag of Covent Garden, narrow and with a single bar, cosy and decorated with an interesting collection of brass artefacts hanging from the ceiling which makes it feel a bit twee. There were 4 ales (all Brodies) and one cider on. I had Cloudy Green Bullet and IPA, both in very good condition. Worth seeking out for a quiet pint and good to include on a crawl.
On 7th April 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Cross Keys
Very pleasant quintessential London pub, perfectly described by others below, which is just far enough away from Covent Garden's tourist hoards to be reasonably quiet during the day. It takes off of course early evening (it would be amazing if a pub like this didn't) and can get oppressively overcrowded. At its best it's pleasantly atmospheric. Brodie's beers - English, IPA, Amarrilla the other day we all on form and I observed no shenanigans with half poured glasses. The pick of the bunch in this area but I'd suggest a daytime visit if you intend staying and sampling all the beers.
On 20th February 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Cross Keys
This is a small, single room pub not too far from the crowds of Covent Garden. The bar counter runs along one side of the room, with some banquettes, tables and low stools opposite. The pub is a little wider at the front and far back of the room, which allows a few more tables to be squeezed in.
The walls are jam packed full of old paintings and photographs, whilst there is a very impressive collection of brass items suspended from the ceiling, including pots, pans, scuttles, salvers and various musical instruments. Above the bar there is a collection of Beatles and Elvis memorabilia, including a framed napkin once used by Elvis which also has a couple of newspaper clippings about the item's purchase next to it. The front part of the room houses more oddities, including a deer's head, some sort of ornate latrine and a couple of London road signs.
There were five hand pumps, but only two ales on offer on a recent Friday evening. Brodie's English Best and Redemption Pale Ale (£3.00) were supplemented by a McCridle's cider and two turned clips, one of which appeared to also have been a Brodie's beer. There are a row of pint pots hanging from above the bar, which means you have to duck in order to catch the attention of the bar staff, who seemed friendly enough. My pint was served in a straight glass however, and I don't remember seeing anyone else drinking from a pint pot.
This is a very pleasant pub and the sort of place I could happily spend a lot of time. Its location and size means that it can get too crowded at times, but it's worth persevering and I am sure I will be back here many times in the future.
On 22nd December 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]