User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
New pub visits 2024 with Brainypool on the Pub Forum

The Cross Keys, Knaresborough

17 Cheapside
Knaresborough
HG5 8AX
Phone: 01423863562

Return to pub summary

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Cross Keys

A decent and proper Ossett brewery pub in the backstreets, well-supplied with their beers and the odd guest, plus craft from Salt, of course. My only grumble, similar to the previous reviewer, is that they take the Ossett habit of a ridiculously tight sparkler to another level (especially as the guy in front of me ordered 6 pints!). It really shouldn't take longer to pull a pint of ale than Guinness. A good pub otherwise though.

On 13th August 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Will Larter left this review about The Cross Keys

I didn't have this one on my planned route, possibly because it's a later opener, but the lad behind the bar at the Craft Union pub suggested it when he saw we were keen on real ales. This looks like a 1930s building, going by the external brickwork, but it looks like it's been totally rearranged inside, with plenty of bare bricks and stone-flagged floors, with faux rustic tables, a nice fireplace and an Ossett Brewery mirror. The bar has a traditional look to it, with brass elephants holding up an elbow rail. More importantly, perhaps, there are two banks of four hand pumps. Two of these were advertising ciders, and there were six Ossett beers. I went for the Butterley Yorkshire Bitter, which was pretty good, despite (or, to be fair, perhaps because of) the thrashing it got through a tight sparkler.

On 1st June 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3699 recommendations about 3440 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Real Ale Ray left this review about Cross Keys Inn

If you like a good traditional pub, with a friendly barmaid and Ossett Brewery beer, then you have come to the right place. There were four regular Ossett ales and two guest on handpump on our visit. I went for the Inception as always, when visiting an Ossett pub, whilst Mrs Ale went for the Bridestones Summit.

On 23rd June 2015 - rating: 9
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about Cross Keys Inn

This imposing looking pub was taken over by the Ossett Brewery back in 2010 and given the usual high standard refurbishment associated with their estate. You enter through a set of stained glass double doors into a large open plan interior with the servery along the back wall. The bar has a very nice decorative counter and a simpler bar back, and sits in a quarry stone floored part of the room which offers plenty of space for vertical drinking, as well as a few standard tables and chairs and an upturned barrel with the day’s papers on it. To the right is a bare boarded area with banquettes to the front and rear and a padded bench on the right hand wall, next to a quaint brick fireplace with an Ossett mirror above. The walls are decorated with a number of black and white photographs of local landmarks such as the Knaresborough Castle and Mother Shipton’s Cave, each nicely framed with a short, informative caption. Bottles, tankards and books line a high shelf and round out a nicely presented space that helps to retain the pub’s traditional feel. To the left of the bar there is a pleasant seating area, partly screened by some sections of partitioning wall. There is more stained glass on show here and the seating is predominantly comfortable looking banquettes. Music played softly throughout my stay, which was as well, as the place was very quiet on a Saturday afternoon.
The ale range was as strong as you might expect from an Ossett pub, with options on this visit comprising Ossett Excelsior, Silver King, Jenkins Bitter and Yorkshire Blonde, Welbeck Abbey Portman Black and Acorn Kohatu IPA. My Silver King was in good shape and served to me by a very friendly barman who also gave an unprompted top-up, which I always think is a good sign.
I probably didn’t see this place at its best, as the atmosphere was rather sombre – in contrast to what I imagine can be quite lively evenings. I thought the pub looked very good and I certainly felt comfortable in here and as such, I’d be keen to visit again when there are a few more customers in.

On 2nd June 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


ROB Camra left this review about Cross Keys Inn

Very nicely refurbished pub now owned by Ossett. Still traditional in style but with a modern feel. 8 handpumps in use even on a wet and windy Monday afternoon serving 4 Ossett beers and 4 guests. I had an Ossett Yorkshire Blonde, Bank Top Leprechaun Stout and a Lytham Gold. All were excellent and the other half tells me that the red wine was good as well. We ate here and ordered a Cheese & Pate platter for 2. 5 cheeses and a pate plus garlic bread and a good selection of toasted breads in a silver bucket. Excellent value at £7.50. The two members of staff we dealt with were both friendly and efficient. This is a very good pub and we'll definitely visit next time we're in Knaresborough.

On 22nd March 2011 - rating: 9
[User has posted 3216 recommendations about 3127 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Boots left this review about Cross Keys Inn

Excellent news, the Cross Keys has been purchased by Ossett Brewery and reopened on the 19th November 2010.

Refurbished by Ossett with a light touch, the decent pub underneath as been allowed to show through replacing the tasteless 80s/90s refurb previously in place, it is contemporary but still very pubby and not bar-like in the way Ossett's conversions tend to be. The room is divided into a main bar area and a quieter seating area by an arched brickwall and there is a new flag floor. Traditional old brown furnishing style has been put in but otherwise everything is updated, there is a barrel acting as a table which seems to be an Ossett trademark. 8 handpumps with the usual mix of beers from Ossett, Riverhead and guests including two from Fullers, my Black Dog Rhatas was in very good condition but the temperature was a bit low for my tastes, more suited to the better quality european beers on sale. Busy early evening with a good mix of ages and types among the customers, some watching rugby on the single unobtrusive screen. There are now four very good pubs/bars in Knaresborough.

On 28th November 2010 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3209 recommendations about 2920 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Old Boots left this review about Cross Keys Inn

Currently the freehold is up for sale, and the place was deserted when I called so any review is unlikely to be a guide to the future performance of this pub. It is currently decorated in the height of 1980s fashion, with the kind of furnishings, Tiffany lamps, short stained glass partions and bookcases then popular. There is bench seating and an excellent lincrusta freeze plus a nicely carved Victorian bar counter. A pool table stands at one end of the single open plan room. Two handpumps but not the expected Tetley Cask as the Tetleyesque exterior suggested but only Black Sheep Bitter as made by Sarsons. Hopefully someone will purchase the freehold and update this pub.

On 21st March 2010 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3209 recommendations about 2920 pubs]