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Detail Pages
Cross Keys Hotel, Cannock
Hednesford
Postal town: Cannock
WS12 2DN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Cross Keys Hotel
With this pub included in the latest 2022 Good Beer Guide, I was hoping to find it open on my latest visit to Hednesford. Luckily, it was this time around. Although that wasn't immediately obvious. Entering through the front door, you have a choice of a lounge to the left or a fairly small public bar to the right. If you arrive into the car park, there are a number of doors leading to the hotel and an attached restaurant.
A small number of locals had gathered at the bar for an after work drink. But we were soon served by one of the two bar staff. Regular real ales are Bass, Wye Valley HPA & Salopian Oracle. Guest beers on our visit were Brains The Rev James, Thwaites Wainwright & St Austell Tribute. I opted for the Oracle, which was slightly past its best, but just about drinkable.
The Cross Keys is a little out of the town centre and with a fairly standard selection of beers, some of questionable quality, I would struggle to score this pub more than a 6/10. However, I did enjoy the pub-like atmosphere here. As the previous reviewer says, it doesn't feel much like a hotel bar.
Original review April 2021:
It's unclear whether this pub will re-open and when. There was no sign of life on Saturday, with no answer on the telephone and no social media presence.
On 28th May 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Cross Keys Hotel
Update: Never changes and still the best overall place in Cannock/Hednesford. I visit here on a fairly regular basis with Mrs Soup. & ales, in a traditional setting of a Georgian Inn. Wye Valley stout last night was very good. Excellent, just excellent.
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Sep 2009: A large detached hotel (former coaching inn), with restaurant and pub.
The problem with hotel bars is that they are unpredicatable; some are little pokey things; some actually resturants with no real thought to just drinkers and others are like being in a normal pub. I was pleased to find this place like a normal and traditional pub. It has two rooms. The lounge where i started, has red and green walls, with wood panel and beams, with lots of old photos and horse racing memorabilia, brass ornaments and locals chatting. There was also Sky TV. The bar had a large screen TV with sporting trophies, photos and other sport pictures. The service was fine.
Beer' tap stuff, with M&B MILD, with Everard Equinox (fine), Rev James, Ruddles County, Spekky Hen (fine) and Morrisey/Fox Blonde on handpull
A delight to visit, really enjoyed it and will be going back
On 25th June 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Cross Keys Hotel
Substantial old inn, with the pub at the front, hotel accommodation behind this and a function suite at the back of the car park. The lounge and public bars are very traditionally furnished, with the former comprising two partially opened-out rooms (each with its original counter). Very unusually, it also retains its off-sales hatch. Six real ales on handpump: Bass, Abbot, Holden's Golden Glow, Ludlow Gold, Hobsons Old Prickly (£3.00) and Exmoor Gold. Multiple local Camra award winner.
On 28th January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Cross Keys Hotel
Good review below. The pub has connections with the football club as the ground used to be next door. Its traditional and comfortable & friendly. Now known as the Camra capital for Hednesford there are usually four or more 'different' changing guest beers.
A very nice pub, even the local Camra branch who never used to walk further than the run down (now closed) Queens Arms opposite must occasionally visit!
Update 14/05/2009 - this pub seems to be getting better & better. It seems busier now and the real ales are up to 6, including a lovely Titanic Mild for May!
On 21st May 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]