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Beer of the Week (w/e 23rd March 2025) with ROBCamra
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Just a quick pint, then I'm off
Submitted on Sunday, 22nd May 2022
With picture contributions to 10713 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (14 more images)
Detail Pages
Cross Keys, Belper
Belper
DE56 1FZ
Served areas
Reviews of Cross Keys (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about Cross Keys
A former Batemans house until March of this year when it was refurbished and taken over by Pub People Company. The pub has a bar and lounge side separated by a central bar. The lounge side was comfortable and traditionally decorated, along with a log burning stove. The staff and locals were friendly and chatty. Five pumps with three in use serving 1 cider, Dark Drake and Jaipur.
On 4th November 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3596 recommendations about 3596 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about Cross Keys
I've been to Belper many times, but this was the first occasion I've found this pub open. Just two beers available among the four hand pumps: Batemans XB and Gold. A few pump clips testifying to the pub's former guest beer policy were also seen. We were the only customers at what we would guess might be soon after opening (5:30pm) but much earlier times are stated on WhatPub and the Batemans website. The XB was in shockingly bad condition, but we decided not to complain about it as the only member of staff, although friendly and welcoming, seemed likely to be new to the business and it wouldn't have been his fault that the beer was so bad. Besides, what would we have drunk instead? So, apart from beer and customers, this was a fairly pleasant pub, with pool table, darts, beer garden...and loud background music.
I mentioned the state of the beer in this pub when chatting about how variable beer quality can be, coincidentally with the licensee of another Belper pub a few weeks later. "I wouldn't even drink Guinness in that pub," he said.
Date of visit: 20th July 2022
On 7th August 2022
- rating: 2
[User has posted 4216 recommendations about 3884 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about Cross Keys
Probably the worst of 13 pubs we visited on a daytrip to Belper and surrounding villages. One of my pet hates is pubs that fail to adhere to advertised opening times. Their own website states they open at midday, their Facebook page also states midday. Google says they open at midday and so does Whatpub.
As you can guess, we arrived some time after 2pm and the pub was still closed. We returned again shortly after 4pm and it was still closed. Various people we spoke to in local pubs confirmed that the opening times are very erratic and they often don't open at all. As we left the Black Swan just opposite shortly before 5pm, some lights had been switched on which suggested it might open soon.
We eventually arrived again at around 6:45 and finally found it open the third time of asking. Unlike other pubs in Belper, it was very quiet. With a reputation for unreliability locally, this was hardly surprising.
The interior has two rooms, with a pool table in one. We stood at the bar alone in the second room. Being a Bateman's pub, the beer choice was also uninspiring - Gold, XB & XXXB are the regular beers. Rosey Nosey was a seasonal addition. They no longer serve real cider. Disappointing.
On 13th December 2021
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2996 recommendations about 2994 pubs]
View more reviews of Cross Keys (4)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- The Cross Keys page on the Batemans website - www.bateman.co.uk
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Cross Keys - whatpub.com
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.
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 07 August 2022 by Will Larter
- Darts : Yes last updated 07 August 2022 by Will Larter
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 07 August 2022 by Will Larter
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 07 August 2022 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 22 August 2010 by Will Larter
- Real Cider : No last updated 13 December 2021 by Blue Scrumpy
- WiFi : Yes last updated 07 August 2022 by Will Larter
