Steeped in history and renovated to the highest standards, the Cross Keys is now under the stewardship of Great Northern Inns who are bringing one of Nottingham's finest gems back to life.
From fine beers and wines to sumptuous food and light meals, you're sure to enjoy the new look of the Cross Keys. We are a traditional English pub, with modern ideas.
The History
It is known that a tavern called The Cross Keys has existed on the site at the top of Byard Lane for at least two hundred years but probably much longer.
The first mention of The Cross Keys in is in The Poor Rate Book in 1799 and states that one John Levers, Victualler ("Cross Keys") is a resident of "Blowbladder Street” to the north of the tavern. Always a landmark pub it is situated in the richly historic Weekday Cross area of Nottingham that was the original market place for Nottingham and the centre of the city’s council, police and law courts from the fourteenth to late nineteenth century. The Galleries Of Justice are a few yards away and the now demolished Guild Hall and prison once stood in this area.
The Beer
The Cross Keys serves a range of beers including six hand-pulled real ales as part of the CAMRA sponsored Locale scheme. The mainstay of this is be Bateman’s XB priced at £2.40 a pint with the other residents coming from Nottingham, Blue Monkey and Mallard breweries with two guest ales on regular rotation. Cider drinkers will be happy (aren't they always) with a hand-pulled brew from Olde English & Magners Golden and the lagers are Carling plus premium draught lagers from the Coors range along with a number of bottled continental beers including occasional guests from afar.
Draught Guinness tops it all off, strictly speaking, we should have mentioned that at the start of the round.
The Food
The menu is essentially British based with the addition of an extensive breakfast selection and some more standard pub food. Suits and shoppers, lawyers and layabouts alike will all find something to their fancy in its pages.
Breakfasts start at 8am from £1.95 for toast, full English at £6.25 and omelettes at £4.95. Soups, sandwiches and salads will range from £3.95 to £7.95. The flagship main meals element of the menu start at £7.95 for a lovely pie with steaks from £9.95. Pudding will set you back a fiver and Sunday Lunch will be served from 12.00 noon onwards in the traditional manner.
The Wines and Spirits
The small but perfectly formed cellar is stocked by award winning wine merchants Pagendam Pratt. Bubbly stuff is also be on sale as well as a supremely stacked back-bar for those looking to push the boat out a little further.
