The Cross Keys

Popped in jere for a pint while we waited for our show at the theatre up the road . The pub is so old fashioned its just fantastic. Full of trinkets and thingamabobs all over the walls and ceiling the barman was straight on serving us and we was soon seated in the window . Comfortable setting and a lovely cold pint of Guinness. Should my path ever come by here again i will definitely go in .

One of my favourite after work go to places. Full of character and memorabilia lined walls and ceilings. Sort of nostalgic atmosphere when quiet and not too busy. Definitely place to visit to get a London feel.

🚇 Covent Garden 🍺 £6.50 Madri The Cross Keys is located close to Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden in the West End of London. The nearest Tube is Covent Garden, it’s a few minutes walk to get here. This Grade II listed Freehouse was built in 1848. The pub’s small and striking exterior is famous for its floral displays and foliage. This pub is owned by an antique and memorabilia collector and is the Sister pub to the Old Coffee House in Soho. The interior of this pub is long and narrow, dimly lit and has bags of character. The servery is located on the right hand side, is clad in dark wood and has a brass foot rail. The decor is a treasure trove of all manner of memorabilia and bric-a-brac, you’ll find copper kettles to musical instruments, Brewery Mirrors and historical photos. There are also Beatles posters and even a signed napkin by Elvis Presley. The seating is plentiful throughout the bar, there are small spot stools and elongated comfy banquettes with small circular tables to rest your pint on. Oh, and not forgetting the proper pub carpet. The beer line was a solid mix of mainstream, premium, craft and cask beers. I decided on a Madri, my pint was decent enough, price point was above average. Food comes in the form of a choice of Baguettes, all of which will set you back £4.50, there is also bags of Tayto’s too. I arrived around 11.30am on a rainy Wednesday lunchtime in February. The pub was fairly quiet with a few locals and tourist spread around the bar. The low lights and the decor make for a very atmospheric setting, a feeling of a London pub from times gone by. The service was great, the chap who served me was welcoming and chatty. The Cross Keys is one of those pubs that you immediately feel at home and comfortable in. I loved everything about this pub and could have spent all day here. Next time you are exploring the West End or if you’re looking for a pre or post show pub, may I recommend a visit to this quintessentially British London Boozer. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 21.02.24

What a fabulous old pub. Well decorated for Christmas but also a fine collection of memorability, esp of the Beatles. Good selection of beers. Friendly staff. And lots of local patrons. Loved that the background music was just that, no shouting to make yourself heard. Just a pleasant babble of conversation. This now our favourite Central London pub.

Beautiful pub inside and out. I give it benefit of the doubt re atmosphere as I was there during the day in the week. The price of pint was reasonable. Lovely old leathery feel inside.

A visual feast. This west end hideaway in Covent Garden has a beautiful, secluded front with a patch to drink outside under the trees. Inside the small, narrow bar area is a feast for the eyes. A rich red, highly decoratively papered ceiling features vintage wood beams, decorative pillars and a cascade of copper paraphernalia, pots, pans, kettles and wood buckets. Every space of wall features a vintage picture, painted or drawn, decorative painted mirrors, signs and a vast array of collectables from music, sport and more. There's antique clocks, including a signature grandfather clock. Soft cushioned, studded leather bench seating and stools scatter over a 1980's patterned carpet. The long bar features a good range on draught and a gorgeous heritage wood Watneys Ales backbar. The tight corner, spiral stairs connect the bar through the property. There's a relaxed local arts vibe in the groups if friends catching up with vintage rock to set a enjoyable atmosphere. This is a visual treat for vintage London pub lovers.

It's a great building with great atmosphere. Excellent selection of beers and other drinks It's a Spoons, so it wouldn't be my first choice of dinning but perfectly adequate if you're hungry and need a snack. Great value for money definitely worth a visit

We loved this pub. Haven't eaten there, or know if they even do food, but we love it all the same. Really nice staff when we visited and loved the decor, and the retro Christmas decorations. Reminded me of my house as a kid at Christmas!