Cross Keys Hotel, Saffron Waldenback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Spectacularly run-of-the-mill pub for such a spectacularly stunning building. Nice, in that it retains the atmosphere of a pub at least (unlike, for example, the Eight Bells - I'd hate to see this place go that way), but this pub could be much much better with a location and a building like this (14th century). Instead it feels like a cheap town-centre sports pub - with a bar that's too cramped for a town centre sports pub.
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agreed with comment from reviewer that stated that "bar staff tend to serve people they know". i tried to order lunch for 4 people on Sunday, but after being passed over six or so times, quite blatantly, i had to ask to be served. having arrived at 11:45 we could not be served before 12:50, though some of the local seem to be eating they carvery already. very odd and quite shameful really. we walked out.
landlord is amiable enough but that's not enough
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I visited the pub on the 11th July and as soon as I walked in I had an African woman persuading me to part with £15 odd pound for her own personal charity, where she came from I do not know and whether this is a regular activity on her part I also don't know. However I shook her hand listened to her sob story and gave her a pound.
One of your previous contributors is exactly right I stayed here for a night in the so called Cromwell suite for £55 quid and on closer inspection of the room, despite its impressive sounding name it is certainly over-priced. The bathroom floor was filthy, the shower door was in two bits (one admittedly still attached to the wall) the ceiling in the bathroom had damp all in one corner and the ceiling was peeling, the bathroom bin had not been emptied. Generally the room was tatty and cheaply furnished which is a real shame as the pub itself is a classic and I have wanted to stay in it for a long while so was disappointed with the state of the main room, however the young guy who booked me in told me it is going to be refurbished, highly needed I would suggest. Otherwise the staff were competent and I had a reasonable meal of steak and salad.
anonymous - 21 Jul 2005 16:09 |
Very lively at the weekends. Serves food, reasonable beers - nothing special. Bar is too narrow though so you get hung out to dry sometimes by the bar staff who tend to serve people they know.
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The pub itself is good - lively atmosphere - busy and cheerful. But the accommodation is dreadful - bed linen and towels are clean - nothing else is - all the toilet seats are broken and grouting in bathrooms is full of mould. Decor is terrible with holes in plaster, ceiling paper hanging down etc etc
Liz Simpson - 24 Sep 2004 20:03 |
Beautiful 14th Century pub in the centre of Saffron Walden, serving good food and beer. Pool table and TV.
cp - 23 Jun 2004 10:51 |
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