It is only once in a while that a pub comes around that truly touches you in a way that makes you want to move closer, just so it can become your local.

Tonight, was one of those moments…

I joined my wife for her Christmas ‘Tang Soo Do’ meal at a popular local pub called the Cross Keys. Located in the small market town of Chatteris, it is only a short drive for me and it is a place I have heard many good things about, so I was keen to try.

The Cross Keys is family-run and well known for being a beautiful historic pub, dating all the way back to the 16th century. It has everything you want from an old pub, including the wooden beams, an open fireplace and teeny tiny doors I have to duck to get through.

Most interestingly, the owner is a real history buff and embraces local history with open arms. This is reflected in the abundance of artefacts, artwork and armour on display. You’ll see everything from statues of Oliver Cromwell to classic pictures of the royal family mounted on the wall. It is a true homage to English history and something you don’t see much anymore.

The pub reminds me of my nans old living room back when I was a kid. Warm, cosy, familiar, and with the aroma of roast dinner wafting through the pub. There are tonnes of quirky things that will fascinate you at every turn, especially if you are a local or interested in English history.

Rumour has it, the place is even haunted! 👻 To be fair, if anywhere was going to be, it would be a pub like this.

Lamb shank

I ordered myself a lamb shank with roast potatoes and mixed veg. My wife ordered pork belly, which came with mash potatoes but since she isn’t a big fan of mash, we decided to do a potato swap.

The lamb came out on the bone with a delicious rich gravy on the side. The lamb simply fell off the bone with minimal effort. The vegetables served were carrots, green beans, and sprouts. These, along with the potatoes, were good portion sizes, even for a big bloke like me.

Pork belly

Apologies in advance for the photos. Like I said, I was at my wife’s event and didn’t want to be “that guy” taking photos of everyone’s food 😂. With that said, the pork belly looked absolutely fantastic and came out as a massive wedge. The roast potatoes (not pictured) were incredibly crispy and big enough to guarantee a nice fluffy centre in the middle. Perfection!

Ferrero Rocher and Maltessers cheese cake

For dessert, I was presented with a large slice of chocolate cheesecake, garnished with Maltessers, Ferrero Rocher’s and half a strawberry. I was starting to understand that the team at Cross Keys feels passionately about big portions. I particularly liked the biscuit crumble that worked really well with the soft creaminess of the cheesecake. It was beautiful!

More quirky historic stuff

After a great meal, I felt truly satisfied. My son started to get lippy, so I threw him in the stocks located in the back garden for an hour, while we chatted in the warm and wrapped up the evening (that’ll learn him!). They have really thought of everything at the Cross Keys and I was astonished to find an old well located in the floor of the room we were dining in. This pub is remarkable!

Conclusion

The Cross Keys pub has charmed me like no other pub has in a very long time. It upsets me to know that a place with this much vibrant history and character has been under my nose this entire time.

The menu is straightforward and isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel but serves timeless classics, cooked well, and big portions to boot. Sometimes, things really are that simple. 

The staff team was excellent throughout and brought out the food in a speedy organised manner, with absolutely no mistakes. Impressive stuff, for such a large number of 40-50 people. Sometimes I feel that errors are inevitable on that scale but not tonight!

Prices were competitive (you really know you aren’t in Cambridge) and everyone was friendly. If I was within walking distance, this would be my local, without a doubt!

Thanks for reading