The Cross Keys, Leeds

A pub called the Cross Keys was first built on this site back in 1802 to serve workers from the surrounding industrial area and it seems it was able to survive until the 1980’s before finally closing and falling into disrepair. The regeneration of this part of town has allowed the people behind the city’s successful North Bar and Further North venues to take the premises on and give it a tasteful refitting, allowing this historic venue to commence trading again. The result is a very smart, well appointed pub which manages to accommodate diners and drinkers without either group feeling short-changed. You enter into a tile floored room with the servery directly opposite the front door. A banquette runs along the front wall whilst there are standard tables and chairs elsewhere, allowing a decent number of people to be seated around the bar area. The walls are mostly bare brick and there are plenty of restored wooden beams which all adds up to create a rather atmospheric and cosy space, enhanced by the stove sat in the fireplace on the end wall. A second front room, to the left of the entrance, has a similar layout with a quarry stone floor and its own stretch of servery. The pub extends to the rear, down the right hand side of the building, past a bare boarded space with some unusual decorative wallpaper towards an area seemingly used by those wanting to eat. There are large windows here which look out across the sizeable courtyard which has plenty of outdoor seating, sadly of no use in the inclement weather on my visit. A spiral staircase leads from the main bar up to the James Watt function room which is available for hire, although I didn’t get the chance to explore. A previous reviewer wondered what James Watt’s connection to Leeds is. According to the pub’s website, he apparently once stayed in the Cross Keys and would ply workers from a rival’s company with drinks in order to extract trade secrets from them. Four handpulls offered an impossible to choose from selection, comprising Titanic Plum Porter and Lifeboat, Oakham Green Devil IPA and Kirkstall North Prototype, which I presumed was a house beer, so I gave it a try and thought it was a pleasant session ale. The barmaid who served me was very friendly and chatty and gave me the impression that some thought is put into ensuring a high standard of customer service. I really enjoyed this place and thought it was an excellent start to a long crawl around Leeds. I had a great pint in an interesting building with very friendly, welcoming staff and would suggest that anyone heading into Holbeck should make sure they check this place out.

Looks traditional enough from the street, but the interior has been thoroughly remodelled in a semi-modern style with quite a lot of exposed brickwork and minimalist decor. The two-part bar forms an overall 'L' shape, and there is also further seating upstairs (closed off when I visited). Patio beer garden at the back. Four handpumps, offering a good selection of ales from Northern micro-breweries (e.g. Phoenix Black Bee Honey Porter, £3.40 and in fine form). Overall, well worth a joint visit with the nearby Midnight Bell. (NB - Review dates from August 2011.)