Cross Keys in West Berkshire

I came here late on a Friday with a bunch of (around 30) colleagues from a circus production company. The place only had 1 member of staff serving as they had sent the others home because it was quiet (prior to our arrival). Have to say that the guys serving us dealt with the sudden influx of theatre folk brilliantly. Everyone had an excellent few hours here and the cocktails were ace.

Haven't been in ages but still asleep good as ever, great Cuban sandwich and huge, the Mac and cheese was a hit too. Great vibe and something different in Newbury

Excellent food,staff,atmosphere.Service was great.Cgef was brilliant along with the bar staff.I would highly recommend.

The food is amazing very big portions and the sevice was great,friendly and helpful staff,place is clean and lovely vibe

Not to bad a place really nice friendly staff but larger not much choice and very expensive compared to other pubs in Newbury did not have food so not commenting on this.

Absolutely delicious steak sandwich and smash burger!

Very nice pub! Beer was good and cocktails looked amazing too. The staff are lovely and the pub is decorated really well. Need to get myself up the top end of town more often to pop in. I've not eaten there so can't comment on that but everything else thus far has been spot on

Visited this great pub with a group from CAMRA. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and we all agreed that the beer and food were excellent. The pub decor is absolutely amazing, with a brilliant steam punk theme, it's awesome!!!! I'm a keen photographer and I took some amazing shots. THANKS for a great afternoon to all the staff at the Cross Keys

Amazing food and cool vibe - the chef in particular is passionate and absolutely fantastic.

Great pub amazing service and very friendly would highly recommend

How was the Cross Keys you ask?.....in one word "Awesome" . First time back in the keys in years and this visit was based on a food recommendation. This recommendation did not disappoint! I had the special which was a Greek gyros with tzatziki and a side of pulled pork on chips, a taste sensation ensued Wish I'd taken a pic as it was delicious and great value for money! Our waitress was great and the quirkyness of the inside is well worth a visit on its own merit! I could sit for hrs in the toilet just reading the comic walls!! I highly recommend the food and the ambience! You will not be disappointed. Great venue for a date night so do it, it's so worth it!.....(this is not a paid review or the words of an actor!!).....🤪👍👍

Amazing, love the staff, great place!

Great food great service great vibe! Will definitely be back. The salt and pepper squid with saffron blew my mind!

Food is overpriced for what you get. Atmosphere is okay but it's table service only. Feels like a pub aimed at eating rather than just going for a drink

Great food. Great staff, Stevie and Sarah in particular great customer service at our family’s function. Overall great visit and will definitely be back !

It's a nice hotel right in town with on-site parking. The room is comfortable but no AC and the shower diverter was broken. It's right on the main st and a quick walk to a neat pub overlooking a stream with swans and geese. Breakfast was included and fair

Wow this place has had a face-lift! We popped in for a drink after a dinner out and were really impressed with the cool steampunk-ish interior. Service was excellent and we had two cocktails (£19) that looked and tasted fantastic. Will be back soon!

I like the vibe of the building, and the food looks good, but it had no ale on draught. Apparently it's rare that they do. I'm not gonna frequent such a place because that says something about both the clientele and the management.

A fantastic little pub, good beer, excellent cocktails, quirky decor. A very friendly and hospitable Australian barmaid with a great choice in music.

Such an experience visiting this pub!! Decor and artifacts are simply incredible!! Staff very welcoming and chatty!! Lovely chilled ambiance!! Highly recommend you pay this gorgeous pub a visit!!

Soo good. Staff are great and the chef always goes out of his way to make us feel accommodated for especially being vegan it can be awkward in other restaurants but here it’s easy. I bought my parents and in laws here and everyone raved about the food

Huge portions of good food, really nice cocktails too. Recommend sharing the loaded friends though you can take away after!

Didn't eat however I'll be back love the eclectic jazz / steam punk styles 😘

We visited on a Saturday evening, this is a real little quirky hidden gem. Who knew it would be so funky inside?? It has a great atmosphere, a chilled vibe, attentive staff great menu. We only had drinks, they were lovely.

Absolutely stunning! Chicken Fajitas & classic hot dog are just delicious. Can’t say much more. Reasonable for the size of the plates. Very happy and full!

Absolutely incredible sunday lunch served in a giant yorkshire pudding. The quality of the beef was amazing and the veggies served with it amazing. Lovely friendly service - a great sunday! Will return.

This place is great for a casual night out for food and drinks. All dishes look and taste fresh. Fajita and tacos are surprisingly delicious. Friendly staff with quick and efficient service. A good range of drinks including cocktails.

What an amazing friendly place. The staff are the most welcoming in Newbury and drinks are amazing. Stevie and Sarah made us feel hugely welcome and even made cocktails to my own design. Will be back again soon. From West Midlands.

I visited on Friday 22 March as I have regularly done when in Newbury. It was surprising to see that there was no hand pulled draught beers available. Whilst there we also asked about bar snacks and was informed that they didn’t sell crisps, nuts or the like. I returned the following evening and walked passed what appeared to be a chef smoking by the entrance door. We entered the pub, only to be told by the same person that the pub was closing in 25 minutes time ie. 1830hrs. This was apparently to accommodate a ‘private party’ which on a Saturday evening was surprising to say the least. Walked to another pub about 75 yards away where drinks were almost half the price. Suffice to say I won’t be returning to the Cross Keys.

Amazing place and amazing staff

Had to come back after 2 years to see if was still as good and it is.

Have visited Newbury several times over the last few years but never used this pub We have it a go the other night and was very impressed. It’s very quirky inside . Steampunk meets Comicon meets Day of the dead. Staff were very welcoming and friendly. Good selection of drinks and ok prices. The heating was also on. We will definitely be returning when visiting Newbury again. Well done.

The short version: This pub is great for a casual night out, involving a good selection of fantastic food, large portions for very reasonable prices, a good selection of drinks and an amazing vibe. The longer version: We have visited 3 time since mid-Feb 2024. The first 2 visits were to have a casual drink in a very enjoyable atmosphere with our dog. As we left the 2nd time, we noted the food dishes being served. Oh wow! Just the vision and scent of the dishes had us hooked. We invited a good friend to join us, with the dog, for a friday night food and drink experience. I cannot fault any element of our evening out. We even plan to return tomorrow. We all scored it 10/10. This is a hidden gem of Newbury. The best pub in Newbury in my opinion!

Popped in to finish off the evening on our way back to our hotel. Loved the eclective decor but thought that the drinks were on the pricey side.

Friday evening ,very busy there booked a table,glad we did . Very funky bar /Restaurant. Fantastic atmosphere. Super efficient serving team .Happy and quick . Food was delicious Philly steak sandwich,Cuba sandwich and a smashed burger .All amazing and some crispy chips . Cocktails were good especially the Lemon and Vanilla martini.

We were out for a few drinks and it was a great place for good service and a different vibe.

Visiting from Weymouth, Newbury used to be my home town, I've called in a cpl of times in the last month, staff are very welcoming, landlord let me park my van in the carpark. Best food I've had for a very long time. Definitely will be calling in when I'm next in Newbury. Well done to all the staff and landlord, keep up the great job.

Great atmosphere, decor and music

Thank you James and team, went for a business team lunch, my colleagues had travelled from Birmingham, and all absolutely loved the food, couldn’t get over the size of the portions (lol I did tell them they wouldn’t leave hungry) fab food, fab service and thank you James for my onion rings ❤️

James's pubs are always just so well put together, a great atmosphere, plenty going on with the theme :)

Friendly service and nice atmosphere. Had the 'vegan bites' which were a really tasty starter, followed by a Lebanese flatbread 'burger' which was delicious. Will definitely go again if I have any more business trips to Newbury.

A goto for me for everything from a quiet night with a great cocktail through to a gorgeous meal and drinks to start my night! Hands down the best food in Newbury! Such a cool vibe too! 10/10 would highly recommend!

Great to be back at the Cross Keys , friends have been saying food and atmosphere are great. Went the other day before Xmas shut down, had a crispy chicken and smashed burger. Massive and tasted great with their own brewed lager no8 . Will be back !

As a group we haven't been into the cross keys for many years, It use to be what can only be described as an old man's pub, however this is no longer the case. Great atmosphere, Great choice of drinks and an all-round great evening.

Love this local pub. Amazing food and great service by the staff. The cocktails are awesome, too. It's nice and cosy, though when it gets busy, it gets really noisy, which is when we step out. Would prefer to keep this gem a secret but can't resist to share . Lol

EDIT: Been here since it has opened. Absolutely amazing staff, they really take care of the patrons. Absolutely legendary and unreal food. If you want to have your tastbuds blown come here now!?! OG: i have been here a dozen times. All I can say is 100% success rate. Never been disappointed, always an amazing meal out. Also if you want to customize your order you can. If you ask for insane spice they do deliver an amazing firey meal! 10/10 would recommend!

We recently organised our team night out, and we had a group of 24 people! The wonderful team at the Cross Key went above and beyond to accommodate our sizable party, ensuring that the evening was nothing short of absolutely fabulous. The culinary offerings were truly exceptional, with each dish being spot on in terms of taste and deliciousness. I cannot recommend this establishment highly enough; it truly exceeded our expectations.

It's a great place to go. Staff are always friendly and make you feel welcome every time. Price is reasonable.

Visited here for pre drinks on our works Xams night out! Everything about this place is great. Thank you, will be back soon!

Great food, great service, everyone was very happy and absolutely stuffed. Great to see a town pub with plenty of customers and on a Tuesday night as well. 👍🏻

Great food. Cool vibes and incredibly friendly staff. Will visit again!

Super ales and lagers with a menu for easy eating. New favourite spot in Newbury. Food was superb and great portions. Music was great for atmosphere together with the decor makes for a great time out. Recommend!

Great burger. Sat by a fireplace and enjoyed the heat, meal and atmosphere.

Had lunch here on Friday and it was great. Very generous portions, delicious flavours and a lovely ambience. Friendly and efficient service from Sarah too. Will definitely be back.

Best pub in Newbury. Love the decor and atmosphere. Staff are incredibly friendly attentive and genuinely helpful. Food is beyond good, and in particular the Cuban sandwich is a revelation. So good.

Amazing food… really really good I can’t stress enough. Staff all lovely and very helpful great time 👌🏼

Chilled place, amazing style, awesome staff. Popped in last night to catch up with a mate, a couple of Cross Keys g&t's sat at the bar - open fire, absolutely brilliant. I got there early and the staff were real welcoming, I especially liked that it's a dog friendly place (so I'll be back with the dawg!). Good food selection which I'm looking forward to trying another time. Thanks CrossKeys crew!

Just brilliant and that's everything

Excellent food, and really great atmosphere and decor! Sarah was super welcoming and looked after us brilliantly, as well. We'll be back!

Lovely pub with wonderful decor the staff are really friendly and welcoming and the food is delicious. They also take dogs to which is a huge bonus and a great place to pop into for a glass of wine or something nice to eat.

What a great place to go if you want fantastic service, food and drinks. Really busy on a Monday night, lovely staff and huge portions of delicious food. Loved the steampunk vibe, totally recommend everything about it

Excellent service from Sarah and the team. The best food we have had in a long time. We will be back very soon. Thank you for having us.

Only had a drink but food looked lovely .

Quaint pup with quick food, very nice ambience and quick service

Excellent food and service. Massive portions and really authentic food. Service was great as was atmosphere wwith loads different beer

We only visit Newbury once a year and have not been to The Cross Keys since 2015 as we usually stay at the other end of town. We will not be returning even though we very much liked the eclective and interesting steam punk decor. Unfortunately it was very hot inside with lit candles everwhere but mainly because it was so overpriced. £23 for 2 pints and a small wine - twice the average in the town centre. 3 times Wetherspoon!

Currently the best pub in Newbury. Everything is top class from food, to environment (amazing interior) and extremely friendly staff offering quick and professional service. We feel so welcome here and that’s a key reason to be coming back as repeat customers.

Get the Cuban, you won't be disappointed

A last-minute booking at the Cross Keys in Newbury was really good. The staff were excellent and patient with us and our 6 year old. The food was delicious - loaded fries were AMAZING and the burgers were huge and tasty. I would really recommend. Next time I'm in the area, I will be sure to come back!

Nice place to have some drinks and a bite. The food portions are generous and the staff was very friendly.

Came here on a night before working and the owner gifted me a much needed cable for work the next day literally saving my bacon. Also offered to warm up my sausage rolls (not a euphemism). Absolute sweet hearts, will definitely come again

I love this Pub / Restaurant , Amazing steam punk vibe and a fantastic chef with lovely accomodating staff , we had all the staters tapas style , just wow the prawns were amazing in a lovely chili oil with baked dipping bread yum , tempura style pickled onion rings never came across before but works beautifully , sums this chef up he has an imagination that he puts on your plate , the simosa's hot and fragrant with a delicious dipping sauce , please hunt this pub out its off the beaten track but so worth it , now back to my frozen daikari .

Well done to The Cross Keys, we had a great evening. Very attentive service backed up by great food from a quirky menu. The best chilli squid I've had in ages and lamb flat breads to rival flavours from Moro in London. Really, really good, and our kids loved it too. Can't wait to come back.

A funky bar with some great decor and then there is the food wow it's great but the portions are mammoth be prepared for a rather full belly

What a lovely evening. It's been a while since I caught up with James and Magda and The Cross Keys lived up to expectations - great food (doggy bag required), cold drinks ('twas a bit warm), excellent staff of course and cool tunes and decor (the latter being a flavour of 50's/60's Cuban style which shouldn't be a surprise to those who have frequented Chez James et Magda in years gone by). Thank you lovely people for a superbly chilled evening. We will definitely be back, Gary and Lin

It would be a crime to not visit if your hungry and in the area or just passing through. I travel all over the u.k and this is up there with the best of the best real good quality food and the chef is a master

Staff friendly and helpful. Service was very good. Overall an enjoyable experience. Would recommend.

Have been before so not fazed by unusual decor. Staff most helpful and obliging.

Small pub with antique ambience it has nice collection of ales

We stopped off here on a long journey for a bite to eat! Great atmosphere, lovely, knowledgeable staff and food outstanding! Would highly recommend.

Ate lunch here and were greeted warmly, loved the quirky decor which really makes it stand out. Food was fabulous and even though we don’t live near Newbury, I’ll make a plan to come back here for sure.

Great service and delicious food

Wow! This is the third time we've eaten here (en route to Southampton for a cruise) and the food, drinks, and service are second to none! We ordered the chicken burger and Philly steak sandwich, then shared half each, and it was utterly delicious! Whenever we stay in Newbury we'll be back. We couldn't bear to try anywhere else in case it disappoints! Thanks again Cross Keys!

A bit of an acquired taste. Only one real ale available. But very pleasant and helpful staff. Nice atmosphere.

How big are the portions!!! Don't be fooled by the description. They are huge. Go hungry!

Amazing atmosphere and food, making you feel right at home. The family running this place has an eye for the details and a true taste for all things worth indulging in! Definitely make a visit and you will come again and again! Dog friendly! It’s almost like the guests have been invited as they are all super nice! The interior decorations that the landlady is responsible for deserve a visit themselves!

Absolutely stunning place with the most captivating interior I've ever experienced in my life 🫠

Such a great venue for drinks, the food is very good too.

Fantastic place. Great atmosphere, food and staff. Cool decor too. I'm only in Newbury for the day but will be back again.

Went for a drink. Dog friendly.

Phenomenal food here and huge portion sizes. The staff very clearly care a lot about your experience and the chef is really passionate about the food that he cooks. Potentially the best eating spot in Newbury.

Lovely Thatchers Cloudy Lemon. Friendly staff!

Great pub with a really chilled atmosphere, the food was great,,and I've found a new favourite beer,,go in and have a Madri, five stars 👍

Friendly staff, fabulous and unique decor, great beer selection.

Great staff. Check out the comic wallpaper in toilets

Wow! Best food I’ve eaten out for a very long time. We had the Cuban, the Reuben, Philly cheese steak and Korean loaded fries. Everything was absolutely delicious! Sandwiches were massive and had to bring a bit home. Didn’t last very long though… Staff were lovely and friendly and it was clear that the chef takes so much pride in what is served. Loved the menu and so nice to have something a bit different. Thank you! We will be back soon.

Wow! Best food I’ve eaten out for a very long time. We had the Cuban, the Reuben, Philly cheese steak and Korean loaded fries. Everything was absolutely delicious! Sandwiches were massive and had to bring a bit home. Didn’t last very long though… Staff were lovely and friendly and it was clear that the chef takes so much pride in what is served. Loved the menu and so nice to have something a bit different. Thank you! We will be back soon.

I had lovely meal. With them. I live opposite..

Nice place, definitely somewhere I'd eat again

The menu appeared to have a lot of burgers and chicken wings so our expectations were low. I had the Mexican fries (hot chilli beef over hot cheesy chips and a cold sala on top) and my wife had the Po Boy chill (chilli and salad on a long baguette). Both were tasty and filling. We shared a hot chocolate chip cookie dough with ice cream and were well pleased with the food. Attentive staff and a cosy atmosphere (log fire pub like decor) but make sure you book in advance.