The Cross Keys in Newark and Sherwood

Had a lovely lunch at the Cross Keys. Brilliantly looked after by Alison. The Halloumi starter raised the comment from my sister of best starter I have ever had and she has done a lot of eating out. The mains, Belly Pork & Confit of Duck Leg were spot on. With regard to the desserts, just look at the photo. Delicious all three. Great food at a very reasonable price. Going back soon. Highly recommend.

This was our second visit to the Cross Keys for lunch and is fast becoming our favourite place to dine. As last time, cheery welcome by Alison, good choice of food including game dishes which are not always available elsewhere. The food was again cooked to perfection, fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. None of the warmed up microwaved meals common at other pub chains. Absolutely delicious and reasonably priced.Busy planning our next visit... can't wait. Thank you! 😊

Absolutely love this place food is always so good and staff are so friendly. Lovely atmosphere as well

Food was excellent and the service had right amount of attention carried out with humour. My husband is a big 6’2”boy in a wheelchair. I had gone to recce the place last week to see if he could easily access and to choose a table that he could get to without navigating other tables without disturbing other diners. The lady I saw showed me around and booked us a great table (1) When we got there tonight the table was set exquisitely and the opposing chair had already been removed. Attention to detail and consideration like that, made it a fuss free night with the most crunchy but fluffy interior chips ever ever ever. Defo our treat date night eatery.

We booked a table for 4 at lunchtime, received a warm welcome and were shown to our table. Pleasant surroundings, albeit maybe a little old fashioned, but we were quite happy with that as we thought it characterful. A reasonable choice of food, including a blackboard detailing specials for the day. Each course was delightful, well presented and delicious. We chose a wide selection, from tempura prawns, sardines to pigeon breast for starters and belly pork and tilapia for mains. To follow chocolate torte and rhubarb sponge with vanilla ice cream. The food was faultless, including the side vegetables, all cooked to perfection. To top it all the service was top rate, it's great to be served by people who are enthusiastic and interested in hospitality, a rare find. Alison and Alex were both brilliant 👏 great banter, a pleasure to visit. Will definitely be back. A couple of us visited the Reindeer at Hoveringham (nearby locality) for lunch the previous week, see separate review, but The Cross Keys is in a different league with the complexity and choice of food alone.

fantastic friendly team of staff, the food was delicious and hot and i could not fault the visit at all. will definitely return. Belly pork was the best ive had in a long while, everything was really tasty.

Delicious Sunday lunch served by a lovely team of staff. Pigeon starter was amazing served with a raspberry dressing and the Roast Beef Main was so enjoyed served with an array of fresh and seasonal vegetables. A very inclusive pub with a great play area situated at the rear which our grandson enjoyed. A fabulous Sunday treat. Thank you.

The pub was very nice and old and the staff were really nice and helpful with the menu. The starters were really nice. I had chicken which was very nice My friend had venison which was cold and tough so had to be returned but the staff were excellent and replaced her meal. The replacement meal was spot on. So everything was great in the end. Thank you.

Had a birthday celebration meal on Saturday night. Six of us and a border collie. The food was the best we’ve had in a very long time ( well done chef!) served by very friendly staff who couldn’t do enough for us. Looking forward to the next visit

We really enjoyed the Sunday lunch, yorkshires we're wonderful. Reasonable prices, friendly service. There is a but though - it's a lovely village pub but the place is tatty, untidy & lacks care. There was a used comb on the bar next to the till, the bar was full of unwashed glasses. It all looked a bit if a mess. It's the same when you enter through the back door, it all wants a good tidy up. These things do matter, will we go again, not sure for this reason sadly.

Shame about the overcharging and the wrong starter. Had pea and ham soup brought out instead of mushroom soup, the wild mushroom soup was ok, but not amazing. I had a round venison burger in a rectangular ciabatta which was odd and difficult to pick up, should be in a round bun,advertised at 7-50 and chips , advertised at 3-00. Sardines were alright on my wife's starter, and the salmon was good, except the new potatoes with them were cold. Now, the bill, I was charged 12-95 for burger and chips, and 3-00 for an extra chips, which we didn't have, I got the 3-00 removed and questioned the jump from 10-50 for the food on the menu to 12-95 on the bill and was told it was for sauce and the ciabatta, which I reluctantly accepted as the waitress was really nice. However, I left no tip as I was overcharged twice on the bill and the other issues. Has a huge turn over of staff for some reason and was quite empty for a Saturday night. We have been several times before and have been overcharged previously, but we won't return. The ladies behind me were enjoying a drink on the house which may have made our experience more palatable, nice to look after the regulars, poor if you don't live in Epperstone though.

We visited early December 22 on a Saturday lunchtime and I chose the crisp confit of duck since its a favorite of mine. It came pale skinned and I had to discard that since it was very soft. Then the meat had to be prised off the bone....quite the opposite of anything I have eaten that was called confit ..... it must have been microwaved but was quite tough. That and the vegetables were not hot either but just warm enough not to send back. My wife's butternut and sage soup was tasteless and watery ....she thought the chef could not have even tasted what he was serving. Not a good experience .... such a shame as we had looked forward to it.

A massive thank you to Des, Chris and thier team for an amazing Sunday Diner. When my Queen of my house asks me she wants to have a Sunday, then where best to book than at a place where the chef/owner has personally cooked for the Queen himself. So proud to have such an amazing place near us. I should visit more often...highly recommend this place. 10/10

We really enjoyed the meal that we had the other night.. Service was great and the food to match... I had the best bread and butter pudding I have ever had and the pimms trifle was enjoyed by my partner.. We will be back

Service was good and the staff friendly. Food advertised is very different from that served, unfortunately. Some of the vegetables were clearly recooked from the previous day or sittings. Some of the vegetables were just poor quality. Lack of attention to detail concerning napkins, glasses and cutlery in terms of cleanliness. We ate the mains as we thought they were of reasonable quality but the vegetarian option was bland. Wine was good.

My first visit to this gem of a pub in a beautiful village in Nottinghamshire. There was a large group of us celebrating the end of term and a colleagues retirement. The food was amazing and the best meal I've had in a very long...

Found this place at the last minute as we wanted to try somewhere new and not in the city. The food is just lovely and the service is friendly and good. All of the food was great but the deserts are fabulous. The Pimms trifle...

We had dressed crab and Parmesan chips The meal was delicious and the accompanying salad fresh and tasty with a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds. Deserts were delicious in the form of bread and butter pudding and lemon frangipane with raspberry sorbet. The whole experience was...

We visited this restaurant for lunch when on our walk from Southwell-Hallam-Oxton-Epperston-Halloughton-Southwell. This restaurant is a gem. The food was delicious, well presented and portions were good size. Service was very friendly and when I mentioned I had a sore throat, I was given lemon,...

My husband and I brought our grandchildren,as we have done on numerous occasions.Wobbly table caused drinks to fall off the tray on sitting down.Annoyed,as drinks weren't cheap.Bar lady wasn't going to meet us halfway in replenishing our drinks,saying she couldn't justify replacing £17 worth of...

Just been here for Mothers Day. What a brilliant find! Staff are really friendly, delicious and dogs welcome! Highly recommend!

We have decided to venture out to country pubs for our Monday lunch , This was our first pub and we were not disappointed - a lovely setting - friendly service and a good variety of meals. Well above the standard of normal pub grub....

Just had the best meal in a long time at The Cross Keys, Epperstone. The waitress was quite special and definitely added a touch of quality!

Fantastic local pub with lovely staff. Dez the owner is always welcoming!! P.s - allison is wonderful.

Lovely food, friendly staff (especially Allison) and welcoming pub atmosphere, would recommend to anybody wanting a friendly pub/restaurant experience

As always the service so very friendly and efficient. The food second to none. So pleased we live nearby and are able to sample the delights of this wonderful pub! I seriously rate the staff and food wise the Yorkshire puddings! The bread and butter...

Been a very long time since I last visited this venue. I am disappointed with myself for not making it a regular place, especially as it's not far from me. My birthday lunch was excellent. The waitress was so lovely too. The best Bread &...

I arrived at 12 noon precisely on a busy Sunday in the August Bank Holiday weekend. Sharna the waitress found me a table straight away even though they were booked up for most of lunch service. I noticed how friendly and patient Sharna was with...

Absolutely delicious! Staff extremely friendly and experienced. We enjoyed every second of our visit not to mention the bread and butter pudding incredible! Thank you so much Can’t wait to return!

Great pub with great food and great beer not much more you can ask for .. very attentive staff. All 6 guests were happy with the food and service The Cross Keys is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area

First visit here for us, today. Everything was just right; good choice of drinks, nice outdoor dining space on a sunny day. My belly pork was superb, as good as i have ever had. The sandwiches and chips went down well with the rest of...

Had a table for 6 for sister's 60th birthday bash but blown out the day before because they want to show the footie. OK its rare Englands footballers get so far in a tournament but i'm pretty sure my sister only gets one 60th birthday....

Super pretty country pub on the outskirts of Nottingham, which has adapted well, making the most of the outside space available. Pretty decked area situated in the car park, but on the quiet Friday lunchtime we visited this area wasn't overcrowded, nor imposed on by...

Wow the food was so tasty. We had the Panaha Steak with Parmesan chunky chips. Such good value at £12.50. The bread and butter pudding was the best we’ve ever tasted and to top it all off such friendly service . I’ve heard the Sunday...

Went on Sunday with family. All 3 roast dinner meals stone cold. Once re-heated they were so dry it was awful. Fish pie for me and my daughter was luke warm and it looked liked they simply halved the adults portion between us. I was...

Delicious Sunday lunch. Well cooked, and plentiful. Will repeat this delightful experience again - very soon.

We booked to go here with our dog at the end of a lovely walk. We arrived a little early, but were welcomed in, shown to our table in a really safe environment. My wife ordered the beef and I chose the chicken dinner. We...

Visited on Tuesday - had a fantastic meal. Amazing Bread & Butter pudding. Very Covid safe. Thank you

The first time when we booked for an evening meal the food and reception was good. Not today. Just a foul, stinking, rude, unfriendly attitude. So bad in fact that we left without ordering. Not sure if it was racial, we were dressed wrong, not...

Had a rare chance to eat as a couple rather than a family. My wife had been before, so we went for Sunday lunch. Wonderful dinner and desserts. Good service and very reasonably priced.

My wife and I had yet another brilliant meal last week, Des is an excellent chef and all the staff are really friendly and helpful. This was our third visit since reopening due to the Covid rules relaxing and all 3 meals have been superb....

Another really wonderful Sunday lunch at the Cross Keys Epperstone. Attentive friendly staff, delicious food as always and a safe dining experience in these uncertain times . Thank you for quality food and service in a lovely relaxed atmosphere ! We will be back ASAP...

Perhaps the fact that the website is out of date and lacking information following reopening after lockdown should be noted as a reflection of lack of care and attention by the owners. However as many people mention in their reviews, The Cross Keys does appear...

...according to my boys! We all ordered the chicken curry and chocolate torte and EVERYONE loved it. This is unheard of in our family: as parents, we either endure kid-food or endure a torrent of complaints, but not this time. The curry had a fabulous...

We went for a family dinner at this lovely pub/restaurant situated in a pretty village. Other family members have enjoyed it before, and I would certainly recommend. Quite a compact menu but with a specials board and plenty of choice-all beautifully cooked and very friendly...

Four couples + dog arrange to meet one Saturday a month for a meal. For January I chose The Cross Keys as I had been there before. Very good meal and excellent service with a space on the floor nearby for the dog. A very enjoyable lunch with friends not spoiled by loud music or other extraneous noise.

We eat here as a family around once a month or so. We have always had excellent meals with fantastic service. I strongly recommend it particularly for Sunday Lunch.

Just had the most amazing meal to conclude a lovely day shooting locally with friends and family. Beautiful roast beef, served pink (as requested) with all the trimmings and Yorkshire puddings to die for. Very friendly and welcoming with good service. Have booked to return on Wednesday as a smaller group - why settle for anything less

My husband and I had the pleasure of enjoying a fabulous sunday lunch in this beautiful country pub .Forget chain pubs! This is a quality fine dining restaurant thanks to the head chef Des who leads the team here .The beef was tender and mouth watering and roast potatoes crisp with vegetables cooked to perfection . Food aside the pub has a welcoming wood burner and attentive staff which epitomises what makes the perfect village pub . How lucky are we to have this in Nottinghamshire . Can highly recommend .

So after speaking with the waitress that looked after our table and informing her that we were slightly in a hurry we were served very slow from taking the order. The food came out just warm... And the waitress seemed very occupied by other tables rather than looking after us. We will try again and i hope to amend this review.

Family celebration meal. Great choice/quality/flavour. My crab salad was gorgeous & the family loved the roast dinner. Would recommend the bread & butter pudding too..de-lish!!

We took some friends for lunch midweek, it was the first time they had been and we had told them how good the food was. We were not disappointed, it was great. Three of os had fish and it melted in your mouth, the other meal was lamb and thoroughly enjoyed. Very good food enjoyed by all.

Just had the most fantastic Sunday lunch ever at The Cross Keys Epperstone. Tasty roast beef and Yorkshire pudding- delicious and cooked to perfection - the food here is always amazing as are the staff and the lovely relaxing atmosphere. Thank you so much - we will be back ( again) ASAP !! Lawrence & Julia C.

Me and a few friends came for dinner I had the pork belly and it was amazing .Both the kids had chicken and chips and for pudding it was the bread and butter and chocolate torte.

Most disappointing. The food left a lot to be desired. The roast beef was tough and hard to eat. The roast potatoes were not crispy and were tasteless. The Yorkshire pudding was far too big, dry and lacking flavour. The pork T-bone steak was bland and dry. The Cherry trifle was not fresh and the custard like rubber.

Friendly welcoming staff. Excellent food in a very pleasant restaurant. The service was quick and caring. The food was delicious. Didn’t feel rushed and was definitely value for money. Favourite eatery in the area. Will certainly come again.

This place had been recommended to us. Both my British wife and I had the Roast Angus beef Sunday Lunch. Meat was dry and well overcooked. Yorkshire pudding was burned and not edible. As we looked in shock the waitress offered to replace Yorkshire puddings. When replacements came, they were not much better. Still not edible. Roast potatoes were hard and tasteless. Poor beer selection to boot. Been visiting England annually since 1991 and this is the worst Sunday Lunch we have ever had. Will not be returning. To bad too, as wait staff seemed pleasant and attentive.

I visited recently on a Sunday in a group of 6 people, it was totally spur of moment and we hadn’t booked in advance , but luckily they were able to fit us in ( just as well we arrived when we did as they were rammed soon after )

Visited today for Sunday lunch - sat outside on the decking. We both had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. For desert, I had the best Bread and Butter pudding I have ever tasted. It was luscious and moist - with plenty of crispy bits and not at all stodgy. Service and food were excellent. Had a nice conversation with the Chef. The chickens that roamed freely outside also looked happy. Very enjoyable, and look forward to our next visit.

My wife and I called here on spec on a Thursday evening on the way home from a cricket match at Trent Bridge. We were able to get one of the few empty tables.

We went last weekend with friends and I enjoyed it very much. Starters were superb and the crayfish risotto we shared was sublime; the plaice that followed it was wonderful. The pork belly was carrying a little too much residual fats than was expected by a couple of our party but still tasted great. A very enjoyable evening and we will be going again because there is a lot of good food on offer.

I love eating locally and it pains me to review a once promising restaurant with a stinging review. (See previous review July 2016)

Amazing place, great menu and excellent food which was beautifully presented and every course was delicious. Good choice of wines beers and spirits to accompany the food. The service was excellent, We will definitely be coming back again.

firstly I always expect good service....as that's someone's job,so I very rarely feel the need to overtly express my view. BUT WOW!!!!!!!! Easter bank holiday, a bunch of friends and I know every theme park or 'well known' country pubs will be packed. I'd herd of the cross keys from a couple that went for a romantic evening meal,but she'd told me that it's very child friendly has a play ground in the back garden so you know your children are within eye. She also said the food was out of this world.

Set in a beautiful location with a lovely outside area with play park for the children. We spent about 3 hours there and only came home because it was getting cold. The food and drink is reasonably priced and absolutely delicious. The puddings where to die for especially the bread and butter pudding . The only reason for 4 stars is that they don't do children meals, however, they do sell chips and goujons but buying them separately was a little pricey in my opinion (especially for little ones). Will definitely be going back, but without the children which is a shame giving the setting.

Great place for kids with lots to do on the climbing frames and trampolines! Really family friendly with plenty of big tables and garden space. Service was brilliant with all of the staff being really welcoming.

My husband and I have just been for an evening meal at the cross keys and our first impressions were good a!though there are a lot of tables in quite a small area making it a bit awkward for staff to get around.The menu is quite small and we h opted for specials on the blackboard which was two courses for £17.95. We both had sardines with lemon butter and Pinochet steak which on asking was basically a minute steak(approx 4oz )!which I think was rather expensive. We were not asked how we would !like them cooking, and they both were well done in some in parts and rare in others bits.The chips were home cooked and very nice tho. We had a pint and a glass of wine and on getting the bill we were charged for two more drinks which we hadnt had so had to query the bill. All in all a very expensive meal and not great.

Had eaten here before and enjoyed it so decided to return. What a disappointment this time. My friend ordered the cod in a tomato and olive sauce. The fish was undercooked and the sauce very bland, under seasoned and resembled a tin of tomatoes with a couple of olives thrown in at the end. We did complain and this was deducted off the bill. I had a chicken dish in a leek sauce with vegetables. The leeks were tough, the sauce gloopy and the chicken under seasoned. The accompanying new potatoes tasted old and were dry. Sadly it has put us off going back.

Having read the reviews we went to this pub for Sunday lunch but we would not recommend. The food was average and a small boat of veg to share between four which wasn't good enough. As a minimum, I expect a piece of broccoli per person which isn't unreasonable. But we did get extra gravy which isn't standard in most pubs.

If you are in Nottingham you must try the Cross Keys Kitchen at Epperstone. The food, cooked by Des and his team is brilliant, try the bread and butter pud. The staff are very helpful and friendly. There is a good selection of beers and wine. Log fire when its cold, that atmosphere is great.

Had a drive to Epperstone & called in the Cross Keys for dinner the Staff were vary friendly the food was vary nice the hospitality was first class the presentation was vary good the place was vary clean the staff were vary professional will call again!.

Husband booked ther restaurant to celebrate my birthday. We arrived and were shown to a table shunted in half behind a chimney breast. Next to us was a party on a large round table and an empty table ready for a large group, behind us a group who had taken over a section of the restaurant. It was clearly evident that if we sat down at the same time as the other tables it would be impossible to move again. Imagine having to ask four people to move if for example you needed the toilet.

We have a favourite walk from this pub which we do a handful of times every year but I always try to make sure we stop by for a pint and something to eat. Ample parking, pleasant waitress and good choice on menu. Every village should have one

Really pretty village pub, great food, very good service, friendly locals - makes a refreshing change as sunday lunch quality in the area is generally poor. We will certainly return.

Ordered turkey, expected freshly sliced portions, but oh dear what a dissapointment. Convinced our dinners had been taken out of boxes and microwaved or similar also more stuffing than meat. Absolutely no atmosphere, bright lights, putting the wall lights on would have been better, but very friendly, helpful waitress.

Fantastic reception. Staff maid us all feel very welcome from the moment we walked through the door. Food was exceptional and accompanied by a good wine list. Would highly recommend.

Previously we had enjoyed an excellent lunch earlier on in the year.

This was our second Birthday meal here. Fabulous food, really varied and exciting menu, excellent staff. An absolute delight.

We chose The Cross Keys in Epperstone to celebrate our Ruby Wedding Lunch with eleven friends. We had exclusive use of a large table in The Boot Room The staff and service were delightful, and the was meal absolutely superb. A very relaxed atmosphere, much enjoyed by all. Would strongly recommend !,

I don't usually leave reviews but after the meal I had here I feel compelled to.

Me and my family came for Sunday lunch and from the moment we walked in to the moment we left... We all could not believe how warm welcoming accommodating and friendly all the staff were.

Visited on the strength of other glowing reviews. Terrible mistake. Seems ok on first inspection but has a distinct lack of atmosphere, music would be preferable. Felt very densely packed in too. Too little room to manoeuvre around. Must important of all this place does not live up to its hype. Our meals were amongst the worst we’ve had in a long time. Tasteless, pour quality meat.. I could go on. In short, it was bad enough to feel the need to leave before enjoying the obligatory two courses.. no one questioned this. And it’s absolutely small enough that this would not have gone unnoticed. Never again

Cannot find fault with anything and would recommend it to you all. The food was all cooked to the very highest of standards and absolutely delicious- spiced haddock goujons/ pumpkin and shallot risotto/ lamb shank/ poached pear/bread and butter pudding. The interior is so very well laid out because although its not that big the tables are spaced to give everyone room. The waiting staff are polite, efficient and knowledgeable-a credit to their employers. Does all of this come at a price- no its superb value for money as well.

We have been here quite a lot and every meal has been very good. The specials are great and the warmth of the welcome is noteworthy. Do visit, you will not regret it.

Absolutely wonderful Sunday roast . The staff , atmosphere, food and decor are perfect. Would highly recommend.

Had a wonderful 3 course evening meal at The Cross Keys.

What a lovely surprise when you go for a 5 mile walk through lovely countryside and end up at a place like this. They could not have been more friendly and accommodating. The food was excellent and amazing value for the quality. The wine was sumptuous and all with a constant smile. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.

Wow!!! What a fantastic meal - the food was wonderful and the staff and service were amazing - the staff were very attentive but not overpowering - leaving us as a group of friends to catch up, the food was absolutely delicious and was served nice and hot. The ambience of the place was great - it was busy but felt very relaxing. Will definitely be returning. Ps the bread and butter pudding with butterscotch sauce is to die for!!!!! Well done everyone at The Cross Keys

We went in here today hoping to manage to get a sandwich or something. What we managed to have was a stunning meal with great service despite not having booked. The food was absolutely delicious and all 3 of us had the two course lunch. The ambience in here is lovely and we were made to feel extremely welcome. This is a very smart pub with beautiful food. Love it!!

We arrived at 12.30 for 12.45 we weren’t rushed by the fantastic for our lunch choice excellent food and service a big thank you to Des and his team John

The Cross Keys Epperstone, what a gem, tucked away in one of Nottinghamshire’s most lovely villages. a really warm welcome the weary customer, the extensive menu, beers and wines, are a delight. As the head chef was a former cook to Her Majesty the Queen, You will not be disappointed by the menu, it is full of modern ideas with combinations and tastes, the portions are good. But the staff are never in a hurry to move you on, in a relaxed atmosphere and a pleasure to visit....

Visited this pub/restaurant on a soggy Sunday afternoon and it will be the first of many visits. When I made booking I was asked if there were any special dietary requirements. This was a first from any restaurant and I was most impressed as I have a food allergy. The welcome was surprising from a pub. Chef and front of house staff all greeted in a cheery manner even though it was late in the day. Granddaughter ordered a meal that didn’t include one of their amazing Yorkshire puddings but was offered one as well. I rarely eat roast lunch but the meal was absolutely delicious and vegetables cooked to perfection. Bread and butter pudding with butterscotch sauce was so light and delicious I could have eaten two if I had room. If you are thinking of visiting here do so as I cannot recommend it highly enough. I do not often have glowing reports as restaurants do not deal well with an onion allergy but full praise to them.

Just returned home from eating here and I can honestly say if it wasn’t for the landlady’s extremely bad attitude and her vicious dog - which attacked my five month old puppy once, and also took a second attempt - I’d have considered giving the place five stars.

On a recommendation we called into the Cross Keys at Epperstone, initially for a drink and to sit in the sunshine - we sat outside at the front of the pub, looked at the food menu and decided to eat supper.

After reading a positive review for this pub in a local magazine and all the positive reviews on trip advisor we decided to give it a try for our wedding anniversary.

As always a return visit & yet another wonderful dinner. Pigeon breast starter was yummy, dressed Crab I love with excellent salad, followed by exquisite deserts even if not ideal for the figure!

What a wonderful place. We only came to drink but I did witness many of the food dishes being brought out and they looked and smelt amazing. I shall return for food.

Consistent quality food with a changing menu of local produce and great wine selection. Enjoy coming here for occasions but also great for quality lunches.

There were 4 of us for Sunday lunch... the food and service were fantastic... the menu had a great selection for all 3 courses and as the weather was so lovely the waitress offered to set us a table up on the decking to have our desserts in the sunshine. We will certainly visit again.

We went to The Kitchen at the Cross Keys on a recommendation.