Ye Olde Cross Keys in Suffolk Coastal

Stopped in here after a lovely walk along the sea front. We were too early for evening food but we're made to feel extremely welcome. The lady behind the bar was extremely friendly and attentive to us. When the kitchen opened one of our group has dietary requirements that meant changes to the advertised meal, again she was so knowledgeable. The food was hot and fresh and all four of us said we will be returning on our next visit. Thank you!

We visited the area last autumn and i was walking past the "Keys" when I saw a log fire burning and the lights were on. I mean, what can you do but go in? So I did, and the staff reception was great, friendly, and chatty and I enjoyed an ' Adnams' malt whiskey. A new malt for me and I'm a malt lover. It's distilled nearby in Southwold and I subsequently bought a bottle in the town. Delicious. We weren't staying at the pub so I can not comment on the accommodation.

Brilliant pub. Great service, location and food. Plenty outdoor seating.

Had a lovely overnight stay last week. Super comfortable room above a lovely pub. Staff were very welcoming, dinner served in front of the fire. Good choice of breakfast the next morning, also served in front of the fire! All in all, a great get away, few streets from the beach.

We had a lovely meal and the service was great 👍

Love it here. Absolutely banging food. We stayed last year and it was fantastic so thought we would call for lunch. The Manager remembered us and we got a warm welcome. Its so lovely, we will be back! X

A great friendly pub, fantastic food & good beer.

Lovely old pub: nice people, good choice of Adnams beer/wine, hearty food, always popular ( log fire in winter especially popular 🍺🔥😊) (NB: pretty sure you can't book a table unless you're staying there overnight - go early if you can!)

Had a great pint of IPA and other drinks very nice place to eat and drink

Nice friendly pub. Have not stayed and have not eaten here for a while but generally a good choice of admams beer and wine.

Sunday lunch is just amazing 👏 beautifully cooked beef, grate selection of vegetables and the best red cabbage I've ever tasted.

Room at Cross Keys was great and the general atmosphere was very friendly and pleasant. Special mention for Emily who made us feel most welcome.

A lovely weekend away exploring the area and Adams 😊 We we’re all impressed with level of service from every member of staff… from the General Manager David to the part-time bar staff, everyone was happy and pleased to serve you. One of the best weekends away we’ve ever had.

We visited several times while staying on holiday locally. Very nice traditional pub in the town centre. We welcomed the warm fire as it was poring with rain outside on our first visit. Great choice of beers with a few I've never seen before. My only slight complaint was that a couple of the girls serving weren't very welcoming and didn't come across as very happy. However, we will definitely visit again when back in the area.

We stayed as a party of four at the Cross Keys for two nights in October and had a brilliant time. The rooms were both lovely and the beds were super comfortable. We ate there one evening and had breakfast both mornings, and can't fault the food at all, it was all delicious! We also cannot praise the staff enough. Dave, the manager who checked us in, was so friendly and helpful. We didn't catch the names of anyone else but they were all fantastic, a credit to the Adnams brand. Will definitely be back!

Lovely little pub with good beer and food.

Delicious, savoury, yeasty, Adnams bitter in front of a wood fire. Wondrous

Lovely dog friendly pub. I chose the Soup of the Day, handmade tomato and basil soup with fresh basil leaves, served with warm bread. Coffee was great too.

The pub is fine, if not small. There is an outside area (paved) off the main road. There are no baby change facilities at all, which is a slight issue…

Dog friendly pub great staff lovely atmosphere, would definitely revisit , unable to rate rooms as didn't stay ,

Great option in Aldeburgh for a short stay...so close to the beach! Staff were great, as was the breakfast. No designated parking but plenty of free spaces on The Crag. Just 3 rooms - ours was basic but clean and spacious. We'll definitely stay here again

Had lunch here. Good, wholesome food, cooked to order, with a fine range of real ales 🍺 👌

Nice pub very close to town centre . We stayed for one night , room was pleasant although bed was small and not particularly comfortable . We had a meal in the evening , my burger was fine but my wife's fish pie did not contain much fish .

Great little pub. Good selection of beers and my wife enjoyed the Kir Royale and her Halloumi fries

Came here for a meal the food was really good and reasonably priced. The staff were very friendly and a great atmosphere

Apart from a pretty poor check in. The bar girl supposedly forgot to get the manager and he's the only one that can do check in is my take on it! Everything else was great. Loved room 1. Great lay out. Comfy bed. Nice shower. TV worked well. Breakfast was superb! Manager turned out to be very good and hard working too. Although above a pub it was quiet and had a little coffee station upstairs, although a kettle was in the bedroom already. Can't wait to return. As good as some of the hotels!

We stumbled on the Cross Keys by chance as we couldn’t stay in our home. One quick search on Booking.com and a positive review from a friend later - we were booked in! The staff were really lovely, checking in on us before and during the stay. The room was perfect - very clean and comfortable, with coffee/teas/biscuits. The stay was excellent value for money, and we’ve since recommended to many friends and family.

What a lovely pint and excellent gin

Really excellent place to stay in Aldeburgh. Central. Lovely rooms that are done to a high standard. Lots of nice touches. Breakfast was great. Service was standout good.

Cosy room with a very comfortable bed. The hotel is perfectly situated to the high street and a stones throw from the beach. The breakfast was delicious

A super little Adnams pub with rooms tucked away from the busy high street with views of the sea from the back terrace. Lovely bedroom, service and delicious breakfast. Highly recommended.

We popped in after a lovely walk along the beach and had a superb meal. The staff are super friendly and very efficient, I would like to thank them for helping to make it such a wonderful day. Highly recommended.

Considering we called in at peak time and it was really busy the staff were on it. Worth a special mention, when a fellow customer attempted to push in front of my son the lady behind the bar recognised this and chose to serve my son first. It's attention to detail like this I really appreciate, good on her. Moving onto the food and drink there is a first class selection of ales so off to a good start. No complaints at all. Three of us has different meals and we all agreed the standard was really high. Portion size was spot on and quality of ingredients and flourishing touches sealed the deal. Lovely food, served hot. All in all the small buried away location does not do what is on offer justice. Congrats to all the staff in front and in the kitchen.

Really good food, super friendly staff. Extensive drinks menu.

Great central location in town. We stopped off for lunch, 9 of us plus 3 dogs. Two being large woofers!! We found an area by the bar, which was perfect for us all. Lots of seating both inside and out. Although the outside had a strong breeze, so, with children, we opted for inside. The food took a while to arrive which was understandable as it was busy. Certainly worth the wait! I had the spaghetti bolognese, which came with garlic bread, very flavoursome. Clean plates all round and no room for pudding! We would certainly go back if here on holiday again.

If you are looking for an atmospheric place to dine or stay, this is well worth checking out. Ideal location, loveley spacious room with a sea view (we stayed in Room 1). The Bar and Restaurant serve great local beer and the food is delicious. The staff were enthusiastic and efficient.

We have occasionally had meals here in the past and they have always been very good, but on a recent visit this week we had a lunch and was very disappointing. The meal was expensive for what it was, the bacon was under cooked and the so called baguette was a hot dog roll. We left unimpressed and had a lovely dinner later on elsewhere.

Didn't stay but drank in the pub which is lovely nice beers friendly staff and brilliant location. Would reccomend

On a day trip to Aldeburgh on Wednesday (31st July) we decided to have lunch at the Cross Keys. We have eaten there before and always been really happy with the food. I opted for the smoked salmon baguette but it was sadly unavailable so we both had BLT baguettes. They were awful. The bread was not a baguette but a big lump of hard, chewy stuff that looked like a giant hot dog roll. The streaky bacon was practically raw. The lettuce was not shredded, just a bit of a leaf from the inside of a lettuce chucked inside. It also seemed to have big lumps of butter just placed in it. I am not at all a fussy eater but even I couldn’t eat it. The nicest thing on the plate was some rocket with dressing and (I think) crumbled feta - very nice. The pink coleslaw stuff was ok but a bit heavy on dressing. The waiter was very nice and apologised when we voiced our dissatisfaction with the food but there was no offer of a refund or even maybe a couple of free drinks. As food is paid for in advance we had no option to withhold payment. Hopefully this is a one-off.

Have been there many times for food, drink and generally taking some relaxed time out. Friendly staff and great selection of Adnams beers.

Popped in for a quick drink to get out of the rain. A healthy selection of Adnams beers and cider. Friendly staff and a nice atmosphere. There are tables at the back which look out to the beach.

Nice place to get a pint, staff very friendly.

Great service and beautiful food and drink. Nice place for relaxing and good views out back

The staff were friendly and helpful. We particularly enjoyead dinner on the first night of our two night stay. The Adnams beer was excellent. We were pleased that Adnams has managed to preserve some of the historic features of this old building but still make a modern pub

Only real ale don't like it pub was tidy and staff welcoming

Fantastic couple of nights here. Couldn’t rate it highly enough. Oscar is a gem along with all the other staff. Highly recommend!

Had a lovely meal . The pub was very busy but food still didn’t take long to arrive after ordering. Staff pleasant . Had Fish pie was delicious.

Really enjoyed our too-short stay! Lovely room, great service. Friendly and welcoming, efficient. Comfortable. Very good breakfast.

Had a nice meal and well kept beer. Staff excellent. We were reminded to beware of the beastly seagulls. Didn't get 5 * as the garden was an uninspiring yard and a limited menu. But what we had was good grub.

Well can't fault staff and food, have just enjoyed a lovely meal. Have come here on reviews and are well happy can highly recommend this place

The welcome at the Cross Keys could not have been better. The property is a stones throw from the beach in the centre of town and is an ideal base to explore the area. The room was spotless with a very comfy bed and good sized bathroom. We will be staying again.

The meal was great, pork burger and halloumi wrap, top cheffing. Drinks were a pint spenny £12.10 for a pint of lager, pint of Diet Coke and bag of scampi fries… ouch

Nice, snug pub near to the sea. Great home made chips!

Really friendly pub, with some lovely food. The fish sharing platter is enough for one person to be honest with you, but tasted exquisite. Lovely staff and very dog friendly.

Was not staying at the cross keys but very nice

Great pub with good Adnams beers

Dog friendly, a good pint, great food & very friendly.

Lovely cosy pub and the food looked lovely. We just had drinks. Staff were very friendly

Cozy pub with roaring fire in the heart of Aldeburgh. Nice range of Adnams brews.

Great location, nice basic food, but well presented and delicious, I loved the onion soup. Lovely staff, great service. It's popular, so you may not get a seat inside. It serves food later than some of the other pubs on a Sunday, currently up to 3pm. Didn't use the overnight option only the pub

Your standard Adnams pub in the heart of Aldeburgh. Disappointing they have no baby changing facilities. So if you need to change your child, I guess you have to do it in the middle of the restaurant and people eating. Very hygienic.

Just popped in for a drink Very pleasant

Excellent food on a Sunday evening. Nice atmosphere, good staff.

One of the best beef bourguignons that I have ever had. Possibly a new chef, as the chicken burgers were slightly different and also delicious. Very good standard of pub food at the moment and reasonably priced.

Great vibe. Super clean. Great service. Nice selection.

We sadly only had one night at the Cross Keys but loved the place. Very friendly and efficient service, excellent food and a room with a sea view. It was just perfect and we will definitely return.

We went Monday 7th for a late lunch without a booking. The duty manager kindly found a table for us. The staff were very friendly and efficient. It seemed a nice friendly pub with a mix of tourists, locals and their dogs. The food was good quality and nice portions. I had the seafood sharing board which I would strongly recommend. I always enjoy having seafood when on the coast. The Adnams Ghost Ship beer was well kept and tasted very good. Look forward to come back, thank you.

We stopped here for a light lunch and had ham and mustard sandwich which came with a little salad and a huge pile of tasty crisps and a cod goujon sandwich again with salad and crisps both were delicious and washed down with a lovely cold adnams larger. Would thoroughly recommend - all the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Enjoyed an early evening drink at the Cross Keys and sat outside as there was no room in the pub itself. Surprised to see the pub closing early on Thursday despite it being half term as others were open to 10pm or 11pm.

We called in here on theThursday before the bank holiday weekend.we asked if there were any tables available and was told that there wasn’t, We asked if we could have a drink outside and wait for one to come up but was told in no uncertain terms that we wouldn’t be served a drink as she was on her own and couldn’t be everywhere, not our fault that she was on her own, understand it’s difficult to always get seated with COVID rules but could have been better handled I think. Anyway we took out custom up the road where we had a nice meal and drinks.

We ate here on two occasions over the bank holiday weekend and we couldn't fault either the food or the efficiency with which it was managed. There was a particularly efficient member of staff on the Sunday. He managed the busy situation extremely well. Will definitely be back next time we are in aldeburgh.

Staff very friendly and accommodating, the food was excellent , very well presented and absolutely delicious , chef is to be congratulated!The pub is very traditional and extremely well placed on the sea front with an outside seating area and the inside is cosy and very clean and tidy the decor is in fabulous order .every care is bring taken due to the current Covid situation to ensure all up to date guidance is being followed but still feels warm and cosy and welcoming

sat outside in sunny courtyard enjoyed homemade prawn & salmon fishcakes and cauliflower and sweet potato curry. Good coffee and a Pimms to die for.

Lovely, spacious, clean and comfortable rooms. Great location - a stone's throw away from the beach and shops etc. Very warm and friendly welcome and great food.

Four of us had lunch here on a Friday in October. We weren't able to book a table and the outside seating was relatively quiet when we arrived around midday, but it soon filled up.The seats outside were well spaced apart, but the buildings created a bit of a wind tunnel so it was quite cold even with thick coats on.The menu choice was quite limited (presumably due to Covid) but we were all able to find something to eat that we enjoyed - two fish pies, beef chilli and salmon sandwich.We had a bit of a wait for the food but it wasn't too long, and the staff were very friendly.We'd happily eat here again if in the area.

We had a great stay at the Cross Keys. The staff were superb, pre-dinner drinks in the pub with the roaring fires was great & breakfast in the morning was fantastic. The staff couldn't have been more helpful. Can't wait to return & intend to bring some friends with us......superb

A comfortable room above a cosy, seaside pub - all rounded off with excellent food and Adnams' beer and wine. Exactly what we hoped for.

Full marks all round. This traditional pub exceeded our expectations in every way. Warm welcome, excellent food and service, super range of drinks. Efficient and friendly staff.

Amazing location, lovely room and perfect for a cosy pint by the fire in the bar. Excellent staff service!

We stayed at the Cross Keys overnight and we were greeted with a very warm welcome from Anna who explained everything we needed to know for our stay. We were looked after really well during our dinner in the evening and the food was delicious. Our room was absolutely stunning, spacious and super clean. It was lovely to have a view of the sea. Breakfast in the morning was wonderful and nothing was too much to ask for. Emily was super friendly and so attentive. We enjoyed every aspect of the stay and wish we could have stayed longer! Will definitely be returning,

My husband and I stayed at the Cross Keys for a short weekend break away and it was just what was needed! Friendly staff, comfortable accommodation, good food and a cosy atmosphere. Felt very safe with the COVID-19 restrictions but they certainly didn’t impact the experience. Would definitely return!

We stayed here for 1 night, but wished we'd booked a longer stay. Anna and Meg were so welcoming, the room was beautiful and the food fantastic. Will definitely return to this lovely pub, the wonderful staff make such a difference, especially with the current restrictions.

My wife and I visited Cross Keys after walking the crags path. Both of of us were a bit muddy, but staff were helpful and very welcoming. As a vegetarian I had checked andcrejected a number of possible places to eat. Cross Keys had a number of veg options, and both starter and main were excellent. Indeed, I would have like dessert, but dishes were generous in size and I had no space for dessert. Wife really enjoyed mackerel pate then fish pie, and likewise had no space left for dessert.Covid precautions were strictly enforced, and we felt safe visiting.

Popped in a few times on a week away in Suffolk. A very cosy pub with lovely staff who were so helpful and welcoming. Very Covid aware and they manage the space very effectively and kept the bar as ventilated as possible throughout. A decent outside space for those who want to enjoy a pint in the open air. Great pub food too - really worth a visit.

We have been going here for a few years now and always experience a lovely evening with great food and service. The waiter Aaron is attentive and always gives us a warm welcome.

Had an overnight stay, and wished we stayed longer. felt comfortable, well looked after and welcomed by all the team

Spotted this pub in the Good Pub Guide and took the opportunity to visit whilst on a break in Suffolk. What a great welcome from the staff and a perfect implementation of the Covid guidelines. We arrived on day 1 of the recent cold/windy weather and both log fires were in full flow. A real sense of teamwork from all the staff. Can’t wait to return.

We only stopped to have a pint of delicious Adnams at the outside tables. We were served immediately by a charming lady who took track and trace details without fuss. Excellent beer came very quickly. Superb organisation of loos which were immaculate. Hand sanitiser readily available. This is what all pubs should be like in Covid times (but some sadly aren't!). Thanks and congratulations to all the super-friendly and efficient staff.

Firstly very special mention to the lady manager whose effort in social distancing and the running of this public house was simply excellent.The food was just wonderful and the chilli con carne made with pulled brisket was one of the best meals I have had in a long time.Well run, great food a credit to the Adnam’s name

Had dinner here twice as it was so good the first time. The staff are just lovely, so welcomng and friendly. The food is simply first class. DO try the pulled brisket chilli- the best chilli I have ever had. Well done team!

Our first meal out since lockdown. We were going to eat outside but there were no tables so we opted to eat inside.The staff were excellent, very friendly and helpful. Everything was perfectly clean and following all covid guidelines and they made us feel very welcome.But now to the food - excellent! I had the cajun grilled chicken burger with lime curried mayo, salad, chips and coleslaw. The chicken was beautiful and so tasty. James had the steak special with tomato, mushrooms and skinny fries with parmesan and he said it was lovely. Can highly recommend, made for a lovely day out, will def be back. Would love the recipe for the mayoThank you!

We managed to book a night here in August. We had the most amazing friendly welcome , the room was lovely . We had dinner and breakfast here all were excellent. The staff are exceptionally good especially the manager Emily . I felt safe and comfortable here and will definitely be returning

Simply a decent pub whose staff go out of their way to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, even with lots of Covid-safe precautions in place. Good beer. Good food. And service with a smile - evident even behind the obligatory face covering.

excellent bank holiday lunch at The Cross Keys , waited for service outside , staff friendly & patient . Food very well presented, baked camembert very much recommended . Will definitely revisit .

Was a party of 6 looking for somewhere to have lunch that was participating in the Eat Out scheme. We hadn’t booked so weren’t that surprised when we told they were full, other than the tables outside. As it wasn’t the warmest day, we left to look for other nearby places, returned 15 mins later and asked if we could wait outside for a table to become available. Good timing as one did 5 mins later. So glad it did. The food was excellent, the service was quick and large portions. Would have been happy paying full price. Everything possible was in place with COVID in mind.

Visited this place twice over our three days we stayed at Aldeburgh and had very good service, with all COVID-19 restrictions adequately being dealt with was made very welcome 👍👍

We've been to Aldeburgh a few times but this was our first stay at The Crosskeys. Great location - very close to the beach, restaurants and high st. Warm, friendly and attentive staff. Bedroom was cosy with a Seaview and powerful shower. Separate guest entrance. Lovely bar with roaring fire. Didn't eat dinner but had a fantastic breakfast. We thoroughly enjoyed staying there and we will most definitely return.

Popped in here when we last visited Aldeburgh and loved it then but popped in today and it was even better. Friendly service, great local menu and great location. Give it a try, u won’t be dissapointed

Owned by Adnam's brewers, this is a charming old pub, brought up to modern standards whilst retaining it's character. Being so close to the brewery at Southwold, the beer is excellent, and the food is delicious. They also have accommodation.

Very good pub, friendly staff and good lunch menu. Try whitebait, scampi and chips and always a fresh salad.