Cross Keys

The Cross Keys on Midford Road has operated as an inn since 1718, on former Benedictine Priory land once leased by Georgian developer Ralph Allen. Clive and Samantha Prescott bought the freehold in February 2014 and run it as a genuine freehouse, choosing their own cask ales rather than a fixed brewery list. The main bar keeps its original fireplace and period features, while the snug holds memorabilia connected to musician Eddie Cochran, who died nearby in 1960. Food is cooked to order at every session, and the pub's Grade II listing recognises an interior of national historic interest. A garden with a children's play area sits behind the building, and the pub offers a discount to NHS staff.