The Cross Keys
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Summary of reviewsThe Cross Keys, located in the heart of historic Saffron Walden, is lauded for its central and convenient setting, making it an ideal base to explore the town's main attractions, restaurants, pubs and shops. The hotel’s historical charm dating back to 1569 adds an enchanting old-world ambiance that guests repeatedly find delightful. The friendly and professional staff further enhances the welcoming experience.
Guests consistently praise the spacious and cozy rooms for their comfort, cleanliness and character, which blend historical charm with modern comforts. Despite occasional minor issues like outdated decor or inadequate ventilation, the consensus is that the rooms contribute to a pleasant and restful stay.
The hotel’s breakfast receives glowing reviews for its generous portions, high-quality food and accommodating service. Menu favorites include eggs Florentine, full English breakfast and freshly cooked scrambled eggs, making breakfast a well-rounded and enjoyable experience. Although a few guests noted inconsistencies, these appeared to be exceptions.
Dinner at The Cross Keys also garners positive feedback with guests appreciating the quality and taste of the food, the diverse menu and the friendly staff. Particular dishes such as pub food, rib specials and fish and chips receive special mention. While some found the service occasionally slow or the dining room shabby, the overall dining experience remains highly regarded.
Cleanliness and comfort are generally praised, though some guests noted inconsistencies such as unclean bathrooms or dirty carpets. Nonetheless, the warmth and comfort of the rooms, coupled with high-quality bedding and towels, contribute to a positive stay.
The staff at The Cross Keys stand out for their friendliness, helpfulness and accommodating nature. Many guests mention specific staff members who contributed significantly to their pleasant experience, adding a personal touch to the service. Despite occasional instances of the staff being overwhelmed, their genuine effort and positive attitude shine through.
One of the standout features of The Cross Keys is the comfort of its beds, which are frequently described as cozy and very comfortable, ensuring a good night's sleep. Some minor issues with old or creaky beds were noted but were overshadowed by the overall positive feedback.
Overall, The Cross Keys often leaves guests feeling that it should be classified as a four-star establishment due to its superb offerings, exceptional service and beautiful property. The general sentiment reflects a highly positive experience, making it a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the charm of Saffron Walden.
Guests consistently praise the spacious and cozy rooms for their comfort, cleanliness and character, which blend historical charm with modern comforts. Despite occasional minor issues like outdated decor or inadequate ventilation, the consensus is that the rooms contribute to a pleasant and restful stay.
The hotel’s breakfast receives glowing reviews for its generous portions, high-quality food and accommodating service. Menu favorites include eggs Florentine, full English breakfast and freshly cooked scrambled eggs, making breakfast a well-rounded and enjoyable experience. Although a few guests noted inconsistencies, these appeared to be exceptions.
Dinner at The Cross Keys also garners positive feedback with guests appreciating the quality and taste of the food, the diverse menu and the friendly staff. Particular dishes such as pub food, rib specials and fish and chips receive special mention. While some found the service occasionally slow or the dining room shabby, the overall dining experience remains highly regarded.
Cleanliness and comfort are generally praised, though some guests noted inconsistencies such as unclean bathrooms or dirty carpets. Nonetheless, the warmth and comfort of the rooms, coupled with high-quality bedding and towels, contribute to a positive stay.
The staff at The Cross Keys stand out for their friendliness, helpfulness and accommodating nature. Many guests mention specific staff members who contributed significantly to their pleasant experience, adding a personal touch to the service. Despite occasional instances of the staff being overwhelmed, their genuine effort and positive attitude shine through.
One of the standout features of The Cross Keys is the comfort of its beds, which are frequently described as cozy and very comfortable, ensuring a good night's sleep. Some minor issues with old or creaky beds were noted but were overshadowed by the overall positive feedback.
Overall, The Cross Keys often leaves guests feeling that it should be classified as a four-star establishment due to its superb offerings, exceptional service and beautiful property. The general sentiment reflects a highly positive experience, making it a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the charm of Saffron Walden.
Small Inn
4-Star Inn
Guest Reviews
Positioned in the heart of historic Saffron Walden, The Cross Keys offers a central and convenient location that makes it an excellent base for exploring this charming town. Guests repeatedly enjoy the perfect, central setting of the hotel, which places them within easy walking distance of the town's main attractions, quaint shops and lovely market. The hotel's historical charm, dating back to 1569, adds a unique old-world ambiance that many reviewers found enchanting.
Visitors appreciated the close proximity to local restaurants, pubs and shops, noting the convenience and accessibility of amenities. Despite its central location, some guests mentioned minor noise in the mornings, but many found the benefits outweighed this slight inconvenience. The picturesque and quaint medieval pub/hotel atmosphere is complemented by the friendly and professional staff, ensuring a warm and welcoming stay for all.
The hotel's cozy and spacious rooms are described as comfortable and well-appointed, contributing to a pleasant and restful experience. Additionally, the delightful blend of historical character and modern comfort, including a highly praised breakfast, makes The Cross Keys a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the local charm of Saffron Walden.
The Cross Keys has garnered glowing reviews for its breakfast offerings with numerous guests praising the generous portions and high quality of the food. Many found the cooked breakfast to be outstanding, benefiting from a diverse menu that includes hot and cold selections. Options such as eggs florentine, full English breakfast and freshly cooked scrambled eggs drew particular acclaim for their taste and presentation.
The breakfast service is highlighted for its ability to cater to personalized orders, ensuring that guests can enjoy a meal tailored to their preferences. The inclusion of fresh juices, cereals and hot beverages further complements the hearty cooked dishes, making breakfast a well-rounded experience.
Though the reviews generally lean positive, there are occasional mentions of inconsistencies, such as orders not being entirely accurate or breakfast items arriving cold. However, these issues appear to be the exception rather than the norm.
Overall, the breakfast at The Cross Keys is lauded for its deliciousness, quality ingredients and substantial offerings, contributing significantly to an enjoyable stay. Friendly and courteous staff enhance the dining experience, as does the hotel's central location in Saffron Walden, making it a convenient choice for guests looking to explore the area.
Dinner at The Cross Keys has generally received positive feedback from guests, highlighting a variety of aspects. The quality and taste of the food are frequently praised with terms like very good, delicious and excellent being commonly used. Guests enjoyed a variety of meals including the excellent pub food, superb rib specials and delicious fish and chips. The menu has something for everyone, including standouts like ante pasta and seafood linguine, suggesting a diverse and appealing selection.
The staff's friendliness and professionalism have also been noted positively, contributing to a pleasant dining experience. Although there are mentions of the service being a bit haphazard or not super-speedy on occasion, the overall impression is that the staff is hard-working and approachable.
There are some mixed reviews too; a few guests found the dinner overpriced or substandard and one noted that the dining room appeared shabby. However, these seem to be exceptions rather than the rule. The breakfast offerings are another highlight, described as excellent and plentiful enough to set guests up for a full day ahead.
In summary, the dining experience at The Cross Keys is characterized by great food, a welcoming atmosphere and excellent service, making it a worthwhile part of the stay despite a few minor drawbacks.
At 'The Cross Keys', guests frequently commend the rooms for their comfort, cleanliness and charming character in keeping with the building’s historical background. Many rooms are noted as spacious with very comfortable beds and come equipped with modern amenities like air conditioning and coffee-making facilities. The décor, while sometimes dated and in need of minor attention, adds to the quirky and cozy feel that appeals to many visitors.
The establishment's central location receives positive mentions for convenience and the overall atmosphere of the hotel is deemed inviting and homely. Facilities such as good-sized bathrooms, a variety of tea and coffee and plentiful towels enhance the experience. Several reviews highlight the exceptional service from the friendly staff, making stays even more pleasant.
However, some guests did encounter minor issues. Instances of inadequate cleaning, lack of ventilation in rooms with skylights and maintenance concerns like outdated decor and burnt-out lights were noted. Additionally, a few rooms were described as noisy, small or awkwardly designed, impacting overall satisfaction for some visitors.
Despite these occasional drawbacks, the overall consensus is that 'The Cross Keys' offers comfortable accommodation with a mix of period charm and modern conveniences, making it a delightful place to stay.
'The Cross Keys' receives high praise for the comfort of its beds, consistently described as comfortable, very comfortable and even extremely comfortable by multiple guests. Many highlight the beds as a notable feature, contributing to a great night's sleep and often described as cozy. The pillows earn accolades for being soft and light, enhancing the sleeping experience. Despite a few mentions of old and creaky beds or lumpy mattresses, the overwhelming sentiment is positive. Guests often mention sleeping well with phrases like comfy and wonderful beds recurring throughout the reviews. While some faced issues with allergies due to feather pillows and cushions, overall, the comfortable beds remain a standout aspect of the hotel.
The Cross Keys offers an array of experiences regarding cleanliness and comfort. Many guests found their rooms to be clean, tidy and well-maintained, often remarking on their warmth and comfort. The bedding and towels stood out for their high quality and numerous reviews noted how spotlessly clean the rooms were, adding to the overall comfort of their stay. The hotel's attractive old building also received positive remarks for its charm.
However, feedback on the cleanliness was mixed. Some guests encountered issues like dirty carpets, cobwebs and unclean bathrooms, suggesting that the cleaning standards could be inconsistent. Additionally, concerns about understaffing were noted, which seemed to affect the timely resolution of some cleanliness and maintenance issues.
Despite these inconsistencies, many guests found the hotel overall to be clean and comfortable with some willing to visit again. Dining experiences, particularly in the evening, received praise, although breakfast had mixed reviews with some guests pointing out the lack of healthy options.
In summary, while The Cross Keys has its share of cleaning and staffing challenges, many guests still enjoyed a pleasant stay marked by clean and comfortable rooms.
Nestled within a charming historic building, The Cross Keys offers an inviting atmosphere complemented by its standout feature: a team of remarkably friendly and helpful staff. Guests frequently highlight the staff's warm and welcoming demeanor, underscoring their efforts to accommodate late arrivals and ensure a pleasant stay. The attentive service extends throughout the day with many noting the staff as hardworking and always eager to assist.
Several guests particularly commend individual staff members, like Libby, Emma, Jack and Charlotte, who contribute significantly to the overall positive experience. Libby’s helpfulness, Charlotte's friendliness and the exceptional attentiveness of Emma and Jack are appreciated. The personalized touches, such as complimentary drinks and singing for special occasions, add a delightful charm to the service.
While the overwhelming majority of reviews praise the staff's friendliness and efficiency, a few concern areas are noted. Some guests observed that the staff could be occasionally overwhelmed, leading to slower service and a few interactions were less than satisfactory. Despite this, the genuine effort and positive attitude of the majority of the staff shine through, often turning potential inconveniences into mere blips in an otherwise enjoyable stay.
The Cross Keys' staff indeed serves as its most valued asset, as they consistently go above and beyond, making guests feel welcome and well taken care of, ensuring that their experience aligns closely with the quaint and historical charm of the establishment itself.
The Cross Keys has left many guests impressed with its offerings, often suggesting it should be classified as a four-star hotel. The food and overall experience have been praised as superb with many visitors highlighting the excellent value provided. The property itself is described as beautiful and well-presented with an amiable and friendly staff contributing to the exceptional service. Reviews frequently describe various aspects as very good or exceptional, often rating elements as five-star quality. Despite a few lower scores, the general sentiment reflects a highly positive experience with standout facilities and services.
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Location
Visitors appreciated the close proximity to local restaurants, pubs and shops, noting the convenience and accessibility of amenities. Despite its central location, some guests mentioned minor noise in the mornings, but many found the benefits outweighed this slight inconvenience. The picturesque and quaint medieval pub/hotel atmosphere is complemented by the friendly and professional staff, ensuring a warm and welcoming stay for all.
The hotel's cozy and spacious rooms are described as comfortable and well-appointed, contributing to a pleasant and restful experience. Additionally, the delightful blend of historical character and modern comfort, including a highly praised breakfast, makes The Cross Keys a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the local charm of Saffron Walden.
Breakfast
The breakfast service is highlighted for its ability to cater to personalized orders, ensuring that guests can enjoy a meal tailored to their preferences. The inclusion of fresh juices, cereals and hot beverages further complements the hearty cooked dishes, making breakfast a well-rounded experience.
Though the reviews generally lean positive, there are occasional mentions of inconsistencies, such as orders not being entirely accurate or breakfast items arriving cold. However, these issues appear to be the exception rather than the norm.
Overall, the breakfast at The Cross Keys is lauded for its deliciousness, quality ingredients and substantial offerings, contributing significantly to an enjoyable stay. Friendly and courteous staff enhance the dining experience, as does the hotel's central location in Saffron Walden, making it a convenient choice for guests looking to explore the area.
Dinner
The staff's friendliness and professionalism have also been noted positively, contributing to a pleasant dining experience. Although there are mentions of the service being a bit haphazard or not super-speedy on occasion, the overall impression is that the staff is hard-working and approachable.
There are some mixed reviews too; a few guests found the dinner overpriced or substandard and one noted that the dining room appeared shabby. However, these seem to be exceptions rather than the rule. The breakfast offerings are another highlight, described as excellent and plentiful enough to set guests up for a full day ahead.
In summary, the dining experience at The Cross Keys is characterized by great food, a welcoming atmosphere and excellent service, making it a worthwhile part of the stay despite a few minor drawbacks.
Rooms
The establishment's central location receives positive mentions for convenience and the overall atmosphere of the hotel is deemed inviting and homely. Facilities such as good-sized bathrooms, a variety of tea and coffee and plentiful towels enhance the experience. Several reviews highlight the exceptional service from the friendly staff, making stays even more pleasant.
However, some guests did encounter minor issues. Instances of inadequate cleaning, lack of ventilation in rooms with skylights and maintenance concerns like outdated decor and burnt-out lights were noted. Additionally, a few rooms were described as noisy, small or awkwardly designed, impacting overall satisfaction for some visitors.
Despite these occasional drawbacks, the overall consensus is that 'The Cross Keys' offers comfortable accommodation with a mix of period charm and modern conveniences, making it a delightful place to stay.
Beds
Cleanliness
However, feedback on the cleanliness was mixed. Some guests encountered issues like dirty carpets, cobwebs and unclean bathrooms, suggesting that the cleaning standards could be inconsistent. Additionally, concerns about understaffing were noted, which seemed to affect the timely resolution of some cleanliness and maintenance issues.
Despite these inconsistencies, many guests found the hotel overall to be clean and comfortable with some willing to visit again. Dining experiences, particularly in the evening, received praise, although breakfast had mixed reviews with some guests pointing out the lack of healthy options.
In summary, while The Cross Keys has its share of cleaning and staffing challenges, many guests still enjoyed a pleasant stay marked by clean and comfortable rooms.
Staff
Several guests particularly commend individual staff members, like Libby, Emma, Jack and Charlotte, who contribute significantly to the overall positive experience. Libby’s helpfulness, Charlotte's friendliness and the exceptional attentiveness of Emma and Jack are appreciated. The personalized touches, such as complimentary drinks and singing for special occasions, add a delightful charm to the service.
While the overwhelming majority of reviews praise the staff's friendliness and efficiency, a few concern areas are noted. Some guests observed that the staff could be occasionally overwhelmed, leading to slower service and a few interactions were less than satisfactory. Despite this, the genuine effort and positive attitude of the majority of the staff shine through, often turning potential inconveniences into mere blips in an otherwise enjoyable stay.
The Cross Keys' staff indeed serves as its most valued asset, as they consistently go above and beyond, making guests feel welcome and well taken care of, ensuring that their experience aligns closely with the quaint and historical charm of the establishment itself.
4 Star
No, The Cross Keys doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Cross Keys.
No, The Cross Keys doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Cross Keys.
No, The Cross Keys doesn't have a gym.
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