Set in the Norfolk village of Dilham, close to the waterways of the Broads, Cross Keys is a traditional free house pub with a lengthy history. Dating back to the 18th century, the team here are serving British pub classics, local guest ales and generous comfort food all complemented by a relaxed rural setting. It welcomes all, from post-walk punters and family Sunday roasts to long dinners and date nights. It’s dog-friendly too, and offers outside seating for pints and pub food in the sun.
Inside, interiors at The Cross Keys lean into traditional pub aesthetics, complete with low slung ceilings, exposed beaks, and brickwork that smacks of the pub's long history. The atmosphere is comfortable, almost lived-in (exactly what you want from a pub, right?), helped along by dark wood furniture and a traditional panelled wood bar. The dining room acts as more of a restaurant space, complete with a roaring fire, and nicely spaced wood tables, while outside is home to a sizeable patio overlooking the garden.
Menus at The Cross Keys Dilham come packed with all the classics. Traditional Sunday roasts are a major draw, offering a choice of porchetta, roasted chicken supreme, local sirloin beef, and a nut-roast wellington. Al come with Yorkshire pudding, honey roasted carrots, parsnips, buttery savoy cabbage, tenderstem broccoli, roast potatoes, truffle and celeriac puree and proper homemade gravy. Generous? We’d say so.
As for the à la carte, starters at The Cross Keys might kick off with steak tartare and pomme paille, French onion soup with gruyere croutons, and salmon and prawn terrine with avocado puree. Mains, meanwhile, range from stuffed corn-fed chicken ballotine with wild mushrooms, alongside entrecote steak with pommes neuf and a red onion salad, to sea bass fillet with pommes dauphine and butter-poached baby gem.