The awesome team at the Cross Keys York recently invited myself and a friend along to review their new menu and the pub itself, as they have recently had a new refurbishment. I’d actually gone past The Cross Keys almost weekly but I’d never really considered going inside and checking it out. Not only was I there to review the menu though with my £50 budget I’d been given, I was also asked to do an Instagram story takeover on the Nicholsons account – which was pretty cool.
I’d picked a Wednesday evening to go along to the Cross Keys York with my lovely friend, Becca. Becca has accompanied me to a few food related reviews for my blog, so she knows not to eat anything until I’ve taken all the photos I need. The pub was fairly busy and we were welcomed with smiles from the wonderful staff at The Cross Keys.
The pub has a lovely, relaxing feel to it – with a tasty looking menu, which has a good variety of choice. To begin, we each decided to order a different gin from the drinks menu. Mine was the Silent Pool Gin with tonic water, “Rich, clean juniper-led spirit with floral layers of lavender and chamomile. Best paired with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic, garnished with lime.” I adored the notes of lavender, this gin was really refreshing to drink and is definitely a new favourite of mine. Becca chose the MONKEY 47 GIN, paired with ginger ale, “47 botanicals make for an unrivalled complexity. Crisp with a sweet floral aroma. Best paired with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic, garnished with orange.”
For the purpose of review (of course hehe), we decided to have a sharer platter as our starter. This beauty is the Nicholson’s Sharer (£13.50), “Home-made Scotch egg, chilli chicken skewers, ale-glazed Gloucester Old Spot sausages, Davidstow rarebit fondue, golden beetroot piccalilli, artisan sourdough bread and potato crisps.” which all tasted and looked incredible, as you can see in my photograph above.
As our mains, Becca chose the Chicken, Chorizo and Cider Pie which was mouth-wateringly tasty and Becca let me try a bit, bless her. I’m a bit obsessed with fishcakes and have been for years, so I had the Smoked Salmon Fishcakes – served with preserved lemon aioli and triple-cooked chips.
The Instagram story takeover was so fun, I loved it! Obviously, as you can see from my glowing review of the Cross Keys York, I would highly recommend popping in for a visit/drink or for a delicious meal. You can view their full menu, or find out more details over on the Nicholson’s Pubs website. Their brilliant team have kindly offered me a £50 gift card to giveaway to one of my readers. All you need to do to enter this excellent competition is fill in the Rafflecorpter form below.
Good luck all!
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Entered 😄😄
Thank you for entering Ally 🙂
York is a beautiful city and this would be a great prize to win for a wonderful day out
Good luck Jean!
I’d go one weekend and treat my Mum for lunch. For me the open sandwich, made with smoked salmon, lemon aioli and dressed rocket… all on toasted sourdough bread! Mum would choose for herself but would be spoilt for choice as the menu looks very inviting. All enjoyed in the beer garden with a beautiful Minster view.
A wonderful idea Rebecca, good luck!
🙂 Love spending days in York, the food, people watching and shopping!
York is excellent for people watching. Thanks for entering the competition Lynn and good luck!
My son has just moved to York as he is a student at York University, I would love to visit him for the day and treat him to a really nice meal, and this place looks fantastic. I would probably choose the sharing platter as we love to pick at food with a glass or two of wine whilst we catch up on all the news
Hi Lynda, the sharing platter is great. York is lovely to explore, you will love it if you go to visit your son. Fingers crossed and good luck!
I visited here a couple of weeks back and thought it looked great now it’s had a refurb. Didn’t get chance to try the food. I would like to though at some point
Hi Charlotte, thank you for your comment! It’s so lovely, especially now it’s had the refurb. If you ever get a chance to try the food, please do. It’s so good! Good luck
This food looks absolutely divine! We (me, my husband and daughter) love going to York for day trips, and winning a treat like this would really make it special for us. Fingers crossed x
York is lovely isn’t it! Fingers crossed for you Linda
I love York and have visited the Cross Keys before, the gins are amazing, can’t wait to go back!
The gins are so amazing aren’t they Susan! Good luck x
WOW this would be a fabulous treat, I love York and the food at the Cross Keys looks fantastic!
Good luck Helen 🙂
York is an amazing city, I’d love to treat my special ones to a treat 🙂
This would be perfect because my hubby and are are planning to go to York for our 21st wedding anniversary in June. I like steak or scampi usually when I eat out 🙂
I was a student in York and thought I don’t live too far now I don’t get to visit as often as I’d like so any excuse a welcome! Would love to try the sea bass
Absolutely ❤️ York, looks a lovely place, I would treat my partner and have the Hunters chicken followed by sticky toffee pudding!! Yummy x
I have never been. The food in your review sounds nice though.