BITE user comments - gherkindangler
Comments by gherkindangler
A nice pub in a pleasant estate - locals are civilised and not unfriendly. Has live bands on Saturday nights sometimes which is why myself and the missus go there. BUT - don't expect decent real ale ! Last Saturday I had the worst pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord I have ever drunk. The Greene King IPA was marginally better - and the only other thing on offer - but sadly it was still Greene King IPA.
They obviously have no idea how to keep or serve real ale, and could care less. I've learnt my lesson and I'll be on the soft drinks in the future and let the missus drink. The rest of you - if you're not into lager, tough luck !
11 Dec 2012 19:53
Persistent rumours that this pub is going to be pulled down and housing built in its place. Hopefully malicious, but don't be totally surprised if you turn up one day and it isn't there !
2 Apr 2012 21:20
Sometime meet an old friend here for lunch as it's about halfway on the train between where we both live. Nice pub, daytime staff are excellent. Beer choice always interesting, food is good and arrives quickly. Does tend to be patronised by pissed pensioners, but now that I are one I don't care ! They're all totally non-threatening anyway.
Got told off last time for taking our beers outside when we went for a smoke - our fault, not the pub's - but a very nice young lady took them back to our table for us. Also once stood in the gents listening to someone singing "Me & Bobby McGhee" in one of the traps - and he forgot the words ! Criminal, lol !
1 Oct 2011 17:04
A very pleasant pub for a drink and a chat - definitely no sweary yobbos in here ! Appears to have succumbed to the modern trend of "Any beer you like so long as it's Doom Bar" but that's still better than the choice in Greene King or Charles Wells pubs, of which there are many locally.
23 Jun 2011 21:34
The Fox and Hounds, Stony Stratford
Now back to something like it was is the days of Ken Daniels. Good beer, good music and largely friendly clientele. Agree totally with Cider Al's comment re. Chris Hallet - it's a miracle the place still exists as a pub, so treasure it !
23 Jun 2011 21:28
Beer choice is certainly excellent, and very well kept. However the pub does seem to attract an unusual amount of pond life as other reviewers have said. This sadly is how pubs are going these days, particularly in MK - it's only the chavs who seem to have the money to go out regularly, so they end up becoming the regulars. A shame, because the Cross Keys is in one of the better areas of MK and never used to be like this. To be fair though it has changed hands numerous times in the last 20 years and I'm sure that has some bearing on the situation.
Oh, and the saloon bar could do with a thorough repaint and refit, it's looking very tired.
23 Jun 2011 21:21
Huge choice of beer - 12 handpumps ! Sometimes the beer you ask for is "off", but plenty of others to choose from. Loads of seating. Food as per any other pub in the chain - they haven't poisoned me yet. Always warm even on the coldest days, and cool in the Summer too.
All in all a great place for a lunchtime/afternoon drink. Can get busy in the evenings and suffer from the usual 'Spoons service problems, i.e. if the bar is busy the staff suddenly discover table clearing/washing up that just HAS to be done immediately. Mind you it doesn't help when you're stuck behind some chav ordering 15 pints of lager !
24 Feb 2011 17:27
The Victoria Inn, Milton Keynes
Excellent real ale pub, usually four beers to choose from which could be from virtually any brewery in the country. Was MK Camra's Pub of the Year in 2009. Customers are a mixture of real ale types and locals from the village. Can get packed during the evenings due to small size of the bars. Mind your head if you're going through the door to the loos !!
If you're going there on a cold day, be sure to wrap up warm and DON'T expect to be able to take your coat off when you get in there - it's doesn't have central heating and the gas fire struggles to cope if the weather's really cold.
24 Feb 2011 16:38
Nice village local, a little off the beaten track even if it is in the middle of Milton Keynes. Can be very jovial and convivial at weekends, quiet during the week - well, quiet in terms of numbers, there's always plenty of din from the jukebox/TVs/pool table/landlord even if it's empty. Currently features live bands on Saturday nights, mostly good local musicians.
Very nice food, you really must try a Rock if you're hungry! Good selection of lagers and bottled beers. As Snarling Mallard said, only Bombardier and Courage Best on the ale front, and then not usually at the same time - ale selection hasn't changed for years despite the range of ales available from Wells & Youngs since the merger. Sadly but unsurprisingly most of the real ale trade has been lost to the Victoria across the road.
Clientele mixed and friendly - however if the Gollums are in, go somewhere else !
24 Feb 2011 16:27
Back to gherkindangler's profile
Prince Albert, Milton Keynes
Beer choice has improved immeasurably since the current licensees took over. Sometimes too many strong beers, and anything from smaller breweries disappears almost as soon as it's put on ( example - Oakham JHB shown as "coming soon" on a Thursday and gone by the Monday ) because there's only ever one barrel of it, but by and large it all works. Mysteriously, Courage Directors is invariably available..............
11 Dec 2012 20:04