The Cross Keys, Harpenden

One of the truly local pubs left in the district.
Great beer, fantastic beer garden (probably the best in the area - a rare find) - an oasis in the centre of the town. It also has a heated comfortable smoking area.

29 Sep 2010 14:25

The Cross Keys, Harpenden

Mike and Viv, the departing landlords, have done a huge amount to get this pub back on track. It is a great shame that the small minded individuals who have posted personal remarks on here cannot recognise their contribution. If all they are capable of is making such ill-founded bitchy and personal remarks it is no surprise that they do not fit into the culture of this fine pub. I suspect that is their low self-esteem and sense of personal inadequacy that makes them feel so rejected. Perhaps when they grow up and get rid of the chip on their shoulder they might perceive the true value in the place.

11 Sep 2008 15:14

The Cross Keys, Harpenden

Acknowledged to be from CHAPTER 2 - from My Local History by Eric Reeves
The Cross Keys Ghosts
For a time in 1960, the Cross Keys in Harpenden had a relief manager. It was late one night and the relief manager had gone to bed after a normal busy day, but this night was to prove to be unlike any other. Suddenly the manager was aroused from sleep but he did not know why. He lay in bed for a while not knowing what had roused him until he became aware of the murmur of voices coming from downstairs. At first, he thought it might be burglars but that made no sense as they were talking quite loudly. Creeping downstairs, he peered round the bar room door and was surprised to see three figures bent over one of the tables. He opened the door wider to get a better view but as he did so the three figures turned to look at him. All three were dressed in dark, heavy robes and all had shaven heads, he appeared to be looking at three mediaeval monks. The faces of all three were ghastly, glowing with a greenish pallor under the light coming from a street lamp. The relief manager stood for a second frozen in disbelief then turned and fled back to his bedroom where he locked himself in. After that he refused to go into the bar after closing time until the manager returned.
This wasn�t the first time that ghostly monks had been seen in the Cross Keys and it wasn�t the last thing to occur. In 1968 the then landlord, Mr. Johnson, and his wife were tidying up after a normal busy Sunday lunchtime. Suddenly they heard a loud rumbling noise coming from the bar. They rushed to investigate and found a large, heavy ashtray that normally stood on the bar spinning like a top. As they watched, it began to slow down until finally coming to a clattering halt. At the time, the bar was empty and they were at a loss to explain what could have set an ashtray weighing one kilogram spinning like it had been.
Two other occurrences including a vanishing skirt and a disappearing clothes brush. The skirt was of the ancient Bruce clan tartan worn by Mrs. Brenda Johnson and was her favourite. It is therefore understandable that she was somewhat distressed when she found that the skirt had disappeared from her wardrobe. The premises were searched from top to bottom but there was no sign of the skirt and Mrs. Johnson had to accept that it had gone. Three months later she opened the wardrobe to get something out and was rather taken aback when she discovered the tartan skirt on a hanger. As she watched the skirt began to move then it slid off the hanger and fell into a heap on the floor.
The disappearing clothes brush happened when the Johnson�s were in the bedroom one evening getting ready to go out. Mrs. Johnson brushed her husband�s jacket then put the clothes brush on the bed. Mr. Johnson took his hat out of a hat box then turned round to pick up the brush only to discover that it had gone. Again no amount of searching could locate the brush. Three days later the brush was found sitting on the bedroom floor, in the open, next to the fireplace. Where it sat there was no way that they could have failed to see it if it had been there all the time.

17 Aug 2008 12:44