Having recently researched a very old picture of workers at Fussell’s Brewery, I was keen to visit the village pub, which is where the brewery stood for hundreds of years.

The Grade II listed public house has many features to enjoy including the working Queen Victoria Jubilee clock.

We had a warm welcome from the person who seemed to be not only the barman but also the waiter, so service was a little slow.

We were the only people in the restaurant so we had a choice of tables with our friendly barman bringing us over the drinks and explaining the menu and specials board.

We had a choice of six starters with prices between £4.25 to the most expensive prawn cocktail with Marie Rose sauce at £5.25.

I gave the starters a miss, thinking I might indulge in a dessert, but my partner chose the stuffed Portobello mushrooms filled with Stilton and leeks with onion and herb topping as a main dish.

With plenty of time to choose from the menu I was pondering on the dish listed as ‘the Key Burger’ – a homemade beef burger in a toasted bun with relish, homemade coleslaw and gherkins at 9.95 with a choice of bacon, Cheddar or Stilton as extras at 50p – apparently a dish the Cross Keys is renowned for.

But when I spotted home-made macaroni cheese with leeks and crispy onion, my mind was made up.

I was not disappointed. This dish, at £7.95, was really tasty and not your usual pasta type covered in a cheese sauce, but the real deal.

Both of us were quite full after the generous helpings when we studied the dessert menu – then choosing the selection of mixed cheeses with biscuits and chutney at the reasonable price of £4.95.

Luckily we had a pack of cards available as the cheeseboard was slow in arriving.

However, when it arrived, it was more than enough for the two of us.

Perhaps eating out on a Tuesday evening with a packed downstairs bar watching the Manchester United match was not a great time, but our friendly barman and waiter was full of apologies for any delays.

The total meal cost, including a pint of Amstel and two large glasses of Pinot Grigio, came to £33.80 and we left relaxed and pleased with the food we had been served.

* Food served seven days a week, noon to 2pm, 6.30pm to 9pm.
* Sunday lunch is £8.95, noon to 5pm.
* Specials on Thursday evenings: two steaks for £15.