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Cross Keys, Chelsea

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Operator: Butcombe Brewery
1 Lawrence Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NB (View on Google Map)

Following one of the hardest-fought battles in London to save a pub from developers and with, at one point, squatters in the pub, a long lease on the ground floor and basement of the building was granted by Parsons Green Land to the the DM Group, who, following an extensive refit, as most original fittings were destroyed, reopened the pub in 2015.

Today's Cross Keys is primarily a gastropub, but, as well as the tables laid for diners at the rear, there is plenty of space at the front of the pub for drinkers. The decor is dominated by bare brick walls, some half-height panelled and others decorated with stripped pre-used wooden doors and large wooden shutters (said to be from a Portuguese asylum!). The back wall is cleverly mirrored to reflect light from the skylight above. As well as bar stools at a plain oak bar, there is a mixture of types of dining tables and chairs.

Ales are from the Butcombe range.

There is a wide food range incluidng Sunday roasts and a kids' menu. Prices reflect the location.

Historic Interest

A century ago the pub was the scene of the murder of the landlady Mrs Frances Buxton, whose body was found in the early morning of 17 January 1920 in the pub cellar beneath a pile of smouldering sawdust. She had been hit on the head with a bottle and then strangled. Suspects included the “Monocled Mutineer” Percy Toplis but extensive police investigations never led to evidence that would stand up in court and the case remained unsolved. Mrs Buxton had a reputation for eccentricity and her ex-husband had cited the fact that she was a Socialist and a Suffragette as grounds for separation! There is a mass of material about this case on the internet.

Information for this venue is provided by the West London Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
Kensington and Chelsea
Last updated
15/06/2025
Last surveyed
11/04/2017
Leasehold owner
no lease
Freehold owner
Butcombe Brewery
Pub ID
WLD/16327
Asset of Community Value
Friday
10:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday
10:00am - 11:00pm
Sunday
10:00am - 10:00pm
Monday
10:00am - 11:00pm
Tuesday
10:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday
10:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday
10:00am - 11:00pm
Friday
10:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday
10:00am - 9:30pm
Sunday
10:00am - 7:00pm
Monday
10:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday
10:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday
10:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday
10:00am - 9:00pm

Current beers

This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen
Butcombe Original
Butcombe - Butcombe Original Session Bitter • 4%
Butcombe Original
Butcombe - Butcombe Original

Session Bitter

Dispense: Handpump
ABV: 4%
Vegan: No
Gluten Free: No
This beer is served regularly.
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Butcombe - Adam Henson's Rare Breed


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Not Sunday
Garden Garden
pavement standing space
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Disabled Access Disabled Access
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
water bowls provided
Newspapers Newspapers
Smoking Smoking
pavement
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Transport
Close to bus routes (225m)
170
Closest station (1550m)
Imperial Wharf

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