Those of you who enjoy the torment of us pub tickers finding pubs unexpectedly closed are going to love this.
A successful (in ticking terms) couple of days in Wiltshire was to conclude with the attractive sounding Cross Keys in Corsley.
Tucked safely away from the Killing Fields of Frome, albeit worryingly close to the lions of Longleat, it’s described as a “thriving community local“, a great place to finish.
I’d checked the Beer Guide and What Pub for opening times
Looks fairly traditional, but always best to go on a Saturday lunchtime, just to be on the safe side. You can rely on a Saturday, can’t you ?
You know how it ends. Doors closed, not a soul, just a sign by the front door with the times.
And then it struck me. I’d been here before, on this exact spot, exasperated, trying to get WiFi on a beautiful Sunday night that led me to write the post below. The Cross Keys dropped out of the Guide that year and I’d completely forgotten about it.
Only now, back in Waterbeach with working WiFi, do I read on their website that they’ve (temporarily) stopped opening Saturday lunchtimes.
So clearly it’s my fault for assuming anything about pub opening times, but I ask you “**** *** **** ?”.
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ORIGINAL POST FROM JULY 2016
One of the best posts I’ve read this year was Simon Everitt’s account of his pointless trip to Birdwell in March, a pub shut despite every indication to the contrary. He’s young enough to see the funny side.
I had one GBG pub left to do in Wiltshire tonight, and made my accommodation arrangements to take advantage of the 6X in Corsley’s Cross Keys.
The Beer Guide says it’s open all day Sunday, their website says it’s open all day, their blackboard just gives food times (12-4) and there’s no opening times on display. I phoned but got no answer.
Two locals walked by and expressed surprise that it was shut. I hung around until 7pm and then gave up. Clearly this is a restaurant that wishes to close once the diners have left.
Just how difficult is it to display your opening times ? If something terrible has happened, I sincerely apologise.
Rant over, unfortunately I need to return.
Update – thanks to Pub Curmudgeon who’s tracked down that it’s closed, a fact not known to the villagers I spoke to, or indicated by the board outside advertising meals
POSTSCRIPT – I MADE IT !
A month later, on a Monday evening, I tried a third time. The walk along the fields was gorgeous,
but the clouds were darkening as I got there.
There were a dozen villagers, nearly all seated round the bar. One nice lady insisted I sat with them and chatted. I know what you’re thinking “Micro”.
But it was OK, as was the beer. I sense the village drinks more wine though. Hope they get the food restored soon.
Nice pub.
retiredmartin 
You bring up a good point. As people who travel a long way to visit pubs we do a lot of research on the opening hours. It is extremely difficult to find reliable opening times. We understand that the money is made off of repeat visitors, but those of us who travel to visit could increase a pubs revenue by quite a bit. It would really make a lot of sense to post the hours and especially holiday hours. England is bad, Belgium worse and German impossible.
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Always best to check WhatPub first. Some branches (not all) do keep it up to date.
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Actually you mean Corsley – which is also closed! https://whatpub.com/pubs/BAT/180/cross-keys-inn-corsley
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“So clearly it’s my fault for assuming anything about pub opening times, but I ask you “**** *** **** ?”.”
I’d say it’s more likely they now shut on Saturdays due to the imminent militaristic designs by Warmin(i)ster on nearby (F)Rome. (yeah – that’s pretty weak sauce even for me)
“Two locals walked by and expressed surprise that it was shut.”
Well, you should have had a drink in one of them then.*
And with that I’m off with the missus to enjoy a light lunch (and some beer of course!) at our local brewpub, thanks to my two lads who sent me a gift voucher for said brewpub by email this morning. 🙂
Cheers!
* – My mistake. That was two local townsfolk who walked by, not two locals as in pubs. 🙂
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You have Fathers Day in Canada ? And your lads remember it ? Double wow.
Locals could mean either, as Lewis Carrol probably said.
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“And your lads remember it ? ”
Well, the eldest remembers it*, and included the youngest in the gift.
Cheers
* Slightly incorrect. My youngest remembered as well (he called to wish me all the best) but he freely admitted the voucher was from the eldest. 🙂
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I admire your optimism!
Or is this the definition of insanity?
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Insanity. But you can’t believe how irritating that little bit of white on the pink map is !
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There wasn’t this problem when pubs had statutory hours such as noon to 3pm and 6 to 10.30pm.
It’s only with permitted hours that licensees have the audacity to open, and worse close, whenever they like.
But we couldn’t have the monthly Proper Days Out with being sat on a park bench for three hours of an afternoon unless there was a market day extension.
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I’m all for personal freedom of licensees to open when they see fit. But Saturday lunchtime is surely sacred in a tiny village ?
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