We have a pint at the proper Bristol pub once ran by the city's oldest landlady

They don’t make them like Maud White these days. Maud ran The Cross Keys in Hanham from 1958 until her death in 2003 at the age of 87 and a portrait of her takes pride of place on the wall.

She was well known as one of Bristol’s oldest landladies and many people still affectionately refer to the pub as ‘Maud’s’.

The Cross Keys has been privately owned by a local family for the last 16 years and managed by landlords Ang and Ian for the last two.  

Ang says: “We are a free house with a wide selection of reasonably priced drinks. It is a friendly and welcoming pub with large rear gardens, marquee and covered area that are popular during the summer months.”

The detached, stone-built pub dates back to Victorian times and Ang says part of the building was originally the paymasters office for local miners.  

These days, The Cross Keys is a popular community pub used by Hanham locals, particularly those who enjoy their cider.

As well as three types of Thatchers cider, there is Blackthorn and the hazy Stan’s Traditional. For beer and lager drinkers, there’s Bath Ales Gem, Amstel, Madri, Stella, Foster’s, Heineken and Guinness.

With its low ceilings, beams and flagstone floor, the pub retains plenty of original character and there’s even a designated ‘old gits corner’ for the regulars.

A couple of large TVs, a dartboard and a jukebox (it’s free on Friday and Sunday evenings) add to the draw of this traditional pub.

There’s a quiz night (the next one is on February 29) and a meat raffle takes place at 5.15pm on Sundays. The Burger Bus makes occasional appearances in the large car park outside the pub and if you happen to visit The Cross Keys on Saturday March 2, it’s 80s Disco Night.

With so much going on in this busy and well-supported pub, I’m sure legendary landlady Maud must be looking down on The Cross Keys with huge pride that it’s still the hub of the community.

The Cross Keys, Hollyguest Road, Hanham, BS15 9NT.