The Cross Keys Hotel

We booked 10 days ago to stay here tonight, had an email 2 days ago asking us to confirm the booking, only to arrive in Milnthorpe this afternoon to be informed by a passer-by that the hotel had been closed for over 2 WEEKS! Not acceptable!

We stayed here for a couple of nights to attend a nearby wedding. We needed somewhere reasonably priced and our expectations weren't excessive. I was so surprised; the hotel was a little star of a place. The room was smart and clean, the continental breakfast was delicious, the pub was spotless and all the staff so friendly. The management had only recently taken over and have clearly worked incredibly hard to get the place to a high standard. If we are in the area again we will be happy to return!

Where to start? The first thing I look for in a hotel is the staff. A hotel, restaurant and or bar is only as good as the staff that run it. You wouldn't wish to meet a more pleasant team. As soon as you enter, you are met with a friendly smile and positive energy. I was booked in and shown to my room without any hesitation. The room was very spacious and welcoming. It was spotlessly clean and the large window let in plenty of natural light. There was a large free standing bath big enough to drown all my sorrows in, a shower that had more thrust than a 70's disco dancer and a bed that can bounce you to the moon if desired. I laid on it for a moment and woke up two years later, pure comfort is a huge understatement! Back to the staff. I have only managed to meet a handful so far and each and every one of them have been incredible. I have spent a lot of time with the front of house staff Emily, Hannah, Naomi, Josh and Holly as well as the GM James. Each one of them laugh at my awful dad jokes, put up with my ridiculous clothing choices and offer words of wisdom when the gin gets too much. You couldn't get a better team in my opinion, they really are as hard working, positive, knowledgeable and dedicated as they come. The bar has more spirits than every ******* hotel combined and a wine list long enough to make everyone's troubles disappear. I have tried to make my way through the selection of cocktails and wines but 9 hangovers later, two falls down the stairs and some offended bar staff later, I am still trying. I haven't had an evening meal in the resturant at the moment as come tea time I dont even know my name let alone what I wish to eat...thanks to Emily, hannah and naomi for that... but the food looks and smells amazing. I have met most of the kitchen staff and they are a great bunch. Very polite and welcoming. I have witnessed the chefs coming out every now and then to talk to the clients about the dishes. Their customer service and knowledge about each and every dish is unbeatable. Wether you are after a romantic weekend away, a night to think about what your did to anger the wife so much or a place to holiday for a week or two with the family, the cross keys is the place for you. I look forward to meeting any staff that I am yet to meet, making my way through the rest of the wine list and catching sight of the ghost in room 7. Happy stay people!