Secret Drinker reviews Church Keys in Boston

Is there any better way to relax than to sup a pint in a pub haunted by a figure with a sinister role in the Black Death?

The spectre of Sarah Preston looms in the Church Keys hundreds of years after she departed this mortal coil, I learned on my visit.

But more about that later. First I have to tell you about the tickets.

When I first entered this boozer the two people in front of me at the bar were waving little square pieces of paper in their hands.

At first I feared there was some kind of old-fashioned deli-counter system in place and if I didn’t find my slip soon someone would be nicking my turn.

But, as the friendly barman explained, there was discount offer in place for anyone buying two pints of the same stuff.

My Rosey Nosey was £3.50, but if I bought a second pint I could get the two for £6.

“Just the one for me thanks, I’m driving,” I explained.

“Don’t worry, you can use it tomorrow… or the day after,” he said matter-of-fact as he took my payment and passed me my ticket.

Just as I was musing whether a discount offer that hangs over to the following day was too good to be true, a bloke in baseball cap walked in, greeted a few guys around the bar like they’d just seen each other for the first time that day, then whipped out his piece of paper and ordered a cheap pint.

How about that?

This beautiful, leaning Tudor building, which dates back to about 1520, sits in the shadow of the imposing St Botolph’s, better known as the Boston Stump, and gets its name from a time when - for safe keeping - the church keys were stored there.

Over the years the place has been a Thai restaurant, photography studio and curiosity shop called Spooky’s, which sold new age stuff.

But the most intriguing part of the Church Keys’ history comes courtesy of Sarah Preston, a seemingly sociable lady blamed for bringing the plague to Boston when she invited a sailor back to her home whilst her husband was away.

The Black Death claimed 400 lives in the town and - riddled with grief - legend states our Sarah threw herself off the Stump’s tower to her death.

“It is said that her cries still echo throughout the rooms,” the Church Keys website says.

I didn’t see any spooks on my visit, but there was a chill in the building. Putting this down to the fact I was in a 500-year-old structure with single-glazed windows rather than any apparitions hanging around, I was delighted to spot a nook with a log burner and TV waiting for me, where I kept nice and toasty.

Read more Secret Drinker reviews here.

The Church Keys is a gorgeous pub - although it styles itself as a wine bar and restaurant, it was very much a pints-all-round feel when I was there - with a very local feel.

As the place got busier and busier through the evening those chatting in the bar area - pretty much everyone barring one bloke who sat there motionless, staring menacingly at a fruit machine as if it had just said something rude about his wife’s appearance - shared communal laughs.

Small groups sat around tables throughout the place, chatting away.

And, something you don’t always see in Lincolnshire’s pubs, the place seemed to attract a number of different nationalities all in the same place. I heard at least three different languages being spoken, four if you include Bostonian, kid.

Like many old buildings tend to, the Church Keys also attracted people to scrape their name into the walls.

The one-cubicle unisex toilet near my nook had names - Josh, Jelvin, Milo, Killroy - scratched all over it. I was a little put out that no joker had added ‘Sarah Preston iz ere’ to put the willies up a few punters (please see this as an observation, not a suggestion).

So, whether you’re a polyglot, ghost hunter or history buff, if this review has made you want to visit the Church Keys, just let me know as I’ve got a spare ticket that can sort you out with a £2.50 pint.

CHURCH KEYS WINE BAR AND RESTAURANT, CHURCH STREET, BOSTON, PE21 6NW

DECOR: Basic but beautiful. The white walls and dark timber juxtapose wonderfully in this 16th century building. The log burner was a welcome find. 4/5

DRINK: A pint of Rosey Nosey (ABV 4.9%), Batemans’ festive special. A particular joy is the pump with a red light flashing on Santa’s nose. 3/5

PRICE: I thought £3.50 was a good price, but at two for £6 it was even better. 4/5

ATMOSPHERE: The place got gradually busier and busier as the evening drew on, with groups having a laugh inside as well as outside when they popped out for a fag. 3/5

STAFF: The bloke behind the bar was a top fella, plenty of friendly chat and practically forcing me to have a discounted second pint one day. 4/5

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Do you agree with the secret drinker or have any suggestions where he should go next? Where is your favourite beer garden? Email secretdrinker@lincsonline.co.uk or comment below.