The Lamb Inn is an idyllic thatched-roof pub nestled in the bucolic countryside village of Little Milton, near Oxford. A pub that’s lived many existences, the Lamb Inn was given its newest lease of life in 2022, changing ownership and chef guidance. The kitchen is now headed up by Nat Berney, who trained for several years in Raymond Blanc’s Michelin-starred kitchen in Le Manoir.
Housed in a 16th-century stone building with a thatched roof which has served as a public house for centuries, a jaunt to the Lamb Inn makes for a quintessentially British experience. Wooden beams hang from the low ceiling and combined with the rugged brick walls enveloping the dining room, makes for a welcoming, snug space, warmed by the roaring fireplace. A sprawling beer garden extends onto the pub’s lawn, offering outdoor seating for when the weather’s playing ball.
Berney has breathed new life into The Lamb Inn’s menu, serving up staple British pub dishes with an extra refined touch. Under the starter jurisdiction, cured trout loin is paired with a cucumber Aguachile, chicken liver parfait is served with red onion and bacon jam, and gochujang-marinated Korean chicken wings throw a curveball addition into the British dish mix. A charcuterie board to share between two is also on offer, for a lighter lunch option.
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it - this is Berney’s approach to several classics, which involve battered hake with chips and tartare sauce, and the eponymous ‘Lamb Inn’ beef burger. Other mains include pea and gorgonzola gnocchi, wood fired rib eye, and slow braised lamb belly with grilled baby courgettes and courgette puree.
An impressive wine list offers a wide range of grapes by the bottle and various-sized glasses from across the world, and a good selection of beers are also available on tap.