14 | LUXlife Magazine Best Gastropub 2025 – Oxfordshire Offering perhaps the best Sunday roast in Oxfordshire, The Lamb Inn is a traditional, 15th-century English pub with about as much character and history as can be found anywhere across the country. Heading up the kitchen is chef Nat Berney, who previously worked at the renowned, five-star Le Manoir Hotel in the nearby village of Great Milton. With Nat at the helm, The Lamb Inn sprinkles innovation on a menu of hearty pub classics, making it the region’s leading gastropub. Owner Ben Moss was on hand to tell us more. A wonderful country pub at the heart of the small community of its local village, Little Milton, The Lamb Inn is housed in a thatched building made out of stone from the mid-15th century. Its décor is also based around the style of that period, with oak furniture and beams perfectly complementing exposed stone walls and a grand fire place. The result is a warm and cosy atmosphere, with this greeting the many who have entered this quaint public house since its reopening under the new ownership of Ben Moss in 2022. United by this distinct sense of community, a passion for inclusivity, and – most importantly – a love of great food drink, Ben and the team at The Lamb Inn pride themselves on the casual, friendly environment they have created, which allows customers to enjoy everything from a quality meal to a quick pint in great company. Similarly, when it comes to Nat and her team of kitchen staff, an equally strong emphasis is placed on balancing British history with culinary masterpieces, elevating British pub classics with a refined touch. The Lamb Inn also strives to treat every member of staff like family, seen in its prioritising of their wellbeing through the likes of its partnership with a HR firm and the hands-on role they are all invited to have across the business. Wanting the whole team to be as involved as he and Nat are, Ben encourages the kitchen team to contribute to the creation of seasonal dishes or the fine tuning of its menu, with the frontof-house team also doing their bit by sharing feedback and helping shape customers’ culinary experiences. Moreover, in the spirit of positioning itself as one of the best places to eat in Oxfordshire, The Lamb Inn remains committed to sustainability and sources all of its food and drink from local suppliers. Ben told us: “We work tirelessly to source our ingredients locally, with suppliers including The Calnan Brothers, Flying Fish Seafood, DBF Banbury, and Longman’s Cheese from Somerset. On the drinks front, we also participate in the CAMRA LocAle campaign, ensuring all our ales are sourced from within a 26-mile radius.” Despite remaining deeply rooted to some of the more traditional elements of the English pub experience, The Lamb Inn has seen a number of significant developments over the past couple of years, with these further solidifying its position as Oxfordshire’s leading gastropub. “For example,” Ben explained, “we have expanded the outdoor dining area which has been a key driver of trade (especially during the summer months) and we’ve increased our social media presence, utilising Instagram to showcase the food, drinks, and our events.” As for these events, they include a pizza night and a collaboration with a food truck provided by an external local company. Beyond offering something a little different for its customers, these initiatives have succeeded in bringing a community together, which is something The Lamb Inn does further by regularly adapting its menus and seeing that it has food and drink options available at different price points. Not only does The Lamb Inn constantly refine both its menu and its offerings, it is also keen on developing the skills of its staff, delivering comprehensive and cohesive training to ensure a wide range of essential skills are covered. This includes ensuring every team member has the right accreditations and offering continuous training in the kitchen to allow prospective chefs to develop their skills to commis level. Finally, the pub partners with Springboard, a charity helping young adults get their start in the world of hospitality. Having recently acquired The Bat and Ball, a new pub location which is itself featured in this programme, 2025 is already shaping up to be a great year for the pub, which is committed to continuing to deliver exceptional food, exquisite drinks, and even a better guest experience. Making local patrons and visitors alike feel right at home, The Lamb Inn is more than deserving of a place in our Restaurant and Bar Awards 2025. Contact: Ben Moss Company: The Lamb Inn Web Address: www.lambinnlittlemilton.co.uk
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