Landlord of The Lamb Inn at Christchurch marks a year at the helm serving traditional pub grub

THE landlord of a Christchurch pub with a chequered history due to frequent changes in management says he has broken the curse, recently marking a year at the helm.

Jon Dalman took over The Lamb Inn in Winkton in January 2024 with a determination to get “back to basics” with classic pub grub and top level customer service.

And after visiting with my family for a Sunday lunch recently it was patently clear this simple formula really is working for him. The light and spacious pub restaurant was chock-full when we ate there at midday, the very mixed crowd showing off the pub’s wide-ranging appeal.

As soon as we were seated, my boys, aged five and eight, were presented with colouring books and pencils, which they quickly got to work on while we browsed the menu.

Those traditional and comforting dishes we all know and love dominated the menu – think scampi and chips, calves liver and bacon, pies, beef stew and homemade burgers.

But we were there for the roasts – us along with every other diner in the pub. It was apparent The Lamb has built up something of a reputation for its Sunday lunches.

I opted for the roast topside of beef, while my husband chose the lamb. The kids, less keen on this British staple, went for bacon cheeseburger and chips, and macaroni cheese served with garlic bread.

Both our roasts, complete with enormous Yorkshire puddings, were delicious. The meat was juicy and tender, the homemade gravy was rich and thick, and the potatoes, infused with garlic and herbs, were really flavourful.

I was particularly impressed with the maple glazed carrots and parsnips – they were caramelised perfectly, bringing out their natural sweetness, and had a wonderful soft, almost sticky, texture. The braised cabbage, with its tangy flavour and gorgeous red colour, did well to balance the richer aspects of the dish.

My eldest loved his burger, which was juicy and full of flavour, and the youngest said his macaroni was the “cheesiest” he had tasted – which considering he has sampled dozens of creamy pasta dishes at every establishment he’s ever been to is quite the compliment.

Desserts were chocolate sundaes for the kids, chocolate pudding and ice cream for me, and banoffee waffle for my husband.

The size of the sundaes caused much excitement, and they even came with a charming little wafer sporting a cute picture of a lamb, which we all thought was a lovely touch.

The staff at the Lamb were really warm and friendly, no less so considering we were those annoying customers requesting certain ingredients – primarily salad – be omitted from the dishes for our fussy eaters.

And the place had a great atmosphere – buzzy but really chilled, perfect for a long, lazy lunch.

Knowing Jon had plans for a play area in the garden, we wandered outside to take a look after we’d eaten. Equipment included a couple of slides, a swing and a mini climbing wall, which my two loved.

The view from the garden of a beautiful meadow, made visible by cutting down some dying trees, was also really stunning, and in the spring and summer months I could imagine the space would really come into its own.

Jon has plans to extend the play area, and is looking to have acoustic sets in the garden and barbecue food.

“The last year has been about seeing what works and what doesn’t; not being afraid to give things a go, but cutting our losses if they don’t work,” he said.

“I spend most of my time in the kitchen, which I love, and I’ve always said I want to offer proper pub food; it’s the classics that really do well.

“We’re not a restaurant – we’re a pub with an eating area. We pride ourselves on being really family and dog-friendly, and I have a fantastic team behind me that make that all possible.

“Every pub needs support from the local community, and that is more important than ever – I really want to emphasise that.”

For more information, visit thelambwinkton.co.uk

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