hen we left London, we were in the middle of a torrential thunderstorm, but as we swept west past Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, the clouds cleared, and by the time we arrived at the charming Wiltshire village of Hindon, we were set for a beautiful summer evening. The Lamb is a charming country pub at the centre of the village – surrounded by a selection of outdoor seating options, including a pretty raised grassed area on the opposite side of the road.

The mellow-bricked building dates back to the 12th century and has been part of the Young’s group since 2014. Refurbished in 2023, the inn now boasts 18 well-appointed bedrooms. Our spacious ‘bigger boutique’ room was housed in a former outbuilding and had a vaulted ceiling and separate seating area. The smart bathroom included a roll-top bath, as well as a walk-in shower, with the bath thoughtfully accessorised with both Bramley bath foam and salts.

After heading to the main inn, we enjoyed gin and tonics in the lively bar, where the clientele was made up of both residents and locals. The inn has a number of different seating areas, and I could picture it being particularly cosy in the winter. There was no need for lit fires during this visit, but the welcome from staff was warm and cheerful. The well-thought-out wine list includes an above-average selection of well-priced wine by the glass, and a couple of glasses of Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard chablis were an excellent match for our first courses: deliciously sweet Fowey scallops spiked with spicy nduja, and mackerel glazed with harissa and served with a punchy salsa verde.

While my husband, Spike, plumped for a hearty main of porchetta with eggs and chips, The Lamb clearly takes its beef very seriously – a glass-fronted dry ager offered a range of joints with a variety of different cuts on offer, accompanied by a tremendously well-stocked mustard tray. My rib-eye was beautifully charred and seasoned, served just the right side of medium rare, and needed nothing more than crisp rosemary fries and a glass of South Africa’s famous Chocolate Block red alongside it. To finish the wine, I opted for the cheeseboard, which was excellent but huge – it could easily have served as a ploughman’s lunch. Spike’s apple and rhubarb crumble was a much more manageable size.

The next morning, breakfast offered a cold buffet table including fruit, cereals, yogurts and pastries, and a great variety of hot options. As well as the traditional full English, dishes included pancakes with maple syrup and bacon – which I can never resist – and eggs Benedict. The standard breakfast coffee offer is pots of filter coffee, but the manager overseeing breakfast kindly made me a cappuccino; I drink very little coffee, so this was a particular treat for me. The Lamb is a delightful destination for a short break, and I can easily envisage a return visit, especially in winter – the prospect of those roaring fires is calling me back.