Chef rescues and reopens 300-year-old Somerset pub
A local chef has rescued and reopened a centuries-old pub in Taunton. The Lamb and Flag, which had closed back in January this year, has been purchased and reopened by one of its employees.
Patrice, 33, had only started working at the Stuart-era pub in November 2023. But at the start of the New Year, he got some devastating news: "The previous owner didn't put the rota out and told everyone that they'd lost their jobs."
The Lamb and Flag closed Saturday, January 6 after more than three hundred years of hospitality. But just over a month later, Patrice rescued and reopened the pub, having gone from chef to owner.
READ MORE:South West Carnival won't take place this year
READ MORE:Former Yeovil Town manager Barry Lloyd dies aged 75
Patrice says he had local people in mind when reinventing The Lamb and Flag: "I asked the villagers what they want and how they want me to do it, even though I'm a chef, not a publican. Every week or so I ask them what they want me to do, what beers they want."
The rescue mission hasn't come without challenges. Patrice claims that the pub had struggled with intermittent temporary closures before he took over, which meant locals weren't always sure when it was open: "The past is the past: people have to look forward and support pubs."
The Lamb and Flag are proud to source food for the pub locally and to pay staff above minimum wage. Patrice is also proud of the pub's long, illustrious history, displaying every original title deed since it opened in 1705.
It's hard to overstate the pub's impressive heritage. The same year it opened, Isaac Newton was given a knighthood by Queen Anne and the famous highwayman Dick Turpin was born. But an appreciation for the old also comes with a taste for the new.
Patrice has bought a new piano for the pub ("It's out of tune though, so whoops!"), and is dedicated to serving high-quality locally-sourced meals. Discussing the menu, he said: "For this place, I just want to get it up in a good stead and focus on the food: our Sunday roasts are amazing!".
Visitors may also enjoy the authentic fireplace, the outdoor seating perfect for the summer, and the upstairs restaurant area.
The Lamb and Flag is located in Blagdon Hill, Taunton. It's open from 3pm to 10pm on Monday and Tuesdays, and 12 noon to 10pm from Wednesday to Sunday.