Oaklands Inn

Thanks to its recent refurbishment, the addition of a café and the appointment of a new head chef, The Oaklands Inn has been given a new lease of life. This family-run, family-friendly pub is a favourite with Great Notley locals, as well as visitors in need of homely, traditional fare.

The spacious interior has been tastefully updated, and provides drinkers and diners with a bright, welcoming environment. Sample the freshly brewed coffee in the Oaklands Café, kick back by the fire in the lounge or enjoy a meal in the restaurant; there's even a private function room and a superb pub garden. To match its new look, the menu has also been revamped, promising a wide selection of pub classics and more adventurous dishes at sensible prices.

For my main course, I plumped for the slow-braised lamb shank on a bed of mash, which was a fine example of traditional cuisine done well. My companion's Thai chicken was full of complex, aromatic flavours. A focus on sourcing the finest local ingredients, including meat from the local butcher and fresh fish from Billingsgate, is clearly paying off. We made sure to save room for pudding, having spotted several tempting options on the dessert menu earlier, and thoroughly enjoyed our heart-warming apple pie with homemade creamy custard and a two scoops of nutty almond and pistachio ice cream