The Lamb, Wantage

This time my visit was more organised. I wanted to see how things were now the flood damage had been repaired. The Lamb suffered particularly badly from last July's floods, when more than four feet of flood water rushed in uninvited. Indeed, it was the worst-hit business in town and out of action for almost six months.

This lovely old pub, which is a 17th-century, Grade Two listed building, finally reopened in December, having undergone a complete refurbishment costing more than £500,000. Everything from floors to kitchen had been ruined by the invading flood, but visitors using the pub now would never know.

It has been restored perfectly, and that warm, friendly, buzzy atmosphere I admired so much on my last visit is still there in abundance. So are the beams that fill both the original 17th-century stone building facing the street and the extension added about a decade ago, which leads to the garden.

I admit to smiling when I read some of the quotes painted on the beams in the main bar area. Preserve wildlife - pickle a squirrel, said one. If at first you don't succeed - skydiving is not for you, said another.

The floor is covered with what appear to be slate tiles, a covering so many flood-prone pubs are selecting instead of carpets.

The repairs have been so well done that the interior of The Lamb Inn looked just as it had on my previous visit. And the staff, who had appeared so professional and welcoming then, were just as friendly this time. Efficient too.

Unfortunately, the road just beyond the pub was closed due to building works, which had obviously discouraged some regular customers from visiting the day I called.

Thanks to my colleague Chris's impressive U-turn, we managed to park the car nearby, having discovered access to the pub car park was blocked by a lorry. This stage of the building work, I was assured, would be finished in a few days.

Morland Original and Old Speckled Hen were on tap. I chose the Old Speckled Hen, which proved a perfect lunchtime drink.

The menu was not pretentious. I'd call it a typical pub menu and that's fine as there were loads of different dishes.

Chris once again went for his favourite breaded scampi (£8.95), which he enjoyed, and I ordered half a roast chicken (£8.95), served with new potatoes or chips. I chose chips.

The gravy to go with the chicken arrived in its own little gravy boat. Actually, the meat fell off the bone and it tasted extremely good, though I do think that the side salad I ordered as an extra was perhaps a tad expensive at £3.50.

Other items listed on the menu included ham, double egg and chips (£7.95), chicken Kiev (£7.95), cheesy vegetable and bean bake (£7.95), and breaded plaice at £8.95.

Traditional puddings, such as treacle sponge and spotted dick, cost £4.25.

I was thrilled to discover I could have taken Pythius-Peacocke, my border collie, as dogs are allowed in the bar area.

Perhaps he would have rebelled, however, on discovering that dogs were not permitted in the little park dedicated to John Betjeman which abuts the pub garden.

Presumably, trustees in charge of this attractive little park were fed up with irresponsible dog owners failing to clear up after their canines.

As there are loads of other splendid dog walking spaces to be found in the Wantage area, I will still take him on my next visit.