Cue a big party weekend on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February which is when Vyv and Jackie depart The Lamb Inn in The Parade, as Vyv said, “after nearly 43 years.” All change at what is widely regarded as Marlborough’s last ‘real pub’.
Vyv and Jackie will welcome everyone to The Lamb over that final weekend. Everyone who has worked there over the past four decades (and more), which in itself will be a pretty big crowd even if a small proportion of those former members of the team turn up to wave farewell, and also all of the many, many customers who have enjoyed The Lamb since Vyv took over. And anyone else……
It promises to be a good weekend with, as ever at The Lamb, live music this time from regulars ‘Pants’.
Come Monday 6 Feb – “We’ll miss it” said Vyv, and “I’ll miss the cooking, terribly” added Jackie, who has been the driving force in the kitchen which has delivered the excellent fare over the years.
“But it’s not just us” said Jackie. “Our daughter, Laura has been with us, helping make The Lamb what it is, and our granddaughter, Ophelia, she’s been bought up here. They will miss The Lamb as well” she added.
Music has played a big role in The Lamb over the years. Many live events, plenty of different bands – some local, others from much further afield and ‘Pants’ who will be playing on Saturday 4 Feb are Moose Harris’ band, him being the former bassist with New Model Army and The Damned.
The Jukebox deserves more than just a special mention. It was the inspiration for the ‘Planet Rock’ radio station, created by Marlborough’s radio legend Ralph Bernard. Click here to read Geoff Baker’s piece which ran in a local paper a few months ago about the story of the Lamb’s Jukebox and the radio station.
A new landlord, Sam, will be taking over on the following day, Monday 6 February. Will The Lamb change under her management? “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” noted Jackie, which is probably very good advice given the background of all the pub closures across the past few years.
In the Seventies, Marlborough boasted well over twenty pubs. Now there are just six, one of which, The Wellington, at the St Peter’s end of the High Street is (temporarily?) closed. But the one consistent presence has been The Lamb, which has always attracted a very loyal and wide clientele from across the area, somewhere people could get a warm welcome, a pint of well-kept beer and drinks, and Jackie’s fare from the kitchen. Even during Lockdown The Lamb survived whilst many others fell by the wayside. “We concentrated on good takeaways”, explained Jackie, providing meals for those in need. And when customers were able to venture out and go for a drink, the regulars (and others) came back.
What next? Vyv and Jackie won’t be going far, still in Marlborough but for the first time in maybe what is a very long time, they are planning to travel. And maybe pass on some good advice and nuggets for success to other landlords elsewhere?
Swindon & District Samaritans are aiming to bust the âBlue Mondayâ myth
