TWO chefs from Michelin Star restaurants have taken a plunge in the deep end and taken over a 16th century Cotswold village pub.

The pair have opened The Lamb Inn in Great Rissington after moving to the area to be closer to family. 

The pub has undergone a complete refurbishment in the month since it closed on October 2. 

Elliot Cree and Kathleen Vincent also known as KV have taken over the pub in partnership with Brakspear Brewery. 

Mr Cree was formerly the head chef at the Kitchen Table in London. 

The Lamb Inn first welcomed villagers back last week in a series of soft launches offering free tasters from food to wine before it officially opened yesterday (October 9). 

Mr Cree said: "We officially opened yesterday and honestly we have had a great reception from locals.

"We have had a few teething issues but that is what you expect with a 400-year-old building, so we have had workmen in for the plumbing and gas work but we have had great reviews. 

"Some areas still look a bit like a contraction site but the workmen have been great. 

"We have a whole new bar and seating area and a new lady's toilets. 

"Me and my wife had an argument about which toilets would be done because we could only afford one and I think you can guess who won. 

"Hopefully we will redo the men's toilets in the future." 

The 13-bedroom pub dates back to the 1600s and the new owners hope to make it the centre of the village again, bringing fine dining, pub quizzes and much more.

Mr Cree continued: "Myself and my wife are chefs by trade and we have worked in Michelin Star restaurants around the world. 

"We got married a year ago and decided to move here to be closer to our family and maybe start our own. 

"It happened by accident because we were originally looking at opening a fine dining restaurant but then we stumbled across The Lamb Inn. 

"In the future we are hoping to organise pub quizzes and cinema nights. 

"We also have a private dining room, so maybe a secret supper club with a 13 or 14 course tasting menu.

"We serve elevated pub food but we have a small menu because everything is made here, everything is fresh, nothing frozen and nothing preprepared. 

"We will always be a local pub for locals versus a pub for tourists but tourists will use our rooms as we are close to many Cotswold hotspots."