Harden's survey result
Summary
This “magnificent” and “wonderfully maintained” oak-panelled dining room, in a famous and splendidly “olde worlde” coaching inn, is one of the country’s archetypal traditional venues. An onslaught on the famous carvery trolley or the wider menu, while admittedly far too “expensive” (“the Dover sole itself would blush if it could see its price”), is nevertheless a “rare treat” and the “sirloin of beef on the bone, cooked and carved to perfection from the silver domed trolley” is particularly hard to beat (“if you can walk from the table you’ve not done it justice”).
Summary
“The atmosphere is pure history and romance” in the “traditional oak-lined dining room with silver-domed trolleys” of this “beautifully preserved Georgian coaching inn”. “All credit to owner Laurence Hoskins for maintaining the traditional values” of this “truly magnificent establishment” – a “treasure of an institution” which sits “at the heart of the fine stone town of Stamford”. “There is a price to pay for dining here” though – prices are rather OTT – and it’s “best to avoid the clever dishes and stick to basics: oysters, smoked salmon (even the hysterically expensive Dover sole) and above all the beef” – “a taste of what life should always be like” if you have a taste for all things old school. Top Tip: if you want to dip your toe in the water, try the cheaper (but less exciting) Garden Room bistro.
Summary
“The panelled dining room is a wonderful place, almost untouched by time: all fine linen, gleaming cutlery and shining glass”, at this huge, storybook coaching inn, at the centre of a marvellous Georgian town. “For traditional cuisine, including a dramatic beef trolley” with “classically fine” wines it does have many fans, although the experience can not-so-infrequently end up seeming “ludicrously expensive for indifferent food”. NB Courtyard dining and a Garden Room bistro also feature on-site.
Summary
“This unique and beautiful old coaching inn” (standing on what used to be the A1, before this gorgeous Georgian town was by-passed) is a “classic” – “a refreshing venue to relax in and recharge the batteries”. It has a “lovely dining room” of the old-school variety, though often the cuisine is no better than “sound” (“I felt let down after the big build up”) – other eating options include the popular Garden Room bistro, or, in summer, “an excellent lunch in the courtyard”.
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £29.85 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.20 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
71 St Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LB
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7:30 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 7:30 pm‑10 pm |
Best British, Traditional restaurants nearby
British, Traditional restaurant in Exton
British, Traditional restaurant in Hough On The Hill
British, Traditional restaurant in Ely
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Langar
British, Modern restaurant in Mountsorrel