Address

High Street

Stamford

Lincolnshire

PE9 2LB

Telephone

(01780) 750750

Opening Times

Weekdays

11 (12 Sun) - 11

Handsome coaching inn, beautifully relaxed and civilised, with very good (though pricey) food and wines, and lovely courtyard and garden; bedrooms This carefully preserved and rather grand old coaching inn is an exceptional place on all counts. Very civilised but not in the least stuffy, its various lovely areas are furnished with all manner of seats from leather, cane and antique wicker to soft sofas and easy chairs - there's a room to suit all occasions. The central lounge is particularly striking with sturdy timbers, broad flagstones, heavy beams and massive stonework. Though the York Bar is surprisingly pubby with a relaxed, local feel, you might not feel comfortable turning up in walking gear. There's an oak-panelled restaurant (jacket or tie required) and a less formal Garden Restaurant which has well spaced furniture on herringbone glazed bricks around a central tropical grove. The staff are professional and friendly, with waiter drinks' service in the charming cobbled courtyard at the back: comfortable chairs and tables among attractive plant tubs and colourful hanging baskets on the ancient stone buildings. A fine range of drinks includes Adnams Broadside, Grainstore Triple B and Greene King Ruddles County on handpump, an excellent choice of wines (many of which are italian, with about 17 by the glass), and freshly squeezed orange juice. The immaculately kept walled garden is beautifully planted and there's a sunken lawn where croquet is often played.

Licensee name

Chris Pitman

What they say

The York Bar offers quick light snacks with a pint of Adnams real ale or our guest beer.

Snacks in the York bar include soup, interesting sandwiches, chicken liver pâté with cumberland sauce and ploughman’s. Besides a generous cold buffet, the menu in the Garden Lounge includes eight tempting pasta and risotto dishes (such as pea and pancetta risotto with a poached egg and half a lobster with spaghetti with tomato and mild chilli), shellfish, from oysters up to a seafood platter, with other delicious items such as vietnamese chicken rolls with hoi sin, grilled salmon with steamed bok choi, orange and ginger dressing, chickpea and vegetable tagine, fish and chips. They also serve full afternoon tea.

Free house

Related objects

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Related objects

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Quality as high as this does come at a price. The simplest option is the York Bar snacks which include sandwiches and toasties, ploughman's and chicken liver pâté with cumberland sauce. In the restaurants (you may need to book), there might be prawn and crab cocktail, fish and chips, roast cod fillet on chorizo and tomato risotto, spaghetti with half a lobster, tomato and chilli, lamb shank braised in middle eastern spices, pea and basil risotto, and a seafood platter. Their morning coffee and afternoon teas are popular.