Tobie Norris

Address

12 St. Pauls Street

Stamford

Lincolnshire

UK

PE9 2BE

Telephone

(01780) 753800

Opening Times

Weekdays

11 - 11 (midnight Fri, Sat)

Sundays

12 - 10.30

Great period atmosphere in a warren of ancient rooms, splendid drinks' choice, nice pub food, pleasant courtyard Centuries old, beautifully restored and full of character, this lovely place is a quite charming series of little rooms. Add careful attention by friendly staff, a fine changing range of wines, well kept Adnams and (from the owner's microbrewery) Ufford White Hart on handpump, three guest beers including ones from Adnams and Ufford, and Weston's organic farm cider, and you get a most enjoyable, relaxed and easy-going atmosphere - particularly liked by the two labradoodles Fraggle and Sprocket, it appears. Refurbishments really have made the made the most of the building's age - worn flagstones, meticulously stripped stonework, huge hearth for one room's woodburning stove, and steeply pitched rafters in one of the two upstairs rooms. Furnishings here run from pews and heavy leatherette wall settles to comfortable armchairs, with flickering church candles, and abundant books and antique prints. Downstairs, several linked rooms include a handsomely panelled shrine to Nelson and the Battle ofTrafalgar on the left. These open off a spinal corridor, glass-roofed at the far end, to make a snug conservatory that opens to a narrow but sunny two-level courtyard with cast-iron tables, hanging baskets and plant tubs.

Besides their much admired 'compile your own' pizzas (and their signature peking duck pizza), which are cooked in a stone oven, the menu includes antipasto carne and verdura, warm goats cheese and beetroot salad, belly pork and chick pea cassoulet, penne pomodoro and mixed grill.