Exploring Stamford
Glynis Fox visits this historic market town and discovers its wide range of shops, hostelries and attractions.
Bursting with history, home to hundreds of independent businesses and a great place to visit any day, Stamford attracts shoppers and visitors from other parts of Lincolnshire and miles beyond its boundaries.
The town has a lovely vibe, is a magnet for shoppers and sightseers throughout the year, and especially inviting as the festive season gathers pace.
If your Christmas shopping list includes a determined search to track down those special gifts for the most important people in your life, or find the perfect party outfit and glitzy shoes, you are likely to have success here. Get your timing right and you could probably squeeze in a visit to a pantomime or other festive performance too.
Satisfy your shopaholic tendencies, courtesy of the town’s wide mix of retailers. These range from branches of the popular multi-nationals and an amazing range of independents offering a wide variety of goods, services and eateries, with the personal touch.
Whatever you are looking for, Stamford’s shops offer everything, from jewellery to clothing, hats, designer babywear, shoes, books, flowers, art, pet essentials and freshly baked goods… the list goes on!
SUPER SHOPPING
St Mary’s Street, which leads on to St Mary’s Hill, is well-known and home to a variety of stores, including the mini department store Sinclairs, which was established in 1970 and which is based in what was once a Georgian coaching inn. Sinclairs stocks everything from kitchenware to interiors products and luxury branded clothing and accessories.
Also, along this street you will find Marcia May Shoes and Mini Marcia May and boutiques such as Black Orchid and Cathian, as well as the babywear and maternity shop Stork.
If you are passionate about playing music, tracking down old books or love clocks and watches, St Mary’s Hill should be on your list of places to visit. Here you will find Stamford Music Shop, which stocks musical instruments and sheet music, antiquarian and rare books, and Loomes of Stamford, a specialist watchmaker and stockist and repairer of antique clocks and watches.
High Street residents include SpaceNK, White Stuff, Joules and the specialist award-winning cheesemonger and affineur Rennet & Rind.
Ironmonger Street, which links the High Street to Broad Street, is also popular with independents and the place to find Energy boutique, the floral design studio Ode to Flowers and the luxury hair studio Blo.
This is just a flavour of what’s on offer to shopaholics, the best thing to do is simply to go wandering and see what catches your eye.
MARVELLOUS MARKETS
Visit the town on a Friday and you will be able to catch the weekly market. There are others which are in town on a Friday and some which pop up on Fridays and Saturdays.
South Kesteven District Council’s markets manager, Craig Rudd, oversees the markets in Stamford (in addition to Bourne and Grantham).
“Most weeks the big Friday market attracts about 70 stallholders and is very busy. It stretches out the length of Broad Street and down Ironmonger Street onto the High Street,” said Mr Rudd.
“Traders sell everything from bread and other foodstuffs to plants, a wide range of clothing, crockery and even furniture. The market is fully-booked but stallholders can get in touch if there are changes.
“There is a sense of community with the market, which has a big pull and gives people a great reason to visit and catch up with others.”
There is also a Farmers’ Market in the High Street every Friday and Red Lion Square markets on Fridays and Saturdays.
C J T Fisheries also parks a van at the top of Maiden Lane in the High Steet on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
ENJOY ENTERTAINMENT
After plenty of browsing and shopping, why not make an evening of it and enjoy a meal or a drink, or even take in a show. It’s always worth keeping an eye on what’s on at Stamford Arts Centre (multi-arts venue) in St Mary’s Street, or the Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre in Broad Street.
Upcoming among many events is Miracle on 34th Street – The Musical, on Wednesday to Saturday, 20th-23rd November and A Christmas Carol on Friday and Saturday, 13th-14th December, both at Stamford Arts Centre.
Forthcoming entertainment at Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre in Broad Street, includes: Swift & Styles – The Ultimate Swift & Styles Tribute Experience on Saturday 16th November; The Manfreds on Thursday, 21st November and Showaddywaddy (50 Golden Years) on Thursday 12th December.
You could also find yourself easily persuaded to make a real break of it, by staying a night or two in this architecturally interesting town.
There are a variety of options if you do happen to take an overnight bag with you, including The William Cecil and The George of Stamford (both in High Street, St Martin’s), The Crown Hotel in All Saints’ Place and pubs and restaurants with rooms, The Bull & Swan, The London Inn and Candlesticks.
FOOD HUB SUCCESS
Stamford mobile food hub, The Bread & Butter Thing (TBBT), is gearing up to celebrate its first birthday in December.
TBBT, an award-winning charity, worked in collaboration with South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) to launch its first food club in the town in late 2023.
The hub was the first of five funded by SKDC with £152,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
The Stamford hub is based in Christ Church in Green Lane and runs every Thursday, at 2pm.
At its weekly hubs, TBBT’s members access three bags of fruit and veg, chilled food and cupboard staples at deeply discounted prices, enabling them to feed their families, improving diets and saving them money for other household priorities.
Heathy Start cards are accepted and low-cost period products are also available.
A TBBT spokesperson said: “The Stamford hub has 286 registered members and, on average, we have 60-65 members attending on a weekly basis.”
She said that attendance was always a little lower over the summer months with holidays but numbers were expected to quickly be back up to 80.
“We’ll be celebrating its first birthday in December! That’s flown by so quickly.”
HISTORIC WALKS
Sir Walter Scott dubbed Stamford “the finest stone town in England” and it is home to some amazing buildings, so why not lace up a pair of comfortable shoes and step out on the Town Walk?
The route of the full walk, which will take at least two hours to complete, has been broken down into four sections – and you can start and finish anywhere. Bearing in mind that Stamford has existed for more than 1,000 years and has a street pattern traceable back to the earliest period, you will be able to marvel at a wide variety of buildings.
Look out for Browne’s Hospital in Broad Street, which was founded by wool merchant William Browne and completed by 1475. The medieval almshouse housed 10 poor men and two women.
Bath Row is the location for The Bath House (1823) and nearby three 13th-century arches – the only surviving remains of a William the Conqueror castle.
Visitors can get a copy of the Town Map from Stamford Tourist Information Centre in the town’s Arts Centre at 27 St Mary’s Street – tel: 01780 755611.
RUGBY CLUB BOOST
As we went to press, Stamford Rugby Club received news of a welcome boost.
Members heard it was to receive an extra £55,000 to help with its renovation work, paid for by developers of a nearby project. The money is the result of a planning agreement known as an s106 allocation.
In June 2021, SKDC’s Cabinet approved the distribution of funds to improve the sports facilities at Empingham Road Playing Fields. The money came as a result of a planning agreement relating to permission granted for a sustainable extension to the Stamford West development.
This included residential and affordable housing, a business park and a local centre, associated highways improvements, pedestrian and cycle links, landscaping and open space.
The agreement stated that the money must be used to “provide, enhance, or upgrade the existing sports facilities at the Empingham Road Playing Field.”
Cabinet Member for Planning, Cllr Phil Dilks, said: “The original Cabinet made provision for £55,000 to be allocated to the provision of new play equipment for the adjacent Lonsdale Road Play Area.
“As there is currently no requirement for new equipment, this allocation is being transferred to the Rugby Club project.”
SKDC ward member for Stamford St John’s and Cabinet Member for Property, Cllr Richard Cleaver said he was pleased to report that the Rugby Club would now receive £297,890 as part of the planning process, from a total £322,470 which has also benefited Stamford Indoor Bowls Club, Stamford Outdoor Bowls and Stamford Lions Club.”
The original allocation to the rugby club was based on the demolition and rebuild of their Club House.
Cllr Cleaver said the club was still fully focused on improving facilities. But since the original funding allocation, there has been substantial inflation within the construction sector, which affected the Club’s ability to fund a completely new building. Instead, plans have now been put in place for a complete refurbishment of existing building and playing facilities.
HEGARTY CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH NEW BOURNE OFFICE
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, local solicitors firm Hegarty has opened its new office at 11a North Street in Bourne PE10 9AE.
This is the firm’s fifth office in the region and adds to the list of its existing locations in Peterborough, Market Deeping, Oakham and Stamford.
The opening of the firm’s Bourne office marks a significant milestone, with the company celebrating its 50th anniversary in October, expanding the company’s number of offices to five in exactly 50 years – and adding a rather satisfying synergy to the opening celebrations.
The Bourne office houses a team of experienced solicitors specialising in family law and trust and probate services, providing residents with expert legal advice and support.
Additionally, Hegarty will offer appointments at the Bourne office for those needing legal advice across a wide range of legal services, ensuring the Bourne and surrounding communities have full access to its expertise.
To contact the Hegarty team in Bourne, tel: 01778 230030, email enquiries@hegarty.co.uk or visit hegarty.co.uk/bourne
TAKE A BREAK AT DON PADDY’S
A family-run business since 2001, Don Paddy’s is positioned on the square in the heart of Uppingham.
Don Paddy’s is a place to eat, drink and meet, with friends or on your own, serving brunch, lunch, small plates and dinner. With Irish values running throughout, you can be sure of a warm welcome; you’ll soon become one of the family.
Recently renovated, the newly opened ‘Market View’ and ‘Cork Room’ on the first floor are refreshing new spaces, with bright, open décor, perfect for individual tables or private events for up to 22 guests.
The new upstairs bar and lounge is also a great spot to treat yourself to an elegant evening cocktail before dinner, and with an extensive by-the-glass wine list, there is ample opportunity to try various interesting wines as you partake in Don Paddy’s new dishes such as Steak Frites with Chimichurri, Seafood Linguine, Bang Bang Cauliflower and Scallops with Chorizo Risotto.
With a full cabinet of homemade cakes, scones and sausage rolls as well, there is something for everyone at Don Paddy’s.
“Join us for brunch, lunch and dinner daily; grab a coffee or stay late for cocktails instead! Our ever-changing and evolving menus and wine list are driven by creativity and the use of prime local produce.”
Don Paddy’s is open from Monday to Saturday 9am-11pm, Sunday and Bank Holidays 9am-10.30pm.
For more information, tel: 01572 822255 or visit www.donpaddys.co.uk
THE RUG STUDIO OFFERS EXPERT CHOICES
The Rug Studio Stamford celebrates its passion with an extensive collection of rugs, kilims and textiles, all of which are visible at the studio, open Saturdays and most mornings or by appointment, where a 30-year unique in-depth knowledge awaits.
Buying and in situ appointments mean The Rug Studio is also found in St Martin’s Antique Centre in Stamford and The Guardroom at Hemswell Antique Centres; both are open seven days per week.
The Rug Studio showcases latest designs, semi-old and antique rugs, pre-restoration and post; to help affordability, they can be bought as is or discussed as to the level of restoration you would like.
It’s hard to find a dealer with such unparalleled expertise in the world of Oriental, Traditional and Contemporary rugs as Rachel Bassill, who is the driving force behind The Rug Studio. She shares her experience and knowledge in sales, cleaning, restoration, and design/production.
Rachel’s profound understanding of the craft ensures that each rug is meticulously restored or produced, whether by her own hands or her dedicated teams to a high standard.
Discover more at www.therugstudio.co.uk
Photographs: Mick Fox
We Recommend
Never miss a copy!
Big savings when you take out a subscription.
