Where to Eat and Drink Near the Cottage: The Best Country Pubs Near Stamford
One of the quiet pleasures of a stay in this corner of the Welland Valley is how many genuinely good pubs sit within a short drive, from the village local you could almost walk to, right up to acclaimed dining rooms worth dressing up for. Here are the ones we send our guests to.
Start in the village
You do not have to go far at all. The Queen's Head in Bulwick is the village local: a quintessential Northamptonshire pub serving good food, wine and beer, with seating indoors by the fire and out in the garden when the weather obliges. It makes for the easiest possible first night, a short stroll or a two-minute drive with no motorway and no planning required.
A short drive through the villages
The lanes around here link a string of pretty stone villages, several with a pub worth seeking out.
The Falcon at Fotheringhay is more restaurant than pub, with a smart, seasonal menu and a garden made for long summer evenings. Fotheringhay itself rewards the trip: this small village was the birthplace of Richard III in 1452 and the place where Mary, Queen of Scots was executed in 1587, and the grassy castle mound above the river is still there to walk.
A few other village pubs are worth a look as you explore, among them the Royal Oak at Duddington, the Cross Keys at King's Cliffe and the White Swan at Woodnewton. Rural pubs keep their own hours and their menus change with the season, so it is always worth a quick call before you set out.
An evening in Stamford
Twenty minutes away, Stamford is one of the finest stone towns in England and a lovely place for supper.
The George is among the country's great old coaching inns, all panelled rooms and centuries of history, with everything from a relaxed garden room to proper tableside carving. The Bull & Swan, at the edge of the Burghley estate, dates back to the sixteenth century and is said once to have been a gentlemen's drinking club; today it is a warm spot for a good dinner. For something more relaxed, The Tobie Norris serves excellent pizza inside one of Stamford's oldest buildings, a wonderful warren of small rooms and open fires.
Worth the occasion
When you feel like marking the trip, point the car into Rutland. The Olive Branch at Clipsham, just off the A1, is one of the most decorated dining pubs in the region: an award-winning village pub with rooms that held a Michelin star for a decade from 2002, and has kept collecting honours since, including Best Hotel in the Midlands in the 2024 Good Hotel Guide. Book ahead, and give yourself the whole evening.
A few practical notes
The best country pubs get busy, particularly for Sunday lunch, so booking is wise and often essential. Opening days can shift with the season, so a quick phone call to confirm is never wasted. Most are an easy drive from the cottage, though if you plan to enjoy the wine list, a taxi home is the civilised choice.
Make The Shambles your base
Good food is one of the real joys of a few days here, and you are thoroughly spoilt for it. Settle in at the cottage, plan your evenings around a pub or two, and let the days unwind at their own pace. When you are ready to book, staying direct with us is always the best way.
