Lake District favourite, The Old Stamp House, has been named the AA’s Restaurant of the Year for England 2023.

The prestigious ceremony celebrates the best of the UK hospitality industry, with 15 award categories honouring the best of the best across hotels, restaurants and spas.

The sought-after Restaurant of the Year title recognises the work of the two brothers behind Ambleside’s Old Stamp House, chef patron Ryan Blackburn and co-owner and front-of-house manager Craig Blackburn, in putting their intimate 28-cover restaurant based in the former office of renowned poet William Wordsworth firmly on the UK’s culinary map.

Ryan Blackburn commented: ‘’There’s no doubt at all that this award speaks volumes about the dedication and unwavering commitment of every single member of the Old Stamp House team in making sure every guest has the best possible experience and we’re hugely proud to be recognised in this way. We’ve come a long way since we opened our doors in 2014, striving to deliver quality and consistency across the board as we set out to create dishes that are inspired and reflect our deep-seated connection to the landscape in which the restaurant sits.‘’

The Old Stamp House boasts a number of accolades, including a Michelin Star and three AA rosettes for culinary excellence, which were presented in October 2020, in recognition of the restaurant’s food offer and ‘its celebration of the distinctive food and cultural heritage of Cumbria.’

Priced at £95, the restaurant’s menu invites guests on ‘A journey around Cumbria’, with dishes taking aspects from both the landscape and the coast.

Image credit: Phil Rigby Photography

Mon 25 Sep, The Old Stamp House,
Church St, Ambleside LA22 0BU
Words:
Bradley Lengden
Published on:
Tue 26 Sep 2023