The Old Stamp House

The Lakes run deep through The Old Stamp House - not just in the menu, but in the very bones of the building. Once the study of William Wordsworth during his stint as Distributor of Stamps for Westmorland (hence the name), this moody stone hideaway now houses one of Cumbria’s longest-standing Michelin-starred restaurants.

Step down into the snug, whitewashed dining room and you’ll find flagstone floors, timber furniture and chef Ryan Blackburn working away in a compact open kitchen. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be - The Old Stamp House trades in history, warmth and knockout cooking.

Lunch is a tasting menu that reads like a love letter to Cumbria. It kicks off with a flurry of elegant snacks: a beetroot meringue with duck liver parfait is a sweet-savoury masterstroke, while braised rabbit wrapped in crisp filo is an utterly joyful single bite. From there, things only get better. Foraged wood mushrooms with confit egg yolk and truffle is rich and earthy; poached trout flakes into a silky crab and roe sauce, lifted by sorrel oil. Even the bread and butter are showstoppers. 

Dessert doesn’t drop the ball either - a caramelised rum tart with hedgerow berries rounds things off with finesse. Ryan himself is a genial presence, chatting with diners while the team delivers pitch-perfect service.

The Old Stamp House is a quiet classic - understated, deeply rooted in its surroundings, and committed to getting the important things right. One of the very best restaurants in the Lake District? We think so. Worth the pilgrimage? Absolutely.

The Old Stamp House is a modern British restaurant in Ambleside run by brothers Ryan and Craig Blackburn, who won a Michelin star in 2019.

Provenance is king here, with the kitchen designing menus around seasonal, local produce from week to week, to ensure guests are getting the very best ingredients on their plates. Diners are presented with tasting menus, both at lunch and dinner, which represent really good value for money.

While menus of course fluctuate with the seasons, you can expect a Cumbrian spin on contemporary British dishes. The seafood course might bring hand dived scallops with cauliflower, potted shrimps, and a spiced mead velouté, while ‘The Fells’ section could include braised shoulder of hogget with peas; scrumpet with mint and anchovy; tartare of loin and a good old fashioned ‘tattie pot’.

Sweets are combinations such as bee pollen with apple marigolds and strawberries with sweet cicely; or raspberries with caramelised with and a gingerbread tart.

The accompanying wine list is far-reaching and features bottles from both Old and New World wineries. Fizz starts from around the £35 mark, while designated drivers and abstainers are catered for with a dedicated non-alcoholic menu. Here you might find a raspberry and ginger long drink or an elderflower spritz which combines elderflower, cucumber, mint, alcohol free wine and soda.

Having once been voted The Best Restaurant in The World (beating France for the top spot), The Old Stamp house is understandably busy. This means getting your booking made in advance is almost essential. If you’re planning on visiting, try to do some forward-planning to ensure you secure a seat.