The Old Stamp House Restaurant in South Lakeland

Well, what can I say ? This restaurant, staff and food are excellent. We were having a break in the Lake District and I booked this back in January. We were certainly not disappointed. It is a smart, but not stuffy restaurant. Very accommodating and knowledgeable on the food they cook and where it comes from. The taster menu was absolutely mouth watering. They also offer a wine pairing for each course. Sadly I was on medication so they offered me a non alcoholic version. To be honest I think I actually preferred it. Each different drink, complemented the course so well, whoever put it together was extremely clever. I only wish this restaurant was nearer to me as I would be regular visitor. I will certainly book again if we are planning another trip.

Excellent food and service. I ate things I never thought I would say so good was the presentation and taste. Will return and definitely recommend.

This restaurant is a triumph in every sense of the world. Great service, ambience and food to die for. Every dish is considered, every dish shows of what Cumbria has to offer and what it's known for. The Artic Char dish is absolutely star of the show. The cheese offering post dinner is great for those with healthy appetites and room in trousers to spare. This could easily be a two star, I think it's only a matter of time.

We were all delighted by our trip to the Old Stamp House. We hadn't known what to expect but every course was delicious and beautifully constructed - each was a little piece of artwork in itself. My party had some food intolerances which were deftly accommodated without fuss. The staff were so attentive and we were delighted when Ryan, the proprieter and head chef, brought out one course and explained the dish to us. We also found the letter you receive at the beginning talking you through every dish and where your food came from a super touch. We will definitely go again and will recommend to everyone we know.

The service at The Old Stamp House is impeccable. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and passionate about providing an exceptional dining experience. They are always ready to assist with menu recommendations and ensure that your every need is catered to.

A birthday treat & a gem of a Restarant not to be missed !! We thoroughly enjoyed my birthday lunch. The food was absolutely delicious in a perfect romantic ambience. Craig personally checked on our satisfaction and we’ll definitely be returning. We cannot recommend enough. Thank you !!

I think it has 3 separate rooms which each hold just a few tables so feels small and intimate, the staff were really good and helpful, food was outstanding, the potted shrimp course was perfect. Definitely recommend it.

Great meal. Lovely owner. Most food sourced locally. Bit disappointed with wine flights. We had two. £60 and £80. The first whites were forgettable. One white was disgusting. Tasted and smelled of petrol. ??? Both reds we tasted were harsh and not pleasant. Pudding wine at end of meal was fantastic. Couldn’t hear a word of the rushed descriptions of the wines due to background noise. Surely a printed sheet would be more suitable. If food is sourced locally to save air miles. Why fly in mediocre wines from the other side of the world. When Europe and uk now has thousands of award winning wines both still and sparkling. Also please supply A TEASPOON to eat your delicious small portions as spoons supplied are ridiculous for size of dishes. Good luck with your upstairs venture. Regards. Paul.

Excellent lunch yesterday, the menu catered for our requirements. The food was exceptional as was the service and the chef came out and explained the main dishes and took the time to chat to every table. Truly excellent and if I’m up in Ambleside again I will book again.

A culinary masterpiece awaits you at The Old Stamp House Restaurant, where flavors are elevated to new heights. Amazing Foods..

We had the £95 pp tasting menu which was an absolute delight. Each course was carefully served and described and what a wow. Totally deserving of its Michelin star. Wine list was interesting with a broad range of tastes and prices. Also tried the cocktails which were very nice. We really enjoyed it when the owner and chef came to the table to serve the main course and have a chat. Will definitely be back here again ❤️

Loved the look of the restaurant, great atmosphere. Really enjoyed all the courses and staff were very good. Some nice touches like the menu presentation etc. added to the experience. We travelled from the south and compared to dining in London felt the price was good value.

Outstanding, a rare treat for my fiance's birthday. Amazing attention to detail and just a really great place to celebrate a special occasion.

Absolutely flawless food, service, ambience. All topped off by the chef having a chat with every table. Every course was a ten and the attention to detail is obvious. Definitely not to be missed if you’re looking for fine dining in the Lakes. Should be more than one star.

Absolutely loved our meal here last night. It was the perfect way to end our week in the lake district. We got to try many of the Michelin pubs/restaurants in the area and found our dinner here to be the most memorable. Warm and lovely service, great cooking, super local produce and very accommodating staff. I had requested to swap their signature hogget dish as I'm allergic to lamb and was given a delightful cod main instead. I will dream of that cod cookery! It was perfection. It was also lovely to meet the chef Ryan who came out to serve us the mains. What a fabulous touch! We will definitely be back here the next time we visit the Lake District.

The serving staff were excellent, very attentive, remembered preferences we had, was the only person to apologise for the hotel front staff. THANK YOU julian, lovely waitress

An absolutely incredible experience. The food was wonderful and the staff were lovely. The personal touches are a great hit - you're greeted with a letter explaining each dish and then they'd seen a birthday gift on the table so they "happy birthday" around dessert was such a lovely surprise. This is a definite must visit if you're looking for a wonderful culinary experience in the Lake District.

We ate here on Saturday and the food was amazing. The staff were all lovely. Very laid back and unassuming,

The Old Stamp House Ambleside Excellent lunch. Tasty and well presented. The rabbit canneloni was good, the steamed halibut superb, the hogget full of flavour and the rhubarb dessert delicious. Price at £55 very good too for lunch.

Third visit and still as good as ever. Every course cooked to perfection, just the right amount for lunch. At £55 fantastic value, we will be back again next time we are in the area. Highly recommended.

We really enjoyed all the fantastic, locally sourced creations from Ryan. It was nice to have a course served by the man himself and a quick chat. Service is excellent. Only gripe is a general one. Wine is a rip off. Overall a great experience.

The most amazing experience, and that's what a visit to The Old Stamp House is - an experience. There's a story behind everything, and every person involved in the story is great - knowledgeable, genuine, passionate, and friendly. The food is just fantastic, with almost each mouthful tasting different and such amazing flavour, texture, and balance.

Enjoyed the meal and flavours, something missing with the bread, which is like a brioche too sweet, the desserts enjoyable. The meat and fish dishes excellent however the sweetness or sugar out weighed the whole meal, which seems to have changed from the savoury to more a sickly sweet menu.

Spoilt me for any future meals out! So Brilliant it made me giddy! Outstanding in every way - save your pennies and book in advance, they will not let you down - Chef Ryan is exceptional

How Ryan gets so much flavour into his dishes is a mystery to me. He must be a magician! We had the lunch menu earlier this week and it was fantastic! All of it was amazing from the very first course. Stand outs for me were the last three courses of fish, venison and finally dessert. Atmosphere was cozy, place was full and so had a little buzz about it but the way the tables are laid out and the lighting is done it allows you to also be close to your partner and focus on the food. Staff are all super friendly and meeting Ryan was ace! This is now on our to do list every time we visit the Lakes!

Exquisite food, with wonderful flavours and presentation, using seasonal and local produce. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the service was very kind, professional and friendly. The chef took time out to attend to our table, and deserves much credit for the menu. Upon informing the venue of the multiple dietary requirements of the 4 people of our 6 person table, they went out of their way to accommodate our requests, and without compromising the quality of the food. We would highly recommend this venue for those who enjoy their food in a relaxed setting.

Absolutely stunning in every way! Cannot recommend highly enough. Had been waiting in anticipation for a few months and was truly blown away by the food and service. The food was incredible; beautifully presented and totally delicious. Every single course was incredible . Loved the...

Well, I debated whether to write this given all the wonderful reviews, but honesty is the name of the game here! Hubby's 60th so a long weekend in Ambleside planned. I booked 3 months in advance given the super reviews of this Michelin starred restaurant....

Top restaurant in the area, great service and food

We have never been to a Michelin star restaurant before so we were unsure as what to expect, but we had a lovely warm greeting from the staff. As soon as you walk in it has a cosy, romantic atmosphere. As we had never eaten...

Sampled a delightful tasting menu 'A Journey Around Cumbria' which delighted throughout with mouth watering dishes sourced locally. It was devine. Can't praise it enough.

Absolutely fantastic experience, we had the dinner tasting menu together with the matching wine. The ambience in the restaurant was lovely, very relaxed but with exemplary service. It was a real treat, to celebrate a special occassion. Both the food and wine were outstanding.

Great restaurant with attentive service and amazing dishes!

We ate here at lunchtime on Friday 26th January. We were very excited about coming here after seeing the program by Tom Kerridge last year. We were definitely not disappointed. This place has had hundreds of excellent reviews, lots of good ones and just a...

Wow. Let me start with that. Beautiful food in a relaxed, yet atmospheric restaurant in the wonderful town of Ambleside. Every course was absolutely nailed in terms of flavour, texture and presentation. Impossible to pick out a favourite as they were all equally impressive. Lovely...

Stunning food, fabulous presentation. We saw a TV programme recently where the chef said he doesn’t read positive reviews. I hope he does read this one because he deserves to know how happy he makes his clientele. The food we had was practically perfect. Our...

Very welcoming on a cold & very wet day with a doggie !! No problem bringing in our Rosie which was greatly appreciated & the staff made a fuss of her ! Nice open fire to get warm by.... just a super lovely stop off...

We were warmly welcomed as we arrived at the historical workplace of Cumbrian poet Wordsworth who was postmaster at the Old Stamp House in 1813, now a renowned Michelin star restaurant in the heart of Ambleside. Shown immediately to our table in a cosy dining room boasting a 19th century selfie illustrating Wordsworth himself in post, we were greeted by head chef Ryan who delivered a delicious consomme welcome warmer, brewed from meat of the day. A perfectly baked beetroot macaron style amuse bouche set the bar high with pickled apple and a cumberland sauce. A hearty rabbit canneloni followed. Beautifully baked warm bread bathed in a herdwick fat blessed the table, impossible to resist but satisfyingly rewarding and the perfect medium for secretly mopping the remains of the spiced mead veloute from the potted shrimp course. The poached egg yolk swaddled in the pumpkin moose with black trompette treats was delicious, followed by a loin of cod outstandingy full of flavour and finally the star of the show was Cartmel venison, celeriac and a well balanced truffle sauce. Most of the wine pairings complimented the courses well although the first three whites lacked variety. We wondered whether Craig was actually a somellier as the descriptions were rather shallow and always rushed. Finally the desserts, which started with a delightfully light yoghurt moose and rhubarb sadly ran out of steam as the final souflee was bland and confused with poached pear, but thankfully salvaged with a rich tasty rum sauce. Overall, a good value restaurant, very friendly, worthy of a star and highly recommended despite the final course perhaps not matching the high standards of the previous six.

We were warmly welcomed as we arrived at the historical workplace of Cumbrian poet Wordsworth who was postmaster at the Old Stamp House in 1813, now a renowned Michelin star restaurant in the heart of Ambleside. Shown immediately to our table in a cosy dining...

The most fantastic place, very unstuffy and unpretentious as some places can be when they gain a star or two. Ryan bobbing in and out of the kitchen was a lovely touch and not at all staged just a really natural and friendly guy and...

Wow - what a fabulous lunch...... We found this fine dining restaurant on line last month and are so glad that we booked a table. It was a fantastic treat to end, what turned out to be, a very wet week in The Lake District. We chose the luncheon taster menu and opted for the pairing wine selection which really did enhance the experience matching every course perfectly. All the menu items are locally sourced from farms within a few miles of the restaurant and then Ryan and his team work their magic to create the most imaginative combinations of taste, texture and visual perfection. Each creation arrives on and/or in beautifully stylish crockery, wooden or glass platters - to which real thought and attention has been given. We can highly recommend The Old Stamp House and will certainly book again when we next visit Ambleside.

What made it so special was not only the amazing food, setting and wine pairing, but all of the staff and head chef, Ryan were brilliant and engaging all evening - Highly recommended

Excellent food! Knowledgable and very helpful staff.

A complete surprise to be bought here by my good friends for my birthday, it didn't disappoint, outstanding.

Absolutely delicious taster menu. Loved the atmosphere, matched wines and the food was amazing. Also good to see Ryan the chef patron. Definitely recommend

Five of us had the lunch tasting menu, I’ve been lucky to visit several Michelin star restaurants in my lifetime, and I have to say , at £55 for lunch was by far the best value. Staff were friendly and provided excellent service throughout. Highly...

Pretty sure this is the nicest restaurant I've ever been to. Every course was delicious and all of the staff were welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. An amazing experience!

Travelled up for the day for lunch, the food was delicious and we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of dishes for the price. Ryan came and served one of the courses which is a lovely touch. Service was excellent and quite laid back for...

Our first visit to The Old Stamp House and a restaurant with a Michelin Star. The food was amazing, service impeccable and restaurant interior beautiful. Not at all pretentious, Ryan and his staff made us feel so conformable and welcome and explained each course of our taster menu with knowledge and care that we really appreciated.

Outstanding in every way 👏The food blew us away this evening, everything was exquisite. And the head chef Ryan and his team are wonderful, very relaxed and welcoming. This was our 2nd visit and definitely won't be the last. Our "special occasion" venue of choice. Thank you to all at the Old Stamp House

A Michelin star restaurant that didn't disappoint. Hard to find fault. The food was outstanding with attention to detail unbelievable. Staff friendly and knowledgeable. The Pinot Noir wine was great. Nice ambience in the restaurant. Individualised letter and menu a lovely touch. A tad expensive...

By far, the best 1 Michelin star restaurant in the UK. The food is outstanding and works well. A nice little touch is that the chef personally comes out to deliver a course to each table and to have a quick chat with the diners. I will definitely be visiting again and booking for later on in the year.

We visited the old stamp house today after booking a while ago for lunch .. I have to say the food and service and value was incredible.. we have eaten at many starred restaurants but this was definitely our favourite.. why ? The menu was so relevant to the season and Cumbria … The attention to detail was flawless .. the personal service from the team and Ryan was second to none .. we live in Spain now but hail from Cumbria and I have to say would eat again and again at the stamp house .. it was perfect … well done and thank you Ryan and the team 👑👑👑

This restaurant deserves its fantastic reputation. Food of exceptional standard, beautifully presented and with all staff generous and attentive. Went for lunch on a cold January day; a lovely way to cheer up. Thanks

What an absolute treat this restaurant is from the minute you arrive the service is exceptional friendly and non pretentious. The food was outstanding every course we had was thoughtful locally sourced and sublime the whole experience is a Craig top chef Ryan Blackburn and...

My wife booked us here whilst we were away in the Lakes for my Birthday and what a birthday treat it was. Starting with the very warm welcome from the staff, a welcome and thank you letter from the owner with a description of every...

The food the relaxed atmosphere the evening was fantastic, the venison is amazing. Everything from start to finish was Exellent. We will most certainly becoming back.

We've wanted to experience Michelin star food for a while and The Old Stamp House was top of our list. In 2021 it was voted best restaurant in the world and its easy to see why. From a fabulous welcome when we arrived, to fantastic...

Phenomenal. The food was faultless, the atmosphere absolutely perfect, the staff just wonderful; the perfect balance of ultimate professionals and good Cumbrian craic! We have been lucky enough to eat in some of the nicest restaurants in the UK and this gem of a place...

Ryan and Craig made our dinner a wonderful experience. The food was superb and my highlights were the beetroot and duck liver pate macaroon, the cod lion, venison, Grasmere gingerbread and the sticky toffee soufflé. There was an incident with a couple who had a...

Outstanding experience. Food was superb and hosts and staff were friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. Thoroughly recommend.

Incredible lunch. Thanks for accommodating with the thick snow. Well worth every penny. Thank you.

We travelled all the way from Devon to eat in this much hyped restaurant. It was my wife’s birthday and we were hoping / expecting to be “wowed “ by the 9 course tasting menu. Sadly , shortly after arrival , we felt somewhat snubbed...

Fantastic from start to finish Service was amazing and the food was amazing. The wine pairing made the meal. Such a fantastic experience don't think anywhere could be any better. A well deserved Michelin star.

Once again the Stamp house team delivered You walk in are greeted sat at the table & a glass of fizz arrives You are welcomed with a personalised letter explaining the food Each course is explained thoroughly to you when served Craig & his front...

Fantastic restaurant! Amazing food and service. The team went above and beyond during our visit, cannot thank them enough.

We had a fantastic evening at The Old Stamp House. We travelled from Lincolnshire with friends especially to go to dinner here and weren't disappointed. The tasting menu was excellent as were the wine pairings. We meet the chef patron who served our first course....

Well done, Ryan and team. It was a truly magnificant experience of culinary delights. Professional staff. Ryan YNWA..

Thank you Old Stamp House for a lovely, luxurious, dining experience. We were made to feel most welcome from start to finish…by all the staff. The food was exceptional. We opted for the paired wine choice, Craig was very helpful with his explanations relating to each wine….and for us the pairings really seemed to work. It was luxurious but there was no faff or over attentiveness, that’s just how we like it. Thank you to all the team at the Old Stamp House, Sharon & John Jones

Ryan and the team, You had been on our bucket list for awhile now, I still am not sure why we hadn’t moved you up the list, but Ryan your culinary skills blew us away on the night, the food was worth the wait. You...

Second visit this year. Have been similar abroad. But this is by far our best. Its the whole package. Being in lakes, walks, relaxing break and a romantic meal to finish it off. If you have never been to a restaurant like this. Try for...

The restaurant is a quirky, tardis of a place, delightfully decorated with subtle lighting creating a cosy ambience. You can't get a better start than the chef patron, Ryan, taking the time to explain and serve the first dish, an amazing intense consome of local...

loevly spot, very well thought out menu, very precise cooking you can see in their dishes and it has flavour too!

Outstanding lunch yesterday. This was our third visit and the standard, back and front of house, is consistently high. Potted shrimps, smoked haddock, loin of cod and venison were all standout dishes on a Cumbrian menu. But the caramelised rum tart on Cumbrian gingerbread was...

Exceptional food and service . Wine flight a great match for the dishes we had . Lovely touch to have Chef out serving our food . Congratulations Team .

Truly lovely Birthday meal. Ryan and his staff were so personable and attentive. Thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of food and ambience. First few courses could have come out a little slower...but didn't detract much from a fine culinary experience.

Excellent food, the £55 lunchtime menu is a bargain.

Wow what can I say! This was one of the best meals we have ever had. We booked for our wedding anniversary and had the tasting menu. From the moment we arrived in this quirky intimate restaurant in Ambleside we were made to feel very...

Fantastic delicious food, great chef and staff. Special occasion dinner that did not disappoint. Particularly like the smoked haddock and the main side that went with the venison. You can taste the passion in that went into creation of each dish.

Just had a wonderful taster menu for lunch at the old stamp house in Ambleside. Really enjoyed it and would recommend. Staff really friendly and Ryan the chef came out to chat to every table which was a delight.

Outstanding tasting menu - hugely hospitable staff with the proprietor making a point of speaking to each table and making us feel very welcome. Particular highlights were foraged mushrooms with egg yolk and truffle, salt-aged duck, and a gingerbread/bee pollen/marigold/sweet cheese mousse dessert. Not cheap,...

Craig and Ryan made our eating experience amazing The waiting staff have been so attentive and knowledgeable. The food wine and description of food was the best dining experience I have had .

We were only able to book an 8pm dinner, but did request that if an earlier time became available we would prefer that. Craig rang me up the day before our booking and offered a 7pm slot. So impressed that they remembered some 2 months...

Outstanding tasting menu - hugely hospitable staff with the proprietor making a point of speaking to each table and making us feel very welcome. Particular highlights were foraged mushrooms with egg yolk and truffle, salt-aged duck, and a gingerbread/bee pollen/marigold/sweet cheese mousse dessert. Not cheap, but worth splashing out for a special treat.

Excellent dining experience,we had the lunch taster.Michelin star meals at fantastic prices, with great staff and a very comfortable enviroment-not snooty at all.We will return!!

The tasting menu was delicious and very good value. The restaurant provides a very personal service and the staff were very helpful and charming. Ryan goes out of his way to speak to everyone and made us feel very welcome.

Fabulous food, brilliant service and an all round fantastic experience. We visited on a Thursday evening in November - the atmosphere was perfect, the team serving us were all very knowledgeable but also very friendly. The chef owner popped across to our table on a...

This was our second visit to the Old Stamp House, the first was October 8th 2022. What we had then was a fabulous meal in the company of my son and his partner, this trip was for my wife and I's tenth wedding anniversary. On...

8th visit in 15th months and each visit seems to be better than the last - which seems impossible! The dishes that Ryan and his team produce are just exceptional using local produce but inventing new exciting ways to cook and present the food. Really...

Thankyou, we had a lovely evening, enjoying delicious, delightfully presented dishes. A wonderful gastronomic experience. Ryan and Craig your teams are a credit to you both. Thank you once again, we shall be returning to create more happy memories. 😊

Whilst the food at the old stamp house is exquisite and more than worthy of 1 michelin star it is the overall experience that differentiates it from the rest. The interaction with all of the staff from start to finish is unlike anywhere we have...

Dining at The Old Stamp House is a truly wonderful experience. The food is excellent with its presentation, astounding flavours and textures which certainly are delightful to experience and a true appreciation of local produce. Chef Ryan Blackburn opens his degustation menu with a personal...

Fantastic dining experience. Very clear a lot of effort went in to making the food perfect on every course.

After a long journey from the Midlands, i was looking forward to the dinner. However, this is not just a meal at a Michelin star restaurant, but a full experience. You are greeted with a welcome letter and an explanation of each course and the...

Beautiful restaurant. Beautiful food. It’s nice to try different food what I would not normally eat. The staff know what they are talking about. Would definitely recommend when you want a treat.

A fabulous dining experience. Sumptuous, elegant, high quality food brought to you by people who are experts in their field. A really exceptional combination of locally sourced food with well paired international wines. Each course explained with enthusiasm, knowledge and care. Highly recommended, though patience is required for the 6mth wait for a table. Well worth the wait, so just book it and have something very special to look forward to.

Over lunch, my wife and discussed the food and we both thought that this was probably the best meal we had ever eaten. We drove down especially from Glasgow for lunch having seen it featured on the Tom Kerridge programme. Everything (food, service, wine etc)...

What an amazing experience. The very best of Cumbria. Every course was spectacular. Such a lovely touch having the chef/owner bring out the main course and introduce himself.

A Michelin starred restaurant in Ambleside Cumbria, the Old Stamp House offers high quality locally sourced ingredients in a memorable dining experience. Ryan Blackburn has combined a superb range of local product ingredients across an interesting, unusual and varied taster menu which is beautifully presented....

Our third time here over a few years and it just gets better. We had an amazing tasting dinner with a strong, local theme reflecting the chef's love of Cumbria. Each course, from the delightful broth on arrival, was sublime. It was great that chef...