East Stamford centred around St Paul’s St increasingly has the feel of a perfect village community. It was neatly summed up by one shop-keeper: “I love this street, it’s so friendly you can get everything you need – breakfast from Simpole Clarke, pop in for a top at Attic, get the car cleaned and choose between several restaurants for lunch. Oh, and pamper myself in one of the salons if there is time. As good as Notting Hill in fact.” Or as Roger at the Hair House put it: “As good as it has been…for ever!” Nicholas Rudd-Jones wandered the streets to find out more
Coleman’s (No 1, Tel: 01780 762324) is the first shop you come to in St Paul’s St. It is a highly respected regional stationer that has been in Stamford now for 21 years. Exceptionally friendly service and a good photocopying and delivery service. Can also order in all sorts of office furniture.
Cancer Research UK (No 3, Tel: 01780 766548) A range of second-hand clothes and products; especially strong on books.
O2 Mobile Communications (No 4, Tel: 01780 763281) Now well established at this end of the High Street, full of tempting devices.
Beijing Rendezvous (6 St Paul’s Street, Stamford Tel: 01780 763857)
A new Chinese on the site of the old Half Moon Pub. Great food and a contemporary décor make this a venue you must try out. See our full review on page 38.
Miss Pickering Flowers (No 7, Tel: 01780 482961) www.misspickering.com
Simone Pickering has become well known for the quality of her flowers and the creativity of her arrangements. She delivers locally and also offers a completely personalised nationwide delivery service where you choose the flowers; she makes up the bouquet and sends it direct to the recipient. She also sells a delightful range of chocolates, including the stunning Hope & Greenwood range.
St Paul’s St Bookshop, (No 7, Tel: 01780 482748) A fascinating range of second-hand books, with lots on local history and children’s books.
The Hair House moved to its present site (No 7, down a passageway, Tel: 01780 762687) nearly twelve years ago. “We needed more space,” Roger Curtis remembers, “but initially I was not sure about being down a passageway …but people love it down here, they feel very private.”
This year Sue and Roger are planning a major re-furbishment that they expect to have completed by April – a new floor and complete redecoration. But the essence of the place will stay, with the time taken over client consultation to establish each person’s specific needs the major consideration. Thanks to clients, friends and everyone for all their understanding.
Finnan’s Brasserie (No. 8-9, Tel: 01780 752505) has established a loyal following for its friendliness, good service and no-nonsense, well-cooked, delicious food.
A feature of the establishment has been its themed nights, which are highly to be recommended – good value and very convivial. Upcoming ones are:
27th March Seafood evening Some places available
23rd April St George’s Day celebration. All English foods locally sourced as usual + English wines.
5th March 2nd meeting of Finnan’s Wine Club. ”Wines to go with main courses” @7.30pm
Simpole Clarke Delicatessen (No 10, Tel: 01780 480646)
All sorts of superb delicatessen products, with Julie now specialising in fine cheeses. See our full article on page 10.
Kim Smith’s Hair Design (No. 11, Tel: 01780 755155)
Everything you need, under one roof, to look and feel wonderful.
On the hair side, Kim offers both the wisdom of experience (she has been in the business for eight years) and also some more fashion-oriented hairdressing in a very relaxed and beautiful environment.
Rachel Green is the nail expert, also with several years experience in her field and offering acrylic nail extensions, manicures & pedicure, spray tans (from April), hot stone therapy and waxing.
Two Recruit (No 11 Ground floor, Tel: 01780 480555 www.tworecruit.co.uk )
Two Recruit is an independent recruitment agency, run by Jo Rodger and Maria Jarvis. They take pride in their personal approach to applicants and clients alike. They cover all industry sectors for permanent, contract and interim vacancies.
“We love this end of town,” Jo told me, “Everyone is so relaxed and upbeat, it’s a perfect location for our sort of business.”
The Tobie Norris (No 12, Tel: 01780 753800) This establishment goes from strength to strength and has deservedly just won the CAMRA pub of the Year for the east. See our article on page 43.
Pride of Stamford Dry Cleaners (No. 13, Tel: 01780 755432) is the place to take your clothes if they need first-rate attention from an independent business that cares.
Walking into Mojo Hair & Beauty (1st floor, No 13A, Tel: 01780 757070) feels like going into someone’s front room – very relaxed and very stylish. Sharon and her team are a group of bubbly people that you would quickly call ‘friends’. They provide a great all-round service, and are especially popular for weddings and expertise in longer hair.
Upstairs you will find Kate at CACI Hair & Beauty (Tel: 01780 481122). This year she will be increasing the range of treatments available.
Stamford Endowed Schools Shop (Tel: 01780 750349) supply school uniforms and other accessories and equipment for the three schools. A surprisingly large range of stuff, and especially good for hockey.
Stamford Car Wash (36 St Paul’s St, Tel: 01780 489000) was set up by Stephen and Ghislaine Chandler back in 2000. “What appealed to us about this location,” Ghislaine explained, “is that there was plenty of space but it was still central. This last year business has continued to grow as more and more people visit this end of town – we clean their car whilst they pop into town.”
Attic Weekend (No. 44, Tel: 01780 766675) )
The focus of this shop is casualwear. The clothes are easy to wear featuring soft fabrics and relaxed styling, including sweatshirts, knitwear, jersey separates, casual skirts and a wide range of wearable jeans and trousers to flatter most figures. Attic Shoebox, originally next door, is re-locating down to the Attic store in St Mary’s Passage.
Attic Shoebox/Evo Kidswear (No 45)
Attic Shoebox stocks shoe brands Manas, Hobbs, Esprit, Morgan, Mascaro and Marc. Kathryn White, co-owner, told SL “Shoebox has got off to a great start in Stamford. However, we feel we can do more justice to the brands we stock, by putting them into the spacious and relaxing environment of our St Mary’s Passage store.”
Kidswear clothes shop Evo is relocating to this site and will be open for business by the end of March.
Help the Aged (No 46, Tel: 01780 482154) A fantastic range of second-hand goods, notably strong in children’s toys, books and clothes.
M&S, Westgate House Food and women’s fashion, including the Per Una range. The magnet of M&S is bringing more and more people to this end of town.
Voujon Indian Restaurant (No 26-27, Tel: 01780 757030 www.voujon.co.uk) is firmly on Stamford’s ethnic cuisine map after a year in business. Everything about this place: from the crisp, clean interior; to the pretty garden at the rear; to the smart and attentive staff in their matching black outfits whispers sophistication.
Banquet Night on Wednesdays is especially good value at £10.95
Precision Sports & Leisure Ltd (No 25, Tel: 01780 762183) Just about everything you could want sports-wise, especially in terms of specialist equipment. With the cricket season gearing up, all the key brands including Kookaburra are stocked.
The Nail Boutique, Star Lane (Tel: 01780 762972) It does exactly what it promises with great expertise and enthusiasm. There is always a buzz when you go in, the perfect place to brighten up your lunch hour.
Matchmaker (No 22, Tel: 01780 753466) Margaret and her team are the most experienced and helpful team in the region. All the staff are qualified dress makers, and they offer a highly personal service meaning families coming back from one generation to the next. Whilst they prefer good notice of a dress, they can create one in as little as three weeks! They also have a hire service for wedding dresses.
Broad St Practice (No 20, Tel: 01780 480889) Anthea Bentley and Perry Westbrook have been at the forefront of complementary healthcare in Stamford for many years. They offer osteopathy, acupuncture, clinical hypnotherapy, therapeutic & sports massage, nutrition & food intolerance testing, classical homeopathy and reflexology. Find out more at www.stamfordosteopaths.co.uk
The Lord Burghley (No 17, Tel: 01780 763426) If you like watching rugby in a scrum but close to a bar, this is the place for you.
TD’s Patisserie (No 16, Tel: 01780 755756) Thierry has created a sensational patisserie and café – everything is baked in house and is of the very highest quality. The place has a very charming feel about it; it used to be the architectural offices of Browning, the well-known Stamford Victorian architect, and there is a courtyard made up of ancient ‘off cuts’.
Barnes & Co Solicitors, 15 Broad St (Tel: 0845 4505800) www.barneslaw.co.uk are a specialist property law firm offering a personal and efficient service to both individual and business clients. The location has an old world charm on the outside, but is very modern and efficient inside.
Chattertons (incorporating Kelhams) 9 Broad Street, Stamford Tel: 01780 764145 www.chattertons.com
Chattertons is expanding the range of services available to their clients in Stamford by transferring to the Stamford office lawyers in a number of specialist fields such as trusts, tax and agriculture.
Turning round the corner past M&S, we reach Stanilands Bookshop (No 4, Tel: 01780 755800). The business is noted by serious book buyers for its collection of scholarly books in the humanities, architecture and the applied arts.
JW Hillyer TV and Radio (No 28, Tel: 01780 762165) is a family-run business established nearly 50 years ago, which has always specialised in electrical goods and repairs. Its prices compare very favourably with the chains, but the big difference is the service.
The Christian Learning Centre (CLC, No. 8, Tel: 01780 755020) is run on a voluntary basis by Phil and Gina Inman. It sells Christian books, music etc. and welcomes everyone to pop in for a browse or just for a chat.
Robert Loomes (No 3, Tel: 01780 481319) moved his clock and watch restoration business into John Steele’s old premises just over five years ago. “The move here represented a good value way of having a retail presence,” Robert told me. In fact he runs two businesses, a clock & watch restoration business for customers and painted dial restoration for the trade, for which he has become nationally known.
The Foot Practice (No 3a, Tel: 01780 482038) is run by Anne Stephens. At 3d you will find
Redlands McTimoney Chiropractic (Tel: 01780 756294)
Rob Fogell has added a dash of colour and creativity to the street with his now well-established gallery at St Leonard’s Gallery (No 4, Tel: 01780 755620 www.robfogell.co.uk )
Here you will find the work of many different artists working in several different media, in a charming environment. Rob is also an artist himself, and takes commissions for sculpture in stone, steel and bronze, which could sit well in a courtyard context as well as larger garden spaces.
Burghley Veterinary Centre (Tel: 01780 762109) www.burghleyvets.co.uk
Michelle and Marc Moggridge took over the Burghley Veterinary Centre a couple of years ago, and there are now six vets in the practice altogether. Key recent investments have been digital x-rays, anaesthetic machines, colour ultrasound and blood machines.
A recent initiative has been the introduction of a Pet Health Plan which, for a modest fee each month, gives you the peace of mind that your pet has the best possible care throughout its life and gets regular health checks, vaccinations and boosters and a discount off dental procedures and long-term drugs. It shows the practice’s commitment to proactive rather than reactive veterinary care.
Stamford Tyres and Exhausts (No. 12, Tel: 01780 762274) offers a quick, friendly and competitive service. I was in and out with a puncture in no time, they couldn’t be too helpful.
Landmark IFA (Magnus House, No 60, Tel 01780 761313 www.landmarkifa.co.uk )
Landmark IFA Ltd is a successful and growing independent financial planning business, providing services ranging from specialist mortgage advice to full wealth management and inheritance tax planning.
Landmark advisers are happy to meet clients in their own homes or, if they wish, they can pop into the office to talk with an adviser. There is no charge for initial consultations.
Get Boosted (37 High St, Tel: 01780 481970) offers delicious juices, hot drinks and light bites. In the last year they have also set up a delivery service that goes to offices in the centre and on the outskirts of town – a perfect lunchtime for your staff. They can also be found at the Stamford Football Club each Saturday.
Chez Soi (No 26-27 High St Tel: 01780 482845) Sue Growcott, the owner, has also noticed a change with all the new developments at the end of the High St; “Previously, people would only go so far before turning round, now they will go much further.”
The King’s Head Inn, (19 Maiden Lane) is a revelation. It has been transformed into one of Stamford’s cosiest pubs, well described as ‘like a tiny village pub in the centre of town.”
Gallery Stamford (No 3, Tel: 01780 753737) offers original prints and a first-rate framing service.
A brand new Frame Visualisation System will enable customers to select their frame and mount and then “picture” it as it will appear on their wall at home. This eliminates the guess work and shows the customer their artwork matted and framed before they leave the premises.
All work is still carried out to Fine Art Trade Guild standards using top quality materials by highly experienced skilled framers. Ian, who is the Guild Branch Master for the East Midlands, believes that giving added value to customers is key to staying at the forefront of the framing business.
Pirrie Opticians (No 7, Tel: 01780 753488) has been established on this site since 1983. They have always loved the location with easy access by car and disabled access from the side of the building.
Sugarcraft Sensations (previously No 18) is now located at 64 Scotgate at Greensleaves, where wedding and celebration cakes can still be ordered. Please call 01780 766244
Pennies from Heaven Coffee House (No. 17, Tel: 01780481634) hard to beat for a traditional tea and coffee house.
Bridal Dreams (No. 15, Tel 01780 756125 www.bridaldreams.net ) offers wedding dresses and accessories.
Arch Label Agency (No 10a, Tel: 01780 764746) This has become one of Stamford’s most fashionable boutiques, with brands and styles to die for at reachable prices.
Susie Archer, the owner, can’t remember a time that she has had so many fantastic bags in stock thanks to her contacts in London sending her the very best stuff.
Maples (24 St Mary’s St, Tel: 01780 752725) is the gateway to this end of town from the south, providing a first-class hair salon for men & women, and superb beauty treatments.