Lamberts: Stamford cafe five minutes off A1 described as 'hidden gem'

A "hidden gem" in Stamford, which is just five minutes off the A1, has been named as a finalist in the Great Food Club awards. Lamberts on Cheyne Lane was nominated in the cafe category of the awards, which recognises the best independent food and drink businesses across the East Midlands, and was announced earlier this week as a finalist.

Lamberts was launched eight years ago by owner and chef Steve Conway, who has a lifetime of experience in the hospitality industry. Mr Conway explained: "We started in February 2016, it was an empty pub before that called The Hole In The Wall which was quite a well-known drinking venue in Stamford.

"It was empty when we took it on and transformed it into a cafe deli sort of thing." Lamberts has a strong "emphasis on fresh food" and everything is "locally sourced where possible".

Mr Conway added: "We've been described as a hidden gem, just off the beaten track. People seek us out as well, they don't just stop at the first cafe they see.

"We seem to be a bit of a halfway mark for people coming from Yorkshire." Mr Conway grew up in Blackpool where his parents ran a hotel, and then he worked at various resorts and was a head chef for six years at Stapleford Park in Melton Mowbray.

He explained: "Then I decided to take the plunge myself and do my own thing." The owner has thanked all of his team and customers for their support, and is pleased to be a finalist in the 2024 awards after previously being a finalist in 2020.

The Lincolnshire cafe will be going up against Bob's Corby in Northamptonshire, The Deli at 58 in Loughborough, as well as L'il Bo's Cafe and Deli in Ashby, Leicestershire.