The Old Stamp House Restaurant

"In the heart of the Lake District sits this quirky little restaurant, which occupies the cellars of an old house where William Wordsworth used to work as the Distributor of Stamps for Westmorland. It's now owned by the Blackburn brothers – Ryan heads up the kitchen, while Craig looks after the service – and they display a passion for all things regional in their ‘A Journey Around Cumbria’ tasting menu. The skilfully prepared dishes have been well-thought-through and carefully balance bold and delicate flavours; each one has a story – sometimes historic, sometimes personal." - Michelin Inspector

Where to Eat, Stay, and Visit in England's Lake District

"We hotfooted it to lunch at the Old Stamp House in Ambleside (tasting menu $105), a small, dark space that was once William Wordsworth's workplace and retains original flagstone flooring and white stone walls hung with sketches of stags and native Herdwick sheep; the cooking was a wonder — rounds of crisp black pudding, Cumbrian crab with avocado ice cream and a cracker made with crab stock, miniature woodland presentations with upturned parsnips or locally foraged morels, and warm bread and butter that we were told was made by Jeremy." - Monisha Rajesh Monisha Rajesh Monisha Rajesh is a London-based travel journalist and author whose work has appeared in publications like Time and Vanity Fair. She’s written three books, "Around India in 80 Trains," "Around the World in 80 Trains," and "Epic Train Journeys." Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

The Re-Opening of the Lake District’s Michelin-Starred Restaurants

"The Old Stamp House is as quirky as its name implies. It sits in the centre of Ambleside – which in turn sits within the heart of the Lake District National Park – inside the cellars of an old house where William Wordsworth used to work as the Distributor of Stamps for Westmorland. It’s a tiny place, split over two low-ceilinged rooms which are hung with local art. It's owned by the Blackburn brothers: Ryan heads up the kitchen, while Craig looks after the service. Menus offer skilfully prepared, carefully balanced dishes, which have been well-thought-through and are packed with flavour. The Cumbrian larder is the star of the show, with local rabbit, deer and beef popular choices. The iconic Herdwick hogget and outstanding cheeses are must-tries." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team

The Best Restaurants in the Lake District, Cumbria | Eater London

"The whitewashed walls and flagstoned floors of poet William Wordsworth’s old office building provides a fitting setting for Ryan Blackburn’s Cumbrian-sourced-and-inspired food. One well-known London chef who ate here apparently told him it was the greatest meal he’d ever eaten “for knowing where he was.” Go for the seven-course tasting menu for a trip around Cumbria, cooked by a ‘friend of farmers, fish merchants and foragers.’ There might be Ravenglass crab, Morecambe Bay brown shrimps, Whitehaven turbot, grouse from Alston Moor, venison from Ullswater, or roe deer from the Cartmel Valley. Not to miss is Herdwick hogget from Yew Tree Farm near Coniston, the Herdwick being the native sheep breed of the Lake District; the farm once owned by author Beatrix Potter. A nearby café called Kysty is in the same ownership." - Christian Dymond