Restaurants in Rutland and Stamford: The George in Oakham
After three years of sympathetic renovation, Oakham’s George Inn has been transformed into a refined destination for dining, drinking and overnight stays, blending 17th-century character with contemporary comfort… and there’s more to come this summer!
Exciting times in Oakham and the culmination of three years of hard work and a £5m investment. When Ryck Turner visited Oakham back in 2022, he recognised that the place was a thriving and successful market town, contrary to what is happening in other market towns across Britain.
Independent businesses, decent footfall and a pleasant atmosphere, all won the businessman and property developer over, and within a month or two, he had invested in a few of the buildings in Oakham’s Market Place, not least among which was The George Inn, formerly known as the Whipper Inn, a Grade II listed coaching inn dating back to 1677.
In addition to the purchase of the hotel and its neighbouring buildings, Ryck also recognised the need to invest in the building and secure its place in Oakham for the future. After three years, the result has been transformative, both in the bits that you can see, and the bits that you can’t see. New wiring, plumbing, heating, bar and cellar gubbins, plus an upgrade to the hotel’s kitchens are all essential if the place is going to function as a comfortable and modern bar, restaurant and hotel in the 21st century.
Meanwhile, sympathetic renovation was essential in ensuring the building retains its charm and character.
After such a comprehensive programme of work, you’d think the team were done and dusted… but there’s more to come this summer with the completion of not just one, but two new features that residents of Oakham and the surrounding area will really enjoy.
The first is a brand new boutique cinema in one of the buildings in the courtyard. It’s a dedicated space with sofas, modern projection and state-of-the-art sound system. The plan is to offer movie nights, in conjunction with dining packages, as well as offering the cinema for private hire.
It’s due to open as Pride goes to press. Then, a little later on, the hotel will also open its spa, with jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, plunge pool, and gym. Both the cinema and spa will be available to residents and non-residents alike.
Whether you’re visiting the hotel to enjoy its newest facilities though, to enjoy a night or two in one of the 20 comfortable and newly refurbished bedrooms, or just to spend time with friends and family, dining or enjoying a drink, the hotel’s provision of food remains central to its appeal.
Walk through the door and you’re greeted with flagstone flooring, bold colours and wing chairs. The Parlour is a relaxed space ideal for morning coffee and lunch, and beyond that is the bar with Ryck’s vintage motor racing ephemera.
During our visit on an overcast Friday morning, the large wood-burning stoves roaring away were a welcome sight, but in the hope that by the time you read this we’re enjoying better weather, the courtyard is a super sunny place to enjoy a drink or a bite to eat, nicely sheltered from the breeze.
A single menu is served during both daytime and evening service, comprising breakfast options for residents and non-residents alike, plus snack and lunchtime options.
The mainstay of the menu is its à la carte options including four starters, three additional dishes that serve as lighter dishes, four à la carte main courses, three grill options and four desserts plus a cheese option.
Exclusively for daytime service is a Lunch for Less menu offering three or four choices per course for £25/two courses, £30/three courses. Midweek dining is a treat, too, with concessionary dining promotions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with two main courses, pies, steaks and seafood dishes on those respective days, plus a bottle of house wine and prices from £40-£60.
Sunday lunch at The George is also offered via a dedicated menu with all of the trimmings and two sittings, 12-12.30pm and 2-2.30pm respectively. A choice of beef sirloin, loin of pork with crackling, chicken and a vegetarian option are all accompanied by roasties, stuffing, roasted root veg and huge, homemade Yorkshire puddings.
The team of four chefs is led by Lewis Dickens, who makes virtually every element of your meal in-house from sauces and desserts to homemade bread and even the homemade biscuits served with morning coffee.
The only concession to in-house production is ice creams which are produced by Warwickshire-based Noels, regarded as one of Britain’s best artisan ice cream makers.
For those seeking private dining, the hotel offers a first floor dining room for up to 25 people, The Rutland Room, or an additional room ideal for smaller dining parties or meetings, The Oakham Room.
Otherwise the main restaurant shares with an adjacent snug, a large and very welcoming wood-burning stove. You can dine in The Parlour, too, which is also dog friendly.
To accompany, there’s a good selection of local ales at the bar, and a wine list comprising 40 bins available by the glass or from less than £20 to £45 for a 2016 Côtes du Rhône.
Given its location between Oakham’s Market Place and Burley Road, you’d think there was little room for The George to expand. But between a warren of corridors leading to the bedrooms, plus the Parlour and bar, a decent-sized restaurant and a large courtyard awaiting the first guests into the cinema and spa, it’s a deceptively large place. There’s even a decent-sized car park, which is handy given its in-town location.
Happily it’s also looking great for a 350-year-old building, retaining its character whilst modernising the guest experience and offering Oakham new reasons to visit.
Central to the future success of the place is its provision of really good food and drink, and in that respect things are looking good. Quality dishes, good ingredients, clean presentation and fundamental chefcraft all combine to offer some seriously delicious dishes… it’s a definite recommendation for dining this summer!
The George Inn
Opening Hours: Breakfast seven days, open to non-residents. Lunch from Monday to Saturday, 12-2.30pm. Dinner Wednesday-Saturday 6pm-9pm. Sunday 12-6.00pm.
Contact: The George Inn Market Place, Oakham LE15 6DT. Call 01572 756 971 or see www.thegeorgeinnoakham.co.uk.