Stamford Arms news

June 2015

The new garden was opened on June 3rd 2015.

December 2014

New garden area planned for the Stamford Arms

When the Stamford Arms was internally redesigned a couple of years ago the seating area outside was also improved and upgraded. But for landlord Brian Rigby there was still something missing from his dream of delivering a better community pub. Now, subject to planning approval, all this is set to change with a proposal that an extended garden area is provided using land behind the Blacksmith's Cottage on Rookery Lane.

Brian is part of a local consortium that has bought the historic one bedroomed dwelling and has plans to refurbish it and make it available for holiday rentals. This will include the sympathetic replacement of the existing kitchen and bathroom fittings. "We are confident that there is a market for such a rental property in Groby," said Brian, " and think that it may also be attractive for use by local businesses who have visitors who need accommodation locally."

Country cottage planting around the house will add to the external improvements which have already taken place. With such an old property it is not surprising that interesting artefacts have come to light. "As you would expect we've found horseshoes as well as such things as coins and even a a cannonball," Brian added. These are to be cleaned up and hopefully displayed in the pub.

The new garden area will have seating, a children's adventure area, and a small petanque court. "We will, of course, not forget that we have homes nearby," he explained, "and will take this into account when deciding at what time external activities should end."

As long as there are no planning impediments a piece of unused land could be transformed and ready for use by next spring as a recreational asset for all age groups. The Grade II listed Blacksmith’s Cottage is described by the Borough Conservation Officer as a late 17th century timber framed property with a thatched roof. The house is thought to have been restored around 1980.

August 2013

Parking meter at Stamford Arms

Parking charges were introduced at the Stamford Arms overflow car park next to Pricegate on August 5th. This is sure to be a controversial move as it has been used as short term parking for many years by shoppers. Although the issue of parking control and charges has come up now and again the management has taken a fairly relaxed view, although at one point it was closed off until mid morning on weekdays to discourage all day parking. Pressure on parking in the village centre has increased in recent years and the imminent introduction of parking restrictions may have an impact, despite the creation of new short term parking spaces in the area.

The car park will still be available for shoppers for up to four hours but an hourly fee of £1 will be charged between the hours of 6am and 9pm daily. Blue badge holders will be exempt from charges and pub customers will have the fee refunded on the day of purchase. The parking meter will be monitored by a local company. 

“The car park is owned by Everards Brewery and thus the Stamford Arms, with its sole purpose of use in provide parking for customers of your local village pub” explained landlord Brian Rigby. “As we are all aware local parking restrictions are planned which will put more pressure on the car parks within the village and the surrounding roads. We want to ensure our customers have the availability to park when driving, therefore we have introduced a car parking meter. Over the years many tenants’ owners of the Stamford Arms have used various methods to restrict the use of the car park with varied responses from locals and local businesses of which none have worked and in best practice a parking meter is the obvious answer.” 

Brian welcomes feedback about the change and can be emailed at stamfordarms@icloud.com. 

March 2013

Jobs after Stamford Arms refurbishment

Although the work has now started it's still business as usual in the main bar until Monday 15th April, when the pub will then close. It re-opens on Monday 3rd June 2013 and will be needing staff for the new look Stamford. “We are recruiting for all positions at the moment, kitchen and bar,” said landlord Brian Rigby. “Anyone wishing to apply can contact me by emailingstamfordarms@icloud.com.”

November 2012 

Pub to close for refurbishment

The alterations at the Stamford Arms have now been approved by the Borough Council, and the good news is that the busy trading period running up to Christmas will be unaffected. It will be all change in January with the refurbishment starting on either the 7th or 14th of January 2012. Brian, the landlord, hopes to continue trading in just the main bar for four weeks but the pub will then close fully for another five or six weeks. The project is currently out to tender so the exact dates and timescales are yet to be confirmed.

Brian was delighted at the response from the village to the firework display on November 5th. “Over 800 people from the village attended,” he said “and the feedback from everyone was that it was a great night. I would like to thank the Groby Scout group for organising the BBQ, Groby Juniors football team for tombola and Loros holding a raffle achieving nearly £300 for local groups and charities. Groby is a fantastic village to live and work in and I can't wait for the Christmas Carol's on Tuesday 18th December.” 

October 2012 

Improvements at the Stamford Arms

Earlier this year the new landlord of the Stamford Arms said that he would like to undertake improvements to the pub and Everards Brewery have now put in a planning application to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Since 1921 the brewery has used the premises as a public house, though formally it was a home to the Everards Family.

The proposals are to centralise the rear entrance from the car park relocating the catering kitchen to the single storey section of the building. Pizza lovers will be pleased to hear that a new pizza oven and servery will be installed. The existing public bar area is to be split between Dining Area and Meeting Room with the Disabled and Ladies Toilets relocated and the Gents Toilet to be altered & refurbished.

A new opening is to be created within the Lounge Bar external wall leading out on to the patio. The rear patio is to be increased using block pavers and flagstones with timber sleepers to form planters. The front elevation patio is to have new flagstone pavers and inset grassed area with cobbled surround. The patio perimeter is to have Black Wrought Iron bollards with chain link between. 

June 2012 

Bake a Cake for Charity 

Brian Rigby at the Stamford Arms has come up with a novel way of raising money for local charities. “Our coffee shop in the mornings is going very well,” he explained. “However, I am really interested in raising money for local charities and would like to have local people bake me some cakes, biscuits or cookies, which we would sell for the charities.” It's a double whammy as the keen bakers know they are helping charities and so do those customers who pop in for a cup of coffee and a cake. 

Another interesting development where Brian would like help relates to the planned refurbishment which is awaiting planning consent. “I am very interested in showing the history of Groby in picture’s and verse and will be commissioning a specially designed wall paper for one of the walls. This is my biggest project, having a time-line of the Groby village showing its history, famous visitor’s and local stories of interest etc, This would then over lay a map of Groby village showing locations of an old buildings, industries, places of interest past and present with great walks or cycle paths.” Brian would appreciate any advice or information regarding this. 

Last month Brian asked for folk to tell him what they wanted from a local. “The response from local people is basically keep going, 'it’s great to see the Stamford Arms developing itself into being a great local pub first' and 'having three guest ales is fantastic.' Offering food from 12noon till 9pm every day is appreciated by customers and has resulted in the good news that Brian looking to employ another person in the kitchen for about 16 hours per week as well as a person to work 3 hours Saturday and Sunday mornings for the coffee session – 9am till 12noon. The food theme night offers Tuesday to Thursday will no doubt also prove popular. With an open mic night on Thursday and quizzes on Sunday and Tuesday it looks like Brian will be pretty busy. 

There's no Spotlight in July so if you've enjoyed previous visits of Stonepark to the Stamford you'll want to make a note of their return on Saturday July7th. But there'll be no lie in for the team on the following morning as July 8th brings a table top sale from 10am to noon for youngsters to sell unwanted toys and clothes, etc. If you would like to reserve a table call in or email stamfordarmsgroby@gmail.com . This is followed by a Family Fun Day until 6pm with an all day barbecue, lots of activities and a magic show from 4pm.

May 2012  

All change at the Stamford Arms 

Talk to Brian, the new landlord at the Stamford Arms, and you'll be left in no doubt that he's an excited man. His enthusiasm at taking over at the local pub is completely unrestrained. Four days into his tenancy the pub re-opened after a hurried makeover, a precursor to a more extensive refurbishment later this year. "I believe this is Everard's premier pub," he said, " and I want to make it a good honest local." The music and entertainment policy has changed and Brian's first thoughts are that perhaps there'll be music once a month. His declared aim is for the Stamford to be the kind of pub that Groby people want it to be. " I'm starting with a blank sheet of paper and my aim is to give the customers what they want." 

Talking to him you can almost hear the cogs in his brain whirring as he asks about as he asks about Groby, Jubilee events and listens with interest to the plans for a second Groby Street Fair in September. "Refurbishment?" he says "we'll certainly be open for the Street Fair." It's hard not to to be carried away with his enthusiasm. So what message does he want to givereaders? "Tell them the Stamford is their pub," he said, "and I can't wait to meet them." Interesting times ahead. If you want to contact Brian with any thoughts about the kind of pub you want the Stamford to be you can email him at stamfordarmsgroby@gmail.com. 

August 2011 

Don't hiss and boo, just enjoy the music