Candlesticks

My parents and my husband and I decided to have a night away and randomly chose Stamford as it was only an hour away and we’d heard good reports. We wanted a budget hotel as a base so mum chose Candlesticks as it was very reasonable and close to the centre. We arrived early and parking was limited but the owner moved his own car so we could park and our rooms were ready. First impressions were that it was a very old building and old fashioned inside, needing updating. However, the owner was very welcoming and helpful and happy to chat about the hotel which had been owned by his parents. So he had great sentiment to the place. He also did all the cooking himself and was very passionate about that too. So much so we booked in for our evening meal. We loved hearing his stories of cooking, chefs and his family. The hotel was about a 5/10 min walk to the centre and we spent a lovely day there, retuning in the evening for a fantastic home cooked 3 course meal. He served us personally and recommended a lovely wine, again he was knowledgeable. Afterwards we popped back into Stamford to try some other pubs and let ourselves in later with the key he left with us. Our room was clean and the beds comfortable (although mum had booked twin beds without realising!). The shower was easy to use and the right temperature. Breakfast was toast and cereals left in our room that had a mini fridge. If you’re looking for a homely place to stay, close to amenities and very reasonably priced then Candlesticks is perfect. We will definitely be back.

Stayed here for two nights with some friends. Nice owner who was very friendly. Really great location as very central to Stamford which is a beautiful town. Now onto the hotel….horrible is the best word for it. It’s old and tatty. Mould on the windows, which are also rotting away. The bedding was clean but the mattresses are ancient and the bed bases are very old and tatty. The bathroom is very dated and tatty with mould and cracked tiles. The shower is decent enough but tatty. Both rooms have small fridges with crumbs all round the seals. The floor is very old and dirty. All in all i could never recommend this place and as much as i love Stamford as a place i will never return to this hotel. If it could be gutted and revamped, given the superb location it could be excellent.

We stayed here for one night over a weekend. The property was locked when we arrived, but we were early. Within a few minutes, we were warmly greeted by Nelio. He carried our bags from the car into the property and was friendly and welcoming. He let us check in a bit early and we were able to park in the small carpark next to the property. We stayed in room 1 on the top floor. Nelio carried our bags upstairs and checked we were happy with our room. He also checked we were happy with a bath rather than a shower (we were). Breakfast is in the room. We told Nelio we were vegans and he left us dairy free milk, dairy free yoghurt, dairy free spread, preserves, bread, cereal and fresh fruit. He had obviously got the milk and yoghurt in especially which we were really grateful for. There was also tea, coffee (inc ground coffee) water and fresh orange juice. We are not big breakfast eaters, so this was more than adequate for us. Like the property as a whole, the room was a little dated, however it was clean with bright white bedding and towels. There are only 8 rooms and we may have been the only guests staying at that time. We certainly didn’t hear anyone else whilst we were there. We didn’t use the restaurant or bar so cannot comment on these. The hotel is a great location for exploring the town. Nelio was charming and we really enjoyed talking to him. He was a great host. The hotel was good value and we would definitely stay here again.

Great value, centrally located with parking. Character property with fluffy, white towels & crisp, white cotton bed linen. It had everything we needed for an overnight stay including tea/coffee/hot chocolate, pastries, cereals, toast, preserves & bathroom toiletries. It was clean although the skirting boards needed a wipe! Owner was very friendly, welcoming, accommodating & responsive. Would stay again, thank you

Positives- excellent location Negatives- building needs extensive maintenance. Bar & reception area smelt fusty & damp. Decor is very poor with paintwork chipped & wallpaper peeling off. Broken blind in bedroom, cracked bathroom sink, bare hardboard wall not decorated. Wires dangling everywhere, electric sockets overloaded doesn’t look safe. Breakfast in a cupboard 4 slices of white bread, orange juice, chocolate croissants, & yoghurt- the whole breakfast did not look appealing nor enticing. Coffee table with a white paper tablecloth with two meagre biscuits. The whole place is in dire need of a deep clean. The bannisters on stairway have not been cleaned for years. Our bedroom window did not open. The room was so dirty & undesirable we didn’t use the bath. We had a cooked breakfast that just arrived without asking what we would like with bacon, sausage, egg, mushroom, tomato & toast. This hotel is relatively cheap for Stamford however, no matter what the price is I expect anywhere to be clean, safe & hygienic. How this hotel has 3 stars is a joke This hotel has nothing on Fawlty Towers!

Stayed one night in a room that was not quite big enough to swing a cat. The included breakfast consisted of 2 yoghurts, some Weetabix and four slices of white bread (does anyone eat that stuff anymore?) Bathroom had cracked tiles and broken washbasin. Mine host was a pleasant fellow and the location good. I suppose one gets what one pays for and this one was cheaper than some nearby hotels. Stamford appears to be an expensive town.

Lovely greeting from the host when we arrived. Very central in Stamford with parking. Good shower although bathroom very small ( room 8) Comfy beds with crisp clean bedding. Would stay there again when visiting Stamford.

So I paid 100 quid for a double. Check in the owner met me because the bar/restaurant was closed disappointingly. My friend was also staying and mentioned we both worked on the railways... Big mistake as I had to confess I was a train driver and then the owner started talking about strikes and big pay rises which I thought was inappropriate. Explained I made my way through the ranks whilst on rubbish money. Anyway the double room was pretty small, part of the wall was cheap wooden without a coat of paint. Room looked cheap not 100 quid a night even with the in room breakfast box. Pretty extensive and a toaster but why would I want to eat it in such a cramped room and not downstairs? Strange waste of money. Bed hard, pillows hard., didn't sleep great. Checkout 10.30 was nobody around. Just really poor value although Stamford is lovely.

The manager went out of his way to make our visit enjoyable. We had seen there was a film in town we wanted to see and he magicked up a tasty pasta dish early for us. And good advice and a map for a walk about this lovely town for the morning.

Basic 2 mins from train station No bar No restaurant

A previous (less than flattering) review in October 2024, with photographs, show that NOTHING has been done to renovate the decor of the room that I also stayed in. It appears that in 2023 it was the same! Sadly, I sense some unacceptable flannel from the host? I could say a lot more, but I’ll simply say, that if you are planning on staying at Candlesticks, consider before paying in advance and look at your room/inside the premises before you commit. Shame, the experience was disappointing for a number of reasons.

Over/priced for what is on offer, and the marketing for this place on various travel sites is wholly unrepresentative of reality. Do not prepay and check out the room/facilities before you commit. Will not be returning.

Very friendly family owned hotel very convenient for rail station and town centre.

Tired , basic and strange. But I only paid £58 so it was probably in line with that price. My room was very basic and in need of refurbishment. It doesn't seem as if the hotel conversions have been finished . For example, in my room a hardboard panel had been used to divide the bed from the toilet and shower but it hadn't been painted or had wall paper put up. The manager was very polite and friendly but maybe overly so. The breakfast consisted of a long life pain au raisin in a plastic packet, a corner yoghurt, a bottle of Schweppes orange juice, two white slices of bread wrapped in a packet, butter packs and a pint of milk with two Weetabix. The hotel served a purpose as a one night stay en route to somewhere else but I won't return.

Great host

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Lovely but basic room in beautiful Stamford. The price was great and we loved the flexibility of the breakfast being in the room. It was a shame that

We actually refused to check in and eventually got a refund via Expedia ( we had prepaid) The location is great there is parking That’s all that’s good They outside is dirty and scruffy dead plants cab peeling paint No reception you have to phone and someone comes to let you in The interior tired grubby rundown not even 1 star I can’t believe recent 4 /5 * reviews

loved the look and location of this spot. kinda weird in a great way.

Candlesticks is not an ambiguous, international hotel, but is cosy and friendly. Room was well equipped with a cafetiere and a fridge.

Very welcoming owner. Had meal in restaurant and it was superb. Comfortable bed. Shower was weak. But overall a good experience

The owner was very welcoming and appeared from somewhere to check me in fairly promptly. He did everything to help me; even my strange request to borrow a tin opener. Breakfast was left in the room, I liked this self service. The room was clean with supreme white bed linen and the bathroom nice; a tad dated but for the price I can’t complain. Unfortunately, the single bed felt lopsided, so I didn’t sleep well. Probably due to the old walls of the house, so not the owners fault. It was a hot night but fortunately there was a fan in the wardrobe. All essentials are in place. Location is superb. Such a beautiful, old town and picturesque walk; Like stepping back in time. I really enjoyed my stay. It felt safe and relaxing!

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Very close to train station, to the city centre, very helpful staff.

Good value for the area.

Very friendly owner

I went for the no-frills option which, as a solo traveller, was ideal. Host was friendly and very helpful. Good guidance on navigating the town. Great location. Food nice although a long wait, Maybe have an option to choose from the menu in advance so as to give kitchen warning. Would recommend.

Walking distance to center of Stamford, great atmosphere. We have stayed twice now and we will be back!

Quaint, old property with parking and very close to the High Street. Excellent host, nothing was too much trouble.

What a beautiful gem so quaint.Quiet space,relaxing friendly welcome by staff. Conveniently placed near by for shopping and local Theatre trip Will return again to Candlesticks.

The property is right in the heart of Stamford and having a parking area is a real bonus. The owner was extremely friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean and tidy and perfectly adequate for single occupancy, maybe on the small side for two. I loved the provision of breakfast items but in my room, although there was a table, there was no seating for two people, only a vanity stool. The en-suite bathroom was spacious, with shower supplies and fresh white towels provided, but no working shower over the bath, and on the whole it could do with some maintenance and modernisation. In spite of this seemingly critical review my friend and I had a pleasant stay and would use Candlesticks again for its location, convenience and reasonable price.

The owner is a very good and friendly host even carried suit cases up to the room and give us a drink on the house when we arrived. It's the first place I will look for to book the next time I am in Stamford

This was a real find, being in the town, local to the railway station and to my appointment in St Mary's Hill. i needed only a small space and had that. I was out a lot over two days so the room was good for sleeping, breakfasting and overnight storage. All mod cons. Shower excellent. The internal stairs and corridors of living in the exceptionally old building pleased me. I'd stay again.

Sadly we were the only customers in the restaurant on a Friday night. People do not know what they are missing! Very friendly, chatty host and wonderful food cooked for you when you are there. Excellent value, three courses plus coffee and mints was £32.90. Wine more expensive but house wine perfectly drinkable and standard price for these days. The restaurant is downstairs in the cellar, stone walls, pictures, well laid tables with plenty of space but best of all everything lit by candlelight plus flowers on the table. Had a fabulous evening. Excellent way to start our holiday.

Excellent welcome on arrival end excellent accommodation with breakfast all ready in your room with cereal’s and Tea, Coffee sugar and milk so was close to hand in the morning.

Lovely hotel set in a peaceful location. Great price which includes car parking and light continental breakfast. Great host. It’s great to have a peaceful nights sleep. Perfect base for shopping around Stamford and most important a relaxing break. Can’t wait to go again 😊

We were in the top room. Room was comfortable enough and location was excellent. Shower didn't really work and the holder was broken so you couldn't attach it to the wall. The breakfast provided was in the room - cereals, some bread for toast and packets of butter, and jam. Was nice enough but not what we had expected. There was nice coffee and a cafatiere.

Everything was good but the room was too small.

I found the owner very helpful, firstly he allowed a late check in. The room was fine clean and quiet and the central location excellent for a catch up with friends in Stamford. The owner, even posted my water bottle back to North West Wales (without asking me to pay) after I left it in the room 1!

Excellent location, quiet street, friendly host, good room service.

Friendly, comfy, and quiet with great service.

property in a good central position

I was quite happy with the cost. It was good value for a single room in the town centre. Excellent location. Parking is in an adjacent yard.

Room was poorly decorated and one wall just bear plasterboard, bed uncomfortable. Breakfast was a toaster in the room and some cereal to make it yourself, overall wouldn’t use again.

Candlesticks is ok, certainly not 5 star but for Stamford not a bad price. Good breakfast offered, not cooked but lots of other things, toast with jams etc, yoghurt, cereal, tea and coffee. Need new plumper pillows as we woke up with bad necks! It is was it is.

We only met the host at the of day 2, but he was really nice and we had a good chat. The room, while small, was clean and tidy. Having the breakfast stored in a cupboard, with different. We actually had breakfast at the Country Lounge on the other side of the river. If you take into consideration that the place was built in the 1730's, it was actually a very nice place. We didn't try the restaurant, but I understand it is highly regarded.

Hidden gem which reflects the history and surroundings

The staff was friendly and the suite comfortable and the hotel very easy to find.

I love this place. The owner is amazing and couldn’t do enough. It’s perfect location. Great parking. Will definitely stay here again x

It was in a convenient location. Easy check in and breakfast left in the room. Small fridge was useful. A general update (redec) of the common areas and room 5 would be useful.

This is a small family run hotel and resturant. The owner is the chef, and the food is excellent. He has an extensive wine list, so if you are a connoisseur of wine- then this is the place for you! The resturant is amazing, beautifully lit with candles. The owner is a lovely person, and made my partners birthday weekend one which we will not forget. Thank you so much for your friendliness, kindness and hospitality.

The gentleman at this property was so helpful, kind and such a nice person he couldn’t do more for me genuinely made me stay here so lovely. Thank you

Great value, well located for town centre. Friendly host.

Very convenient for the railway station and 5min walk into town centre. Nice welcome. Self-service breakfast supplies in room.

Very jaded, decor from 70's. Mattress was very hard and you had to eat a very limited breakfast in your room - cereal and toast.

Great stay, owner was very helpful, polite and provided superb service.

Great stay. Owner was extremely helpful and a very nice guy. Helped with bags from car and chilled some drinks for us that we were taking out. Very oldy worldy place which fits right in with Stamford. Would highly recommend candlesticks for a Stamford stay!

Was made to feel so welcomed and Nothing was too much trouble. If you want to pamper yourself this is the place to go

So I stayed at this property on Friday 11th April 2025. One single room ,it's very small , yes tea and coffee, kettle,small fridge ,small tv. Wardrobe with hangers, also a shower and toilet .the fridge had breakfast stuff in , two slices of bread (toaster also)drink of Orange , cereal,milk . So yes everything in the room but it's very small , the wallpaper needs attention it's bits missing especially next to the single bed (the bed is pushed up against the wall so it's like you are sandwiched in at the top , one wall is just board nothing on it like ,just not touched at all , the shower wouldn't tighten so you had to hold it in your hand to shower , I didn't see anyone in the small bar at any time , it is what it is ,ok if you are a student or something. It did the job but I wouldn't go back , the hotel manager who gave me the room key was Very welcoming, the room needs a makeover

A one night stay in central Stamford worked well. Very old building and very quirky. I called to see where i could park and the owner came out and showed me a space in his car parking area. Breakfast was in a fridge in the room with fresh milk , cereals, tea coffee etc which was fine. Be prepared for small stairs!

What a fabulous meal we had last night! You can tell that the owner/chef is absolutely passionate about food and that it is all made with love. Everything freshly made with excellent ingredients. We are both vegans and unfortunately, I have just found out that I am wheat intolerant. Was this a problem? Absolutely not! We were handed a menu of many choices that had been carefully planned for us - even right down to a gateaux being made with an egg replacement and without wheat. Now that's what I call service! Thank you!!

It was as described. A convenient location for staying in Stamford. The owner was very hospitable and helpful.

Can’t wait to return to try the restaurant. Neill (apologies if spelt wrong) was a fabulous host and we will definitely come and stay again

it was ok

Had a lovely two night stay at Candlesticks it was faultless to the point Nelio even defrosted Our windscreen in the morning for us. Breakfast both mornings was really lovely and will definitely go back again

We had a lovely stay at Candlesticks and would definitely stay again - comfortable, clean and quiet room, along with a friendly, responsive host. It's very close to all that Stamford has to offer and very convenient for Burghley House, plus has plenty of shops, restaurants and pubs nearby. The breakfast provided in our room was spot on!

We stayed for a little weekend. This place was amazing. The host is very accommodating and couldn’t do enough for us. We would highly recommend to anyone wanting to visit.

Clean and friendly experience overall. But the room we stayed in was very tired and dated.

I know its winter but the room and athroom were extremely cold. Tiled floor in the bathroom, sink not much bigger than a dish and very low hot water pressure. We had to negotiate narrow stairs to the 2nd floor which at the age of 76 with luggage was not easy. Breakfast was provided consisting of 4 slices of bread, individual cereal packets, pain au chocolate in sellophane looked quite old, small packets of butter and jam, make it yourself. We didnt bother because the room was cold and eating b/fast sitting on your bed was not on my agenda, consequently the Candlesticks is located not far from Stamford town centre which has plenty of cafes etc. The host however is a very pleasant chap.

No cooked breakfast but plenty of tea, coffee, cereal and bread in room

I booked this hotel based on its advertised photos and description, as it looked like a cosy place to stay but my experience was far from expectations. The hotel appears to be very run-down and in need of significant renovations. My room was cold & cramped with part MDF walls. Paint was chipped off in areas and the TV is about 4 inchs and so far away I couldn't see it. I was particularly disappointed with the bed, the mattress was so springy and the pillow was hard. Safe to say, sleep didn't come. The bathroom is extremely dated and the hot water took an age to come through. While the staff were friendly and accommodating, they couldn't compensate for the overall condition of the property. I would not recommend this hotel in its current state."

Quirky but very nice and comfortable. Nelio was extremely helpful. Parking a bit tight but nothing to worry about. Short walk into a lovely little town with plenty of shops and eateries.

Choose this hotel for the closest to town and parking. Super friendly owner made us very welcome. We had every thing we needed in the room. Plus it was very quiet considering so close to town.

Lovely family run old hotel,We were happy with the breakfast selection left in the room.Very good quiet location near enough to walk to town centre. Excellent value

Very quirky establishment.

Warm welcome on arrival, room was clean and tidy

Quiet and central location with a great host

For the price we paid it was comfortable but in need of some updating. The host was more than accommodating and very friendly. Even though I said it needed a bit of updating we would stay there again

The owner was very friendly and helpful.

We loved the location of the property...not too far from the shops, bars and restaurants and it was in quiet surroundings. The owner was very welcoming and we felt relaxed staying there. The property was unique and very comfortable and we enjoyed our stay in beautiful Stamford.

THE best host I've ever stayed with. Attentive beyond belief. From meeting us and bringing our bags to the room then joining us for drinks at the bar and offering us so much local information. Didn't get chance to try the restaurant but smelt terrific all the time. Delightful stay, thank you.

We stayed in the hotel to attend a Christmas party at another venue therefore did not eat so can not comment on the food. It is an old hotel in an old building. Yes it is a little quirky, its full of character and it is showing its age a little. Its in a great location. I can not fault the attitude and enthusiasm of the staff and I do believe it is good value when you consider the cost of other hotels in the immediate proximity. We would stay again.

Great position to visit town.

The owner couldn't do enough for us loved the milk bread cereal in our room very friendly we will be back

An cost effective way to stay in central Stamford without compromising on hospitality. Great value, great location, and a great proprietor. I will be back.

Clean, compact, basic ensuite room with view over gorgeous Stamford. Breakfast in the room fridge included. Manager very friendly, helpful and accommodating to our needs. Good value.

This was a really comfortable room with everything you need for a night or two’s stay. Easy parking and unexpected breakfast included made this really great value for money. The owner was very affable and helpful and we had time to chat. Just a pity that I came the night the restaurant was closed otherwise would have eaten there and cracked a bottle of Torbreck. Town is a 10 minute stroll with a ton of options.

We had a lovely overnight stay ay Candlesticks .Our host was super nice, the room was warm and the bed was very comfortable. Beautiful town, will visit and stay at Candlesticks again

Brilliant staff and location!

Very tired and not very clean. We actually left and booked in elsewhere.

Friendly. Nice room, lovely duvet. Very warm.Received an upgrade. Walkable to town.

Really friendly owner. Very comfortable and clean room. Newly renovated shower.

I have seen many good reviews for this hotel and frankly only a few bad ones. However, I feel like the bad ones are related to a particular room (no2). We had this room and it really was very poor. No complaints on cleanliness but it was tiny and only a narrow gap to get to the bathroom. The bathroom had a bath but no shower, and took a long time to get to a reasonable depth. Just had to wash in the morning as running a bath would take too long. There wasn't anywhere to put clothes as it seems like the old wardrobe is used as a mini mini kitchenette for the breakfast stuff. Totally bizarre and frankly not really worth doing as anyone booking thinking they are getting breakfast will probably be very disappointed. I really am not sure if this breakfast provision applies to all rooms as no one really mentions it. The tiny room could also really do with decorating and the bathroom definitely needs updating.

Mine Host was charming and polite and nothing was to much trouble. The room was very comfortable. However, there was no water pressure at all to get the shower to work. Only 3 other people in the hotel (as far as I could tell) and early so didn't think there was a rush on water useage. Breakfast was self service in a cupboard in the room, but generated a load of plastic / rubbish which all went into the same bin.

Conveniently close to the railway station; short walk to the town centre; very quiet; host very helpful and friendly.

Stamford is amazing, Candlesticks is charming, the owner is awesome. Very comfortable and enjoyable stay!

The worst hotel we've ever stayed in. In fact calling it an Hotel was a complete misrepresentation. The bedroom was cramped, one wall was made of unpainted plywood and the continental breakfast was in a small fridge inside a cupboard. We should have picked up on the fact that the proprietor wanted paying before we'd seen the room! The next morning we found there was no hot water for a bath( no shower) so we were ushered to the floor below to use a shower in another room. When we asked for our money back we were told we should have paid more and gone elsewhere. There didn't appear to be anyone else staying there and even the proprietor chose to live further down the street. Needless to say we will never stay there again and strongly advise anyone else to re-think before booking

Lovely service very clean bedding comfortable bed would stay again sorry we couldn't stay longer

Candlesticks is 4old houses converted into a hotel and restaurant so the layout is nicely quirky and charming. A far cry from all those sterile modern places which all look the same. I liked the room which was equipped with a kettle, toaster, a small fridge and plenty of stuff to make my own breakfast and a bottle of fresh milk 😁. As I had to be at work at 7.0 am this was much appreciated as I often do not get breakfast as so many places don’t serve it till 7.30 or 8.00! Free parking directly outside abd fast free WiFi. They were very friendly abd helpful and my room was serviced and restocked each day which many hotels don’t do post Covid Had dinner in the restaurant which was excellent and not expensive. Overall an excellent stay in my opinion. If you want shiny modern and impersonal it might not be to your taste but I reckon it was an excellent place to stay. I just hope I get another job in Stamford.

The very mixed reviews of this place concerned us but in an expensive town, it was a reasonably-priced option in a decent location. People who want a smart room can find plenty of options at twice the price. The room was tired, the shower didn't work (but the bath was fine), there were 3-4 flights of narrow stairs to carry our suitcases up and down, but the room was clean and the owner was very friendly and helpful (even carried our cases up for us), once he showed up. It was a bit annoying to have to phone him and wait outside 10 minutes for him to arrive. We had driven for almost 3 hours and I was desperate for the loo. But at least it wasn't raining. We didn't eat there, but the fixed-price menu looked very reasonable at £30 for three courses. Overall, considering the price, it offered a decent location within easy walking distance of the centre of Stamford and free parking adjacent the property. You pays your money and makes your choice.