Five great places to eat Al Fresco

During these summer months, if you can’t actually be in Spain, then Chesters is a great alternative way to sample some tasty tapas on a Thursday evening. Whether you’re in a crowd, a couple or on your own, sitting outside on a warm summer’s evening, surrounded by flowers in their lovely courtyard garden, provides a great setting for some tasty food prepared by Chef/Owner David. Of course, if the weather changes one can always take shelter inside. A great range of different tapas is available to mix and match as you wish, all washed down with a glass of wine or beer. What’s even better, get there early and there’s no need to book. Colin Gamble

46 Whenever anyone mentions dining out al fresco, doesn’t that just conjure up thoughts of a candlelit table, by a river with a setting sun? It does for me but we are surrounded by countryside and many delights yet to be discovered. One of the best is a Friday or Saturday evening at the Five Horseshoes. Dining here is a rustic affair, olde worlde pub with a large family friendly garden, nestling in a surround of trees, no sound of traffic or suburban living. Here Dale makes delicious home-made pizzas in his mobile Pizza Van with wood-fired burner. Great value at around £7.50 on average for an 11” pizza with a sunny garden to eat it in whilst the children play and find new friends. If you haven’t got children and want a quiet spot then the garden is big enough to distance yourselves. Don’t worry if it’s raining or turns cold, the lovely pub owners Matt and Emma encourage customers to bring the food indoors. Cycling is good; from Deeping take the A15 towards Bourne, turn left at the Langtoft crossoads and continue until you get to the next Stowe Road crossroads. Straight across and into Barholm village, go past the church on your right and take the next left and you’re there (about 4 miles). Matt and Emma and their friendly staff certainly do their best to welcome you and whilst they don’t do food in the week it’s still a great place to be outside in the open air. Tel 01778 560238 . David Milner Scudder

One of my favourite treats is meeting friends for a light lunch at the quintessentially English tea room that is Lilli’s in the Market Place. Now that the summer months are upon us, what could be better than to enjoy that experience under shady umbrellas watching the world go by while enjoying delicious home-made cakes and sipping tea from cups of fine bone china. Sarah, the proprietor, is always on hand with a cheerful greeting and her staff are polite and helpful. Service with a smile is the rule of the day. The menu is varied, ranging from afternoon teas, sandwiches, salads, jacket potatoes and soups. Then there are the home-made cakes ! Far too tempting to refuse. I think my favourite is the Bakewell Tart. For those with special dietary needs, there are gluten free options and milk substitutes. Children are well catered for too, with meal deals, luxury milk shakes and a variety of ice cream flavours. An oasis of calm, a chance to relax and enjoy a very English experience. Lynda Hall

A lovely summer sunset greeted us in the courtyard while we ordered our al fresco meal at The Stage. One of the first things we noticed was the old stone wall behind us contrasting with the modern seating, colourful planters and hanging baskets. Having a long history visiting The Stage, preparing our rafts in the earlier days of the Raft Race, to attending the many Band Days and Christmas parties; it was the same place, with a completely different feeling. Nicola and the welcoming restaurant team soon brought over the menus. I opted for a light Chicken Caesar Salad, and Steve choose the King Prawn and Chorizo Linguine, the arrival of which was heralded by the aroma of the delicious sauce. The Caesar Salad arrived with tender chicken pieces accompanied with light crispy smoked bacon and delicious fried croutons - a great taste combination. The dressing was fresh, light and perfect with a refreshing glass of Pinot. We couldn’t leave without dessert, and enjoyed a warming Apple Crumble and Banoffee Tart, both with delicious creamy ice cream. We usually choose to eat out in different restaurants when we have weekends away. So it was surprising while being local, it felt like we were away from it all; exactly what you want from an evening out. You might also get a visit from the local mallard ducks off the River Welland too. Emma Canham

Imagine you’re on holiday and make your way to the acclaimed Mad Turk in Stamford, sit in their walled garden, soak up the atmosphere and sample authentic Turkish Cypriot kebab, meze and more. Chef Kaz has achieved his ambition of owning a restaurant serving the simple honest dishes he remembers from his childhood and diners are responding in their droves. Make this the summer you try a little of Cyprus magic without leaving the country!

We look forward to welcoming you!

3 Market Gate, Market Deeping PE6 8DL Group bookings available, please call for more details T: 07736 322393