New team take over at highly rated The Yard

The highly rated Jim’s Yard, one of Stamford’s top foodie destinations, is in safe hands it appears after its sale went through a couple of weeks ago.

The Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, off Ironmonger Street in the town, had been doing very nicely indeed in the hands of Jim Trevor and his wife Sharon –– the couple behind The Beehive pub restaurant in Peterborough.

But with their latest venture, the charming Six Bells at Witham-on-theHill opening at the beginning of July, they decided something had to give.

“In a way it was a difficult decision because we had just had our best year,” said Jim.

“Running two places is easy, three is a nightmare I was spreading myself too thin particularly as we have been getting the Six Bells up and running and I still pop in at The Beehive (run by his daughter) most days.

“I own the freehold at The Beehive and Six Bells, but was paying out rent every month in Stamford, so if anything was going to go, that was it.”

Now reopened after shutting for a couple of weeks while the deal was finalised and known simply as The Yard, the venue is in the hands of business partners Simon McEnery and Tim Luff.

Simon, who until it closed a couple of years ago was the man behind the much-touted Nick’s in Main Street, Oakham. He’s the face of the front of house, while doing his stuff in the kitchen is head chef Tim who learned his trade at the superb multi-award winning Olive Branch in Rutland, and more recently was at the Northwick Arms in Ketton.

Jim said: “I am sure it is in safe hands and they will make a good job of it.”

Tim said he and Simon jumped at the chance to take over.

“I was in business at the Northwick Arms until March when the brewery sold the place, and started for Jim three days later,” said Tim. “When he said this place was available we didn’t hesitate in going for it.”

His spell as head chef gave him plenty of time to have a look at the business and think about changes, which include making the menu a bit more “funky” he said, while at the same time keeping up the standards expected at a Michelin rated Bib Gourmand establishment.

“It helped me get an insight into what was needed in the way of change,” he said.

“There is really not that much, Jim and Sharon have been doing a terrific job.

“We have had a little change in format of the menu, for instance, Jim was into French classics whereas I am not, I’m more modern European, it’s a little more funky.

“Also, we want to reach out to a different clientelle and market, which perhaps Jim and Sharon did not had time to do because they have been busy with their other businesses.”

Tim Luff at The Yard in Stamford.