The Stamford Arms is so much more than simply a spot for the residents of Groby to enjoy a drink; it is a pillar of their community. The establishment has been built around a strong company culture of community engagement and quality service, values which will fortify the business as it continues to grow. Starting from humble beginnings, this pub was given a new lease of life and purpose by catering industry veteran Brian Rigby, who saw the immense potential within. Brian took the time to listen to and understand the residents of Groby before providing them with a hub that not only served their community’s needs- it also served them delicious drinks and dishes!

Brian wanted to provide his customers with an offering that was speedy and satisfying, as is required of good pub grub, while still delivering a stand out dining experience. His research revealed that stone baked pizza ticked every box; simple to make when armed with the right catering equipment as well as trendy.

When sourcing the right kit to power the Stamford Arm’s pizza operation, consistency and quality were priority. They wanted every customer to be as pleased with their pizza as the last! They wisely selected the dream pizza making partnership; the Cuppone Heated Press and the Cuppone Giotto oven. The Press produces up to 400 perfectly uniform pizza bases a minute which can then be placed onto the Giotto’s rotating base till they’re evenly cooked and ready to be served. The ‘Arms’ display their Cuppone equipment pride of place in an open kitchen for their diners to watch the full pizza preparation performance, from dough ball to dish. Their powerful Giotto handles whatever workload is asked of it, producing anything from 40 to 300 perfectly stone baked pizzas per day. Its power is matched by its controllability- the Stamford Arms’ staff can adjust the settings to their precise cooking requirements, producing consistent, quality pizzas.

Brian says his Cuppone Heated Press and Giotto oven are “like partners in the kitchen, both working together to present the perfect pizza time and time again.”

“The decision [to choose Cuppone equipment] has been justified many times, mainly through speed of service when trading at high volumes. The Cuppone Giotto oven is the Ferrari of the pizza oven world, it has the engine of a formula one car. If you look after it, it will always be there for you. Ours hasn’t let us down in 8 years!”

When Brian needed to source equipment for the Stamford Arm’s new pop up outdoor pizza operation, he acquired the services of consultant, dealer and Groby local, Catering Support Services’ Shaun Sterland. Shaun worked closely with Brian and deployed his extensive knowledge on all things catering to recommend Cuppone’s Tiziano oven. After getting hands on with the Tiziano in a demo with Shaun, Brian decided this oven was ideal for baking the pop up bar’s trendy street food offering owing to its compact stature, economical running costs and simple controls. After COVID 19 hit, the small but mighty Tiziano stepped up to the plate and helped the Stamford Arms cater to customers cautious about dining indoors. Their outdoor pizza dining concept wasn’t just social distancing friendly, it also proved to be a hit with customers who loved the immersive, multisensory experience.

friendly, it also proved to be a hit with customers who loved the immersive, multisensory experience. Although the Stamford Arm’s pizza menu is ever evolving, their current best seller is the Shanghai; stone baked pizza topped with hand pulled duck breast, spring onions and drizzled with Hoi Sin sauce. Their thin, crisp pizza bases are provided by our trusted pizza partners at Deli Conti in Nottingham, producers of fine quality Italian pizza bases, flatbreads and dough balls. They even supply the Stamford Arms with gluten free bases which have ‘proved’ to be a huge success! The ‘Arms’ don’t limit their Cuppone equipment to just pizza making- they also whip up flatbreads and ‘Toni Breads’ (half sized pizzas with garlic, mozzarella and chillies accompanied by a side of olives) for those seeking a lighter bite.

Shaun Sterland doesn’t simply supply the Stamford Arms with catering kit; this multi skilled man has been trained on the technical aspects of Cuppone products by LLK’s Technical Director, Will. This enables Catering Support Services to act as a local LLK representative in Leicester, on hand to keep the Stamford Arm’s Cuppone kit in top working condition.

Brian says “Shaun has always been available for advice and research. He understands our business and listens to what we require. His experience in the catering trade is invaluable in what we buy and how we purchase it. Shaun’s knowledge and contacts in the business are invaluable to us.”

When asked why he is such a loyal Cuppone customer, Brian says “I choose Cuppone time and time again because they align with my own mission statement- Service, Quality and Standards. Enough said!”