Best pub in Stratford-upon-Avon!!! and other Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: The Garrick

Chris and Lynette Burton do a fantastic job running this place!

A traditional old pub with some new, but mostly antique beams everywhere, old-style furnishings with high wood-back chairs, a roaring fire ... it is one of the nicest pubs we have ever been into!

They have a board that shows all the previous owners of the building, which tells quite a story! It has been a blacksmith, a miliner, a mill etc. etc.

Those ancient walls hold many secrets!

The present building dates back to 1595. It has been an inn since the 1700s and was renamed after the famous Shakesperian actor, David Garrick, after he organised the famous Shakespeare Jubilee in Stratford in 1760.

Favorite Dish: The food was excellent, no complaints whatsoever, and the portions generous.. perhaps a tad too generous too.

Service was great. Not in your face, but always around, keeping an eye on the clientele.

We both had lamb shank, and this was tender, the meat just fell off the bone... mmm, and the mint sauce complimented it well.

The vegetables were fresh and hot, the roast potatoes firm and crispy.

All in all, a highly recommended pub!

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01789 292186
Address: 25 High Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV376AU

Restaurant Name: The Food of Love

If you are feeling like a light snack, and a good quality one at that, then this is the place to come!

Conveniently situated practically across the road from Shakepeare's birthplace, which has tens of thousands of visitors visiting it, it is a busy little cafe, that seems to touch the spot.

We only had a coffee, but their pastries did look absolutely delicious!

We also love the name of course. So Shakesperian, as quite a few places are in this town!


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Theme: Deli
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01789 26118837
Address: Henley Street, Stratford Upon Avon CV37 6QW

Restaurant Name: Hathaway Tea Rooms & Bakery

I would imagine that this little tea room is extremely hard to get into during peak season!

We were here in spring and literally got the last little table under the eaves upstairs. There is a seating area downstairs, as well as upstairs... with a choice of sitting under the eaves at the back of the tea room, or in front of the tea room... overlooking the bustling High Street. We chose the intimate eaves!

Some of the staff were quite new you could tell, they werent sure what was what, and to be honest... it was a tad higgledy-piggedly! BUT that aside, it was a lovely experience... the food was divine, the atmosphere old world and character-filled.

Everywhere you look there are little antiques... eg: eye out the gorgeous grandfather clock on the staircase... a waste if you aske me! (in one of my photos).

All these little things add to the charm of this tea room.

Favorite Dish: We had a cream tea, the sones were warm, the cream fresh and the strawberry jam really delicious!

As part of their cream tea price, they give you an extra dessert for free too... as if you havent had enough sweet things!

We had a couple of sweets, shown in the photos.. they were delicious... far too delicious!

Highly recommended little tea room!

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01789 29240419
Address: High Street, Stratford Upon Avon CV37 6AU
Website: www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk

Restaurant Name: The Black Swan (Dirty Duck)

We had thoroughly enjoyed our meal the nigth before at The Garrick, on the High Street. The Black Swan/Dirty Duck has the same owner and menu, and we thought it would be a good choice for a Sunday Roast!

On the walls there are autographed pictures of famous people who have visited here whilst performing for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Garrick has the charm and the service, and this pub/restaurant doesnt I am afraid.

We ventured to the back of the pub, where there is a newly built conservatory-type area (Black Swan). The lovely 18th century part of the building is used by the bar area (Dirty Duck).

Service was slack, and even though this was the non-smoking section, the smoking section (which we had to walk through to get to the non-smoking section too, which isnt pleasant!), was right there and it infiltrated the room annoyingly.

The Dirty Duck seemed to be a bit of a dive in comparison to its sister pub in our opinion.

Favorite Dish: They were out of roasts and all things chicken. We ended up with one of only two things they had left on their menu. Fish and Chips.

Now, the fish was nice, but we thought this was bad as we werent that late for lunch, it was about 2pm we ate.

We had to eat though as we had a car journey ahead of us and needed to eat something.

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01789 297312
Address: Southern Lane (Waterside), Stratford-upon-Avon
Directions: It is near the river bank, opposite The Rubbing Centre.

Restaurant Name: The Cottage Tea Garden

There is a lovely tea garden across the road from Anne Hathaway’s Cottage where you can enjoy a good cup of tea and delicious homemade scones.

There is a river running through the property with ducks and a couple geese - this area is called Shottery Brook Walk.

It is quite nice to come here after spending some time viewing the cottage, and whilst waiting for the bus (sightseeing bus), which will then take you on to Mary Arden’s House (Anne Hathaway’s mum’s farmhouse).

You can sit inside or out, either is nice.

Favorite Dish: They cook light lunches, home-baked cakes, cream teas (which we didnt have, having had one the day before... but they did look delicious!) and snacky food.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: Cottage Lane, Shottery, Stratford Upon Avon CV37 9HH
(I put the address here as it was too long for the address box)
It is a couple of miles outside of Stratford-upon-Avon itself.
Website: www.stratford.co.uk