The Best Pubs in Stratford-upon-Avon

The best pubs in Stratford-upon-Avon: the Dirty Duck, the Garrick, the Old Thatch, the Stratford Alehouse, the Red Lion and more, for history, real ale, gardens and pre-theatre drinks.

By Alex Harrington 9 min read Fact-checked
The Black Swan (Dirty Duck) pub on Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon’s pubs range from timber-framed inns older than most of the town, to the actors’ haunt opposite the RSC, to a micropub that has poured more than 1,600 different beers. Here are the best pubs in Stratford for history, real ale, riverside drinks, food and a pint before the theatre. We’ve checked that every one is currently open.

On this page
  1. Best pubs in Stratford at a glance
  2. The Dirty Duck (The Black Swan), Waterside
  3. The Garrick Inn, High Street
  4. The Old Thatch Tavern, Greenhill Street
  5. The Stratford Alehouse, Greenhill Street
  6. The Bear Freehouse, Bridge Foot
  7. The Red Lion, Bridge Foot
  8. Cox’s Yard, Bridgefoot
  9. The One Elm, Guild Street
  10. Ya Bard, Rother Street
  11. The Bell, Shottery
  12. The Golden Bee, Sheep Street
  13. Every pub and bar in Stratford on one map
  14. Recently closed
  15. Pub crawl ideas
  16. Pubs in Stratford: quick answers

Best pubs in Stratford at a glance

  • Before the theatre: The Dirty Duck (Black Swan)
  • History and beams: The Garrick Inn, the Old Thatch Tavern
  • Real ale: The Stratford Alehouse, The Bear Freehouse
  • Craft beer: Ya Bard
  • Big garden or riverside: The Red Lion, Cox’s Yard
  • Food-led: The One Elm
  • Village local: The Bell, Shottery
  • On a budget: The Golden Bee (Wetherspoon)

The Dirty Duck (The Black Swan), Waterside

Best for: a pint before or after the RSC. Officially the Black Swan but known to everyone as the Dirty Duck, this Greene King pub sits on Waterside opposite the theatres and has been the actors’ pub for generations. The walls are lined with photos of RSC performers, and the terrace looks over the river. Busy before evening shows, so book if you want to eat.

The Garrick Inn, High Street

Best for: history, beams and ghosts. The Garrick is reputedly Stratford’s oldest pub and is Grade II* listed. The timber-framed building dates from the 1590s rebuild after the town’s great fires. CAMRA says it has been a pub since 1718, and it took its name in 1769 from the actor David Garrick, who organised the first Shakespeare celebrations. Low ceilings, crooked beams and plenty of ghost stories.

The Old Thatch Tavern, Greenhill Street

Best for: the classic English pub photo. The only thatched building in the town centre, licensed since 1623 and now a Fuller’s pub. It has a cosy interior, traditional food and Sunday roasts. It also has its own claim to be the oldest pub in town.

The Stratford Alehouse, Greenhill Street

Best for: real ale lovers. A family-run micropub that has served more than 1,600 different beers from over 400 breweries since opening in 2013. The beers change daily and are served straight from the barrel wherever possible. There’s no music and no TV, just conversation. It’s a short walk from the railway station, but opening hours are limited (afternoons and evenings), so check before you go.

The Bear Freehouse, Bridge Foot

Best for: a quieter pint across the river. Part of the Swan’s Nest Hotel by Clopton Bridge, the Bear dates its history to 1662. Expect restored wood panelling, two fires, a pewter-topped bar and a rotating range of cask ales. Good after a walk over the Tramway Bridge.

The Red Lion, Bridge Foot

Best for: a big canalside garden. Reopened by Heartwood Inns in September 2025 after a multi-million-pound refurbishment. It has 182 seats inside and 386 in the garden, real ales, a gastropub menu and a dog menu.

Cox’s Yard, Bridgefoot

Best for: groups and sunny afternoons by the river. A large, lively riverside venue on the town side of the Avon with a terrace, food, a coffee shop and live music.

The One Elm, Guild Street

Best for: eating well. A food-led pub a couple of minutes from Shakespeare’s Birthplace, with a hidden courtyard and a good reputation for Sunday lunch. It changed owners in early 2026, when Coral Pub Company took over, and carries on trading.

Ya Bard, Rother Street

Best for: craft beer. A craft beer shop and tasting room at 13 Rother Street, run by two local partners since October 2020. Small-batch cans and kegs rather than cask ale. Opening hours are limited, so check before you go.

The Bell, Shottery

Best for: a village local. A Greene King pub near Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, dating back to a 1728 coaching inn. It was Shakespeare CAMRA’s Pub of the Season in autumn 2024, and the local CAMRA branch held its very first meeting here in 1981.

The Golden Bee, Sheep Street

Best for: value. The town’s Wetherspoon, big and central, with all-day food and outdoor seating.

Every pub and bar in Stratford on one map

Our picks above are the ones we’d go back to. The map shows every pub and bar in town, with the six nearest the theatres below; the full list has filters for dogs, beer gardens and independents. Each listing has its latest food hygiene rating and the walk from the theatres. For restaurants and takeaways too, see every place to eat and drink in Stratford.

Loading map…

30 pubs & bars, on the map; the 6 nearest the theatres below

  1. Officer's Mess

    Check it's open before you go

    Bar · Sheep Street

    About 2 min walk to the RSC

    1940s-themed cocktail, champagne and wine bar, open weekend evenings. Its website said it was closed for autumn maintenance on 13 Oct 2026.

    Independent

    No hygiene record under this name: search the FSA

    Our guide Website Directions

  2. Rose & Crown, Sheep Street, Stratford-upon-Avon
    Photo: Stephen McKay, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Rose & Crown

    Pub · Sheep Street

    About 2 min walk to the RSC

    Greene King pub

    Hygiene 5/5, inspected Sep 2025

    Website Directions

  3. The Dirty Duck, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon
    Photo: Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0

    The Dirty Duck

    Pub · Waterside

    About 2 min walk to the RSC

    Greene King pub

    Hygiene 5/5, inspected Feb 2026

    Our guide Website Directions

  4. The Golden Bee, Sheep Street, Stratford-upon-Avon
    Photo: Jaggery, CC BY-SA 2.0

    The Golden Bee

    Pub · - 42 Sheep Street

    About 3 min walk to the RSC

    Wetherspoon pub

    Hygiene 5/5, inspected Nov 2025

    Our guide Website Directions

  5. Cox's Yard, Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon
    Photo: Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Cox's Yard

    Pub · British & European · Yard

    About 4 min walk to the RSC

    Riverside pub and bar at Bridgefoot with a pub garden, darts, shuffleboard and live sport.

    IndependentOutdoor seatingWheelchair access

    Hygiene 5/5, inspected Aug 2026

    Our guide Website Directions

  6. The Embankment

    Bar · Nest Lane

    About 4 min walk to the RSC

    Riverside bar, restaurant and nightclub with a terrace. Open Friday to Sunday.

    Independent

    Hygiene 3/5, inspected Aug 2026

    Our guide Directions

See all 30 pubs & bars, with filters

Every food business registered with Stratford-on-Avon District Council within about 2 miles of the RSC, from the Food Standards Agency register (updated weekly), with names, food types and features from OpenStreetMap contributors. Walking times are approximate. Features are only shown where they've been recorded, so a missing tag doesn't mean no. Run one of these places? Update your free listing and we'll update it free of charge. List updated 13 October 2026.

Recently closed

The Red Clover on Ely Street, which reopened in April 2025, closed again on 31 March 2026 and is listed by CAMRA as closed long-term. We’ll update this guide if it reopens.

Pub crawl ideas

  • Historic Stratford: Old Thatch Tavern, then the Garrick Inn, then the Dirty Duck
  • Real ale afternoon: Stratford Alehouse, then Ya Bard, then the Garrick
  • Riverside: the Bear Freehouse, over Clopton Bridge to the Red Lion and Cox’s Yard, then along to the Dirty Duck

Want the full history? Try our historic ale trail and pub passport.

Pubs in Stratford: quick answers

What’s the oldest pub in Stratford-upon-Avon?

The Garrick Inn on High Street is reputedly the oldest. Its timber-framed building dates from the 1590s, and it has been a pub since 1718. The Old Thatch Tavern, licensed since 1623, also claims the title.

Which pub is closest to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre?

The Dirty Duck (Black Swan) on Waterside, directly opposite the theatres.

Where’s the best real ale in Stratford?

The Stratford Alehouse micropub, with beers changing daily. The Bear Freehouse and the Bell in Shottery are also good choices.

Which Stratford pubs have big gardens?

The Red Lion at Bridge Foot, with nearly 400 outdoor seats by the canal, and Cox’s Yard, with its riverside terrace.

After a cocktail or somewhere open late after the theatre? See our guide to the best bars in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.

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