By 
Welcome to New in Stratford, our weekly round-up of business openings, closures, licence applications and shop plans in and around Stratford-upon-Avon, from the council’s licensing and planning records, the Food Standards Agency register and the official Gazette. This week: the company that trades as the Welcombe Hotel is in administration, Libertine Burger appears to have left Bell Court, and new signs are planned for The Encore.
Hotels
The Welcombe Hotel, Warwick Road: administrators from Kroll were appointed on 2 November to CD Welcombe OpCo Limited, whose trading name is The Welcombe Hotel, according to a Gazette notice published on 10 November. The company that owns the building went into administration the same day. The hotel’s website was still taking bookings this morning. Full story.
Restaurants and bars
Libertine Burger, Bell Court: the burger restaurant’s entry at Unit 26, Bell Court, has left the food register this week, and Libertine’s own website now lists only its Leamington Spa and Rugby restaurants and its food truck. That suggests the Stratford branch has closed, though we haven’t found an announcement or a closing date. We’ve taken it out of our eat and drink directory.
The Encore, 1 Bridge Street: Mitchells & Butlers has applied for new signs on the riverside pub, including two lit brass menu cases, under the name “The Encore Waterside Bar & Dining Rooms” (26/02580/ADV, with listed building consent 26/02539/LBC). The plans don’t change how the pub runs. The town council made no comment, leaving it to the conservation officer.
High Street, Henley-in-Arden: a listed building could become a restaurant under plans submitted to the council. Full story.
Sport and community
The Home Guard Club, Tiddington: the club has sold its rear playing field off Main Street but has five years’ free use of it, the Stratford Herald reports. There is no planning application for the field on the council’s planning search.
There were no new alcohol or entertainment licence applications in or near the town this week (the council’s list still shows only Temple Grafton and Claverdon). Tomorrow’s Planning this week column covers the rest of the latest planning list.
Food businesses
These changes are from the Food Standards Agency register since 3 November. A business leaving the register can mean it has closed, changed hands or simply changed its paperwork, and apart from Libertine Burger we haven’t looked into the reason.
- Off the register: The Vineyard Restaurant at Abbot’s Salford, which last week’s column reported stopped trading in June 2025 and could become a home; the Mouchak Kebab and Grill entry at 67A High Street, Bidford-on-Avon, added only last week; and Napton Lock Brewhouse, a food maker at Ford Farm on Welsh Road West near Southam.
- New: The Hub at Henley Community Centre, at Henley Youth Centre on Warwick Road, Henley-in-Arden, registered as a retailer and awaiting its first inspection. Other new registrations have no public address, so we don’t list them.
Check any café, pub or takeaway’s rating with our food hygiene finder, and see last week’s edition: New in Stratford, 3 November. More business news is on our business page.
Know more about this, or got another story? Send us a story, a photo or a press release. We read everything.
Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.
