The Stratford Ale House is a micro pub set in a small shop front. There are three tall tables along each side with a small servery at the far end. Beer comes from the barrel. The table in the shop window area is set upon barrels on a small stage area. Radio plays in background.

Have a pint or two in pleasant surroundings

Real ale:    Millstone True Grit;  Prescott Spring;  Green Duck Duck and Cover;  Wye Valley Butty Back

Click picture to enlarge....

Beer......making you see double and making you think you are single

Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and tourist attraction partially due to its attractive setting on the banks of the river Avon but mainly because  it was the birthplace of William Shakespeare. It has a population of about 27,000 but this is increased by about 3.5 million tourists (many are school trips from Britain and abroad) a year.

Shakespeare was born in 1564 and his birth house, his next door neighbours house (Nash's House), his daughter's house and grave (at the Holy Trinity Church) are several of the sights to see. Several of the hostelries also claim to date back many centuries.

The riverside is dominated by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

The White Swan Hotel is a Fuller's hotel from the 15th century. There is comfortable seating, large armchairs and sofas, either side of the door. Hard backed chairs are the exception.  Continue through to the servery. It has a stunning interior. The lounges have low ceilings and wood panelling and are very relaxing.   There is outside seating at the front and up the right hand side, which is where the hotel reception is located.

Have one here

real ale    : Spring Sprinter ESB, London Pride,

bitter         :Wild River Pale Ale

lager         :Frontier;  Amstel, Peroni,

cider         :                                    Guinness

A tour of the pubs (marked with the blue indication points on the map) will start with a walk down into the town from the railway station keeping to  the left hand side pavement. A short walk brings you to a cross roads on the opposite side of  which is The Maidison (closed & knocked down) followed by the Chicago Rock Cafe (night club). Not a good start. However, coming up, on the left, is The Stratford Alehouse micropub.

At the next cross roads on the opposite corner is The Old Thatch Tavern which will be our last pub (number 27)!. Just across the road on your left is The White Swan Hotel. When you leave here we double back a few yards to the road just crossed. Going up Windsor Street takes us to Number 7 Windsor St, later Oddfellows Arms and now closed and then at the top of Windsor St there is a roundabout with Shakespeare St Cocktail Bar (formerly) No. 1 Shakespeare St and The One Elm both across the road.

From here walk down Guild St and at the first on the right there is the Cz Bar (night club) and on the other corner the Hole in the Wall then called The Union and now called The Phoenix. Continue down Guild St to the road junction and opposite this is the Red Lion.

 see more pubs on page 2