Dog Friendly Stratford-upon-Avon – Pubs, Restaurants & Cafes

As I travel with a dog in tow, being dog-friendly is a big consideration of where to travel. Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire certainly was very pet-friendly from my observations while on my stay. There were many people, including locals and visitors with dogs, for company throughout my stay.

There were many options for places to stay with pets while searching on Booking.com, from budget hotels upwards. On searching Google Maps for dog-friendly pubs and restaurants, there seemed to be many choices. This ticked my boxes; thus, game on. The dog was on the road again.

Pubs, Cafes & Restaurants that are Dog Friendly

There were lots of eateries, including pubs and restaurants that advertise as being dog-friendly. On a three-day stay, it would have been impossible to try them all; thus, I’m only writing about those that I visited.

The One Elm

On the main road in and out of Stratford and near to our hotel is The One Elm, a nice-looking place. They describe themselves as a gastropub and seemed very popular. Table booking is the norm here, as they are very popular. The One Elm is very welcoming to dogs, as confirmed in the Google Maps advert before arriving. There were many people eating out with dogs in the area, so we enjoyed the meal out.

Service here was good, as were the drink options. I opted for the locally brewed Lawless Lager by Purity Brewing, which is based in Alcester. This is a great lager, which is on tap in many places in the Midlands.

The menu was good; I started with some small plates to share. This included some very nice Korean-style wings. The small plates were a great, tasty starter and served pretty promptly.

For the main course, a humble burger tickled my fancy and sounded great on the menu. The menu described the burger as Aubrey Allen’s Steak Burger, Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Burger Sauce & Chips. Finally, for pudding, I had the Knickerbocker of the Day. This was peaches and cream and a marvellous way to round off the first night.

No. 37 Cafe

Based on Sheep Street towards the RSC theatre is the delightful No 37 Cafe. No 37 Cafe is a small, well-decorated eatery. The cafe is very nice and, as a bonus, was dog-friendly – a great place for lunch, in my opinion. For warmer days, they have the option of indoor or outdoor seating. We stayed inside because it was late autumn this time, but it was nice to have options.

They had some great options for soft drinks, from coffee to elderflower juice and many things in between. The food here was delicious and made with attention to detail, with nice garnishes and well presented.

Their coronation baked potato was big, filled with generous portions of filling, and served with a nice salad. The tomato and basil soup was delicious and served in a very generously sized bowl. Finally, the hot bacon-and-cheese panini was delicious, too.

The Garrick Pub

On the High Street is The Garrick, the oldest pub in the town. The Garrick has a history dating back to the 1400s, where real ale has been drunk on its site since. They house the pub in a cosy timber-framed building. The pub’s history includes involvement with the plague and fires, and allegedly it is haunted.

Once inside, the pub has good attentive table service with excellent systems in place. The beers and wines available were good overall, and I enjoyed my usual continental lagers. The dog was welcomed with water offered and some attention too.

Rose & Crown

On Sheep Street, opposite the Tudor Museum, is the historic Rose & Crown pub. This is also a Greene King pub, like the Garrick was, with very much the same drinks and menus. The Rose and Crown, however, is more spacious and has more spread-out seating.

The dog was welcome here and offered me some of their finest dog water and some fuss from the staff. I enjoyed continental lagers here, as well as nachos and wings. These were very nice with great peri-peri flavours.

El Greco A Greek Restaurant

Greek Restaurant El Greco is near the principal shopping area of the town. The restaurant is over 2 floors but has some very nice outdoor seating to enjoy the sun out the front. El Greco’s outside seating area is dog-friendly and a great place to enjoy an alfresco lunch, Greek-style. The staff were attentive and friendly throughout the meal, providing great service.

Good beer and wine were served here, including Greek options like retsina and other regional varieties. Other continental beers, like Stella Artois, were available in pints, and bottled Greek beers were available.

For food, the restaurant had a vast selection of meze, tapas, aka small plates. These were priced at three for £12.95; we opted to share a variety of these for lunch. The selection was great, and notable options included a slow-cooked beef stew and some huge calamari. All the options tasted great and were filling after feasting on them. The menu also had set meals over three courses on offer and standard options for customers to enjoy. I highly recommend the food here, and the great service enhanced the dining experience.

The Pantry at Cox’s Yard

Next to where the canal meets the River Avon is The Pantry, a nice cafe. The Pantry is a nice, relaxed place to visit for coffee or lunch with a great interior. It is a popular spot for visitors and locals to do some work while using their free Wi-Fi. The Pantry serves some beer and a great range of coffee options.

The Dirty Duck

Another pet-friendly pub for drinks and food is the Dirty Duck, which is near the river. The pub has been serving excellent beer since 1738 and is more commonly known as the Black Swan. The pub has both indoor seating and a wonderful beer garden, both of which welcome people with their pets.

They serve a good range of beers, including real ales and lagers. The Dirty Duck also has a diverse wine list. They serve food inside and out, and a highlight is their Sunday lunch each week. A highlight of their main menu is their steak and ale pie, which is delicious. Overall, The Dirty Duck is a wonderful place to visit with dogs.

BTP – Boston Tea Party

Another nice place for drinks or a meal out is the Boston Tea Party cafe-bar. They are a dog-friendly cafe chain across the UK. The Stratford branch is near the Shakespeare Birthplace Museum and is rather nice. They serve a range of drinks, including coffee, juices and some beer. Their food is delicious; I really enjoyed their burger and full English breakfasts on my visits. They also have some delicious cakes too. Overall, the Boston Tea Party cafe is a great place to dine out with dogs.

Prospero Lounge

Prospero Lounge on Bridge Street is part of the Lounges group of cafe-bars. They are all dog-friendly, thus a great option for drinks or food out with dogs. Prospero Lounge has a fantastic drink menu including beers, coffee, wine and other soft drinks.

They also serve good food all day, starting with brunch in the mornings. They do a hearty full English breakfast and vegetarian options too. Prospero Lounge also has a good choice of main meals to enjoy. I highly recommend their tapas; they have an offer if you order three. Overall, Prospero Lounge is a wonderful place to visit with a dog in the town.

The Bear

Across Clopton Bridge from the town centre is The Bear, a nice pub with river views. The Bear is a dog-friendly place and has some great fields for walkies nearby. The Bear has been around since 1662 and was refurbished recently. They have an excellent selection of beers, including alcohol-free Erdinger, which is great for enjoying in their beer garden. They also serve food, including tasty burgers and steaks. Overall, a great option for a pet-friendly place with splendid views.

Barnaby’s Fish Restaurant

If you fancy fish and chips, then a good place to visit is Barnaby’s Fish Restaurant. Barnaby’s Fish Restaurant has an outside seating area which is perfect for dining out with a dog. Unfortunately, they are not pet-friendly inside, but on a warm day they are a great option for alfresco dining. Their food is delicious, and the fish and chips are filling. Overall, a nice place in the heart of the town if you fancy a choppy dinner.

Dog-Friendly Hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon

The two ways I identify dog-friendly hotels are via Booking.com and Google Maps as a secondary option. There were a few options available in Stratford for my staycation at many price points. One such option was the Mercure Stratford Shakespeare Hotel, a historic timber-framed building in the central area of the town.

I opted for the Travelodge that I found using a Google Maps search. This worked out to less than £80 for 2 nights. The bonus was the midday checkout as standard. The Travelodge was located just outside the key parts of town, near the out-of-town shopping areas.

This was handy, as I was in the market for new boots and loungewear. The stay at the Travelodge hotel worked out very well, and they impressed me. I have put them on my list to check while travelling in the UK, as they were good value and ticked all my boxes.

Things To Do With A Dog in Stratford-upon-Avon

On our visit, we found many options for things to do with a dog. However, as we stayed a few nights, we had a room for Henry to sleep in for things that weren’t.

Tudor World Museum

Tudor World is a fascinating museum which focuses on the history of the Tudors. It has many impressive exhibitions in its old building. The museum is dog-friendly for daytime visits. There were many interesting sections, including general history, food and some locally related features.

The museum also offers after-hours ghost tours. Dogs usually may not take part. Luckily, because it was empty when we arrived and we had been in before, the guide made an exception for the ghost hunt. This was pretty spooky and tied the tour in with local history. We experienced a few weird things, but nothing major. The main one was the movement of lantern handles. This could be gravity, but maybe not.

This was a great museum and very welcoming to pets during my visit. It is apparently the only fully Tudor museum in the UK. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in British history.

Shopping

Many of the shops in Stratford-upon-Avon displayed the green dogs are welcome signs. This included both independent and national chains that welcomed pets. One I visited briefly was Blacks. The outdoor shop has signs saying dogs are welcome.

There are also a few specialist shops for dogs, including Sniff & Bark, that sell food and treats for pets. A friendly store with a great selection of canine-related products. I stocked up on dog-friendly mince pies, ready for Christmas.

The Shakespeare Attractions

Dogs are not allowed inside the Shakespeare attractions; however, you can visit their beautiful gardens with a dog. If visiting as a couple or a group, you can take turns going inside. This includes Shakespeare’s birthplace, New Place, and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. You can find out their full rules on their website.

Ride The Ferris Wheel

Each summer, there is a Ferris wheel overlooking the river and the town. This is a great place to see the town from above and the nearby countryside. They are also dog-friendly; however, they charge a small fee for pets, which must be on a lead.

Dog Walks

There are plenty of places to walk the dog in the town centre and nearby countryside. Particularly popular seems to be along the banks of the River Avon on both sides. The walk on the far bank offers ample open space and splendid views of the Stratford riverscape. The riverscape includes the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre and the stunning All Saints’ Church.

A nice circular walk takes you across the Tramway bridge to start, then walking down the far bank past the weir. There is a footbridge further downstream, and then you follow the path back upstream. This leads you through the churchyard and some pleasant gardens and onwards back to Bancroft Gardens.

Take A Ride on The Chain Ferry

Another dog-friendly thing to do is to take a ride on the historic chain ferry across the river. This is a great shortcut to the green open space, which is ideal for walkies. It’s best to keep your dog on the lead near the ferry, as there are lots of swans.

Is Stratford-upon-Avon Dog-Friendly Review

Overall, the town was very dog-friendly, and I had a great time visiting. It was very little trouble to identify places to visit with pets, and it had a great vibe. I highly recommend it to visitors who travel with dogs and those who don’t.