Dirty Duck in Stratford-on-Avon

This is a typical pub with classic pub foods. The novelty is the history of an American army unit being stationed just across the river in WW2 and using this as their local pub.

Nette und freundliche Lokalität. Ich hatte im voraus einen Tisch reserviert; würde ich auch unbedingt empfehlen. Die Speisen- und Getränkeauswahl ist gut. Man bestellt alles am Tresen und bezahlt dort sofort. Fish&Chips waren okay, hatte ich aber auch schon mal besser. Trotzdem ist dieses Haus eine klare Empfehlung-

Went with friends on a Saturday lunch-time. Fantastic pub, wonderful atmosphere and brilliant food. Look forward to the opportunity of going again.

Had a lovely evening meal with friends . 3 of us had steak cooked perfectly. And 1 had chicken dish . Very tasty . Hot and didn't wait long after ordering . Price very good . Would go again

Great experience, very nice food and friendly staff .Fantastic place for all family's. We Definitely come back again in future

First the positives; Nice welcoming pub, friendly helpful staff, clean toilets, fast service. We ate here for an early dinner before the theatre and both had the steak. The steak was well cooked (we had it medium rare) but not particularly flavoursome. The vines tomatoes were not even warm, I suspect they'd been in the grill for less than 30 seconds and the 'triple cooked chips' lacking flavour and not crispy. We found the pub noisy, but that's to be expected in a place with flagstone floors and wooden tables. I suspect because of their location they do a good turnover and therefore don't have to rely on outstanding food to bring customers in. Just as well as I would not recommend eating here.

We have been visiting the Dirty Duck for decades and it has never been as good as it is now. The manager clearly takes a real pride in the service he provides. Food, ambience, service and decor were all spot on. We’ll be back soon!

We really enjoyed our visit to this lovely and inviting pub. The pub feels traditional but modern and clean, with a nice atmosphere where you can enjoy a quick drink or linger over a long lunch. The actor's bar is a really interesting feature. We ordered lunch and it was delicious - it was the great pub lunch that we were hoping for. It was quite busy but service was quick and prices reasonable. The location is lovely too, with a small outside area at the front overlooking the river and theatre, and a more spacious garden at the back. I would definitely like to visit again on our next trip to Stratford.

I dropped in to have a beer. Very fast and good service. The pub looked clean and had a fantastic atmosphere. I was alone, but I think I will come back here with my people again.

Thank you for a wonderful and tasty dinner. I was with my girlfriend. She was also very pleased with the service and quality. Thank you very much for a wonderful evening. Thanks to you, I had an intoxicating night with my beloved. 😜😁

Superb spot for an informal lunch or gathering with friends. Great, friendly service, delicious food and a good selection of beer

Excellent service, the food came so quickly. This pub gets extremely busy, so try to book at their quieter times if, like me, you want to look at the history of it. We were unfortunately not told the actors bar would be shut when we visited which was disappointing as that's why we booked, but overall the food was hot and tasty, and the service was second to none!

The Dirty Duck is a wonderful little pub at the front with open fires, a delightful range of beers, at the restaurant to the rear, which is modern yet homely, the food here is simply divine the portions are large yet moreish! Booking a table at the weekends is advised, as it's a really popular place to eat and drink before and after the theatre! It's super dog friendly, too!

Lovely vibe plus tasty food, great friendly service and super location. We enjoyed the mixed salad with halloumi and a ciabatta steak roll!

Cosy pub, quite atmospheric and olde worlde. Service a bit relaxed but pleasant. Food fairly pricy but the camembert we shared was tasty and well presented.

The food was great. The pub was clean and tidy. Even the bill wasn't too bad. But when I eat out beit with my wife or with family and friends, ordering at the bar cheapens the experience. My party of 6 visited on a Thursday evening. The place wasn't busy which was great. The weather was appalling, which obviously wasn't the fault of the pub 😃 but putting our party by the back door when there was other tables available probably wasn't the best decision.

Great old-fashioned pub with a history, fantastic atmosphere and good food 👌

Great place for a drink. Booked food, upon entering stood in a queue at the bar for ages as it wasn't clear where to go if you'd booked a table. No waiter service which was a bit disappointing. Had to order at very busy bar. Food very overpriced for the quality. Arrived very quickly making me question it's freshness. The chicken on the salad was hard and chewy at the edges. All in all was very disappointing. Also we were not told we had a 90 minute time period when we booked. Such a shame as we come here for drinks every time we visit, but would not recommend the food.

Super pub, great food…. would have loved to have tried a few beers. …. Next time.

The Dirty Duck hosted my husbands 30th Birthday drinks last month and wow it was such a success! Many agree, The Dirty Duck is one of the best (if not the best) pub in Stratford. Tony the manager was great at keeping in touch beforehand to make sure everything was in hand and was extremely accommodating of our needs and requests. We all had a fantastic time but what helped the evening run so smoothly and with such a great atmosphere was the fantastic staff so thank you all! Thank you again to Tony and his great team at this wonderful pub!

Pub used by the theatre crowd. Decent pints in a nice setting.

Sat outside - they provide blankets. Nice ale and welcoming

Enjoyed a delicious Sunday dinner during a day out in Stratford. Lovely food in a characterful pub! Couldn't fault it, would definitely visit again ☺️

Looks fabulous, we went in after a performance, a smile at the bar would have been nice , we felt it cold, and expensive

Lovely pub, quirky and interesting due to the adornment of famous faces that have visited the place. Makes for good viewing.

First time been there, its lovely, dog friendly inside and out. Definitely go there again. Was looking for somewhere to sit have something to eat that was dog friendly and we found it. Superb x

Very cosy place, good food and good atmosphere

This pub is a gem in Stratford Upon Avon. It's right by the river and is a great traditional pub. They have loads of options to drink and everytime I have visited I have always eaten as the food and the service is stop on. Would definitely recommend

Fabulous food very friendly and good decor.

Quiet, cosy lunch on a Friday in January 2024 after visiting the RSC. Not cheap, but an absolutely banging Fish and Chips followed by a great sticky toffee pudding. Nice pint too. Barstaff really attentive to my partially-sighted nephew also. Highly recommended. Book before you go.

Had a lovely lunch today. Food was really good, very fast service, lovely staff, very friendly. Really lovely place.

There were 16 of us having a family after Christmas get-together. All the staff were excellent working together at a busy time of year, making sure our evening ran smoothly, no rushing to move us on as sometimes other places do. Nice and relaxing with a buzzing atmosphere fantastic. Thank you to all the team at the dirty duck.

Good beer and decor, just would like a greater choice of bar snacks

A big thanks to the team. The food was great

The Mucky Mallard under another name! Great food, service and beer

Staff were great and really helpful. Fantastic communication.

Always lunch here when I'm in town. Lovely atmosphere and excellent food, especially the seafood. Highly recommend.

Lovely pub with good range of cask ales, staff very friendly, the pub had a nice atmosphere. The meals looked really nice so we ordered a couple of roast Sirloin Beef meals. They duly arrived and didn't disappoint until we tried to cut through the slices of beef which proved extremely difficult infact we both gave up in the end. We eat out frequently and this was the toughest beef that we'd ever experienced. We mentioned this to a waitress as it's important to leave feedback, she apologised and we left. Would use this pub again but wouldn't order the beef.

Nice Sunday lunch in the actors bar. Busy but friendly team on the bar.

Fab service well organised great food.

Lovely food, great ambience, very festive feel,,the decorations inside and out gave the pub a lovely atmosphere

Best pub in Stratford-upon-Avon "The Black Swan" always a warm welcome, good food and a good selection of beers 🍻.

Lovely atmospheric pub with a buzzing and cheerful vibe, perfect place to go for an after work pint (which were our reasons!)

Lovely old pub and restaurant. Dined here a few times over the years and usually finish up in the snug bad adjacent to the larger dining area. Food has never disappointed and the staff have always been pleasant and prompt .

Highly recommended..Christmas lunch was very tasty

Lovely place, definitely one that I'll visit again.

Reasonable pub grub. Prices are about what you would expect. Once orders were placed, the food arrived quickly. Nice place mixing traditional and modern.

A lively and friendly pub. Popped in few a few pints of Drunken Duck ale, didn't eat so I can't comment on that. It is popular so expect it to be busy. Well worth a visit, cheers 🍻.

Great food, very welcoming, loved it, will be back

Superb food and excellent staff,The steak was cooked to perfection

Another great bar. Old style with great beers

Great pub in Stratford upon Avon. The staff are very friendly, it wasn't the best turkey roast I've had but was very nice, the toffee pudding was great, drinks a little pricey

Didn't have a meal just drinks but the food did look nice

My friend and i went for lunch today..The staff shamus, will, and kate went above and beyond for all customers making us feel very welcome..The food was excellent and and service and presentation lovely..Thankyou

Love this pub close by the river and the theatre.also known as the Black Swan but altered affectionately by the americans in the 39-45 war.!! Good food welcoming

Great service, friendly customers, famous actors!

Greta welcoming staff. Lovely venue, quite old & traditional in a nice way, not stuffy or staid. Food menu looks good but didn’t try. Easy location to get to, close to the theatre and town centre

We had late lunch at the pub restaurant as a family. We enjoyed a variety of good quality of British foods, charming interior and superb atmosphere, having a table in wide bright space facing its backyard. Staffs were friendly. Honestly, I liked the atmosphere on the bar side more but I couldn’t drink because we traveled from London by car. When I had chance next time, I really wanted to stay there.

Best Steak and Ale pie. And Chicken pie on the specials.

Gorgeous old pub in beautiful Stratford upon Avon that feels cosy and welcoming and steeped in history. 10 of us ( old mates from school on weekend away) had table booked for meal on Saturday evening and we were able to bring the booking forward by 1 hour on the day. Best Steak and Ale Pie with mash I've ever had with fast and friendly service with good order at the bar system. Big plus....it's dog friendly!

Great super pub for food and take dog in. But only let down is it all steps up to it.

Visited the Dirty Duck as a group of 10 on one of the busiest days in Stratford - the Christmas lights switch-on. After bringing our booking forward at our request the service was fantastic, food delicious in a lovely Christmassy setting. Worth mentioning it is dog-friendly with water bowl and gravy bones readily available so our pooch was very happy too!

Lovely early evening meal on a busy day in Stratford ! Staff were so helpful as we were a large group but we were looked after so well by all. The food was excellent and came quickly, as did the drinks. Could not fault the service ! Really lovely pub with a welcoming atmosphere , even on a busy evening it felt relaxed . And dog friendly too !! Highly recommended

Beautiful old English Country pub, beautifully decorated for the Christmas season ahead. There were 10 of us and we asked to bring the booking forward an hour which they accommodated without an issue. We all ordered food and drinks which was served very quickly and efficiently . The food was excellent and the staff were friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble. Also excellent value for money. Would definitely recommend!

Relaxed place, was peaceful during the day and staff are friendly

Booked a family dinner and our visit was full of excellence. We were greeted by a gent William Binley who told us about the history and recent renovation work done to the site. Our food was fab in a cozy setting next to the RSC which we went to afterwards. Would recommend and return for

Really pretty pub, beer garden is gorgeous. Lovely view of the river if you sit at the front. We had a steak baguette and it was lovely. The macaroni cheese was tiny but tasty. I'm really sorry to the barman who lent me his lighter and I forgot to return !

Called in for a drink Sunday afternoon ended up eating. Pub was busy but still felt relaxed. Food came out quickly to say how busy it was. Steak was cooked well and the dripping gravy was delicious. Seafood risotto (see pic) Salmon perfectly cooked with lovely crispy skin. Wouldn't necessarily say it was a risotto but more a bed of rice but very tasty. Great choice on menu.

I’m so pleased we were able to get a last minute booking at this institution in SAV. Steeped in history it was vibrant buzzing packed and fun. Obviously popular with the locals so you know it’s good. We had steak and chips and gorgeous red wine ( Pinot noir). Would have been nice if we were able to sit a bit after dinner. Our booking was 445 and next was at 1830. We were told at 1800 that we needed to make a move within 10-15. So plan ahead.

Excellent meal , hot and reasonably priced , chicken and wild mushroom pie ( special) would certainly have it again .

Very cosy pub, good service from friendly bar staff. The addition of trivial pursuit cards to help with awkward dates was an interesting choice.

Good pub food at a fair price. Excellent and helpful staff. Everything about the interior is as an old pub should be. Originally called the Black Swan, apparently. Wonder why they renamed it?

Fab little pub. Warm and cosy on a wet windy day. Lovely friendly staff. I had the fish cakes. A little greasy for me but I am really fussy so please try them yourself.

Really nice atmosphere in this olde world pub. Good food reasonable prices.

First time back since refit.Good to see place looks familiar.Went with daughter and grandchildren.All very happy.Clean plates apart from some salad!!!!!Staff pleasant and efficient

Pub grub extraordinaire Love the beer, love the food, love the revamp. Dog loves it too

Whilst the table service was very good the fact you have to go to the bar for everything. The food was very good except the cabbage stalk. I actually loved the place and would probably go back again.

Attractive exterior, always busy on the outside terrace overlooking the river . This time a table was being vacated as we passed, so took the opportunity and stopped for drinks . A mild oct afternoon meant a packed pub but patience when ordering led to a lovely half hour sat watching the world go by . The photos inside and the quirky layout all add to the appeal . The only deduction is due to the 2 tables laden with dirty glasses stopping more customers sitting outside, as we all had emptied our own tables to sit down and put used glasses on them . Understandable considering the level of trade but not pleasant to sit near .

Great looking bar, a very nice pie and chips, and a good pint of Guinness. Table service would have been nice, but the bar staff are good.

Impossibile non andare a fare una birra al dirty duck

My husband and I came here twice. The first time, I ordered the Korean Chicken Burger- that was nice. The heat was bang on. Second time, I ordered something I wouldn't let pass- Crispy Pork Belli confit. Beautiful. Love the roasted cabbage! With the mash, we're pieces of collard green, maybe? Very happy with the dish, the skin wasn't crispy but the flavour was up there.

Absolutely packed at 3pm on a Saturday, but our snacks came out quickly. Wine was expensive but not a shock given the location. Great mix of locals and tourists. Friendly staff. Could do with more choice of local ales. Itnis so cosy in the bar, Great atmosphere.

If your are from somewhere where pubs really isn't a "thing", then the Dirty Duck is a must visit. Incredibly cozy, many different kinds of beer available and the food is quite good as well.

Decent pint in a historical pub. What's not to like.

Will behind the bar , showed us to a table and was very helpful and polite , great member if staff, food was amazing , a must to visit

Excellent quality and service 👏

Great old English type pub that does food. Lovely place to have a drink and a meal before or after a show or just to unwind. Just off the river and not far from the RSC.

Very nice pub. Just quick drink

A truly very nice place that extends inside the block, first indoors, and then with a garden with sofas and tables. Very inviting. I ate very well (à la carte). The quality/price ratio is good, perhaps a little too expensive. The burger I got was one of the best I've ever had in my life. In the garden there are heating lamps if it is cold that can be turned on at will. Obviously it's a pub, so you have to collect your drinks at the counter. Truly a great experience! Compliments! PS: you can only expect good things from a historic venue of this magnitude!! ;)

Great pub with fantastic views and history. Didn't eat so can't rate food. Service very good.

Nice place with Shakespeare vibe. Fast service. Sunday roast looked and tasted very well.

Traditional Green King pub restaurant. Recently refurbished I believe. Now ordering from bar or via App at the table. Service on food was quick. Drinks a bit slower but I think we got forgotten - it was mega busy so it happens, didn't spoil the visit. Was really busy - Sunday at Stratford upon Avon so to be expected, but lots of people wandering in looking for tables when the restaurant was booked to capacity. Staff all working really hard but still very polite and pleasant. We pre-booked which on a busy weekend I would recommend. Had the Sunday roast beef which was a large portion and tasty. Hard to cut the beef so thought at first it was a bit tough but asked for an upgrade on the cutlery and then realised the tools were the issue :) (knives were little more than butter knives so not ideal for any type of meat!!). If you like gravy ask for extra. Have been before and would visit again.

Food OK service OK shame no brown bread or sparkling water. Both massively odd.

Lunch at the dirty duck today , the service was excellent the food really nice and the beer well kept what more can you ask , nice atmosphere too .Will definitely go again

Perfect food (especially their Yorkshire pudding)

Arrived early evening for drinks first. Then ate. Two of us sharing the tomatoe tart and halloumi salad. Delicous. Another family member enjoyed the fishcakes.service was fantastic with the staff so friendly and efficient.

Great welcome from friendly efficient staff. Good selection of beers. Menu is not extensive but the 'Steak and Ale Pie' was amazing. Absolutely delicious and a proper pie. Not just a pastry top! Lovely heated seating area at the rear. Definitely recommend.

Excellent pub with a great atmosphere did not have food!

We only visited for a glass of wine but that was good enough. Lovely Malbec & Pinot with a great outside table. Inside is huge & the food smelt great! We visited twice during our weekend away!

Just finished a fantastic lunch at The Dirty Duck. Great food in lovely surroundings but all made even better by the top service provided by the friendly and helpful staff. Although the pub was packed everything was provided quickly, professionally and with a smile. Well done to the whole team and especially the manager, Will who led from the front and was a real credit to this famous Inn. Definitely coming back !