The Garrick Inn, Stratford Central, Stratford-Upon-Avon

The Garrick claims to be the oldest pub in town and it looked pretty old to me. To the right of the entrance there’s a very small bar and a bit further up this long pub is a back bar. Beyond are several seating areas that felt more geared towards dining so I decided to go back to the small front bar that is L-shaped with high tables and old leaded windows that distort the view to the street outside. The wooden floor and minimal light adds to the olde worldie feel. The bar supports four handpumps that were drawing North Cotswold Tumbling Jack, GK Abbot and IPA and Shakespear Best, whatever that is. Carling was also available alongside some premium keg. The service was polite and I enjoyed listening to the locals discussing what makes a pub a pub. I liked it, but it would have been better without the rolling news on the TV.

A very fine black timbered building,these days owned by Greene King although exterior branding is non existant. Due to Covid rules,I was shown to the front right snug ,while further back in the building was full of diners.The front snug is square with a wooden floor,three high tables and chairs and a flatscreen on mute.Lots of old features and a fine wooden bar.I was just in for a beer,but if you want food a shortened corporate menu is produced. The regular ales are GK IPA ,Abbott and a house beer called Garrick Shakesbeer (what a stupid touristy name,no doubt another very dull GK brew) while the single guest ale was Hanlons Stormstay ,a malty ale much like Abbott so why bother ?,NBSS 2.5. I couldn't investigate properly and it's a tourist hot spot.There are also better pubs for ale in Stratford.

Classic old Black and White timber pub, full of history and worth a look. Very small front bar with 1 handpump serving a beer from Prescott's brewery. More choice in the back room with 4 handpumps on. I tried the "house" Garrick's ale which was fine.

Olde worlde timbered hostelrie in tourist central, with a very compact bar at the front and a slightly larger bar and various dining areas down the corridor further back. All very traditional, as you would expect, and has a reasonable claim to being the oldest in Stratford. As a Greene King house, the four real ales on offer were Old Hoppy Hen (£3.49) on the smaller counter plus IPA, Abbot and the 'house' Garricks Shakespeare on the larger one.