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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum

Image posted by Jonathan Wilde
Submitted on Saturday, 17th February 2018
With picture contributions to 4611 other pubs
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Detail Pages
Pen & Parchment, Stratford Central, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Stratford-Upon-Avon
CV37 6YY
Reviews of Pen & Parchment (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Pen & Parchment
The Pen & Parchment has a large tarmac area out front full of picnic tables and around to the right side of the pub is a separate building that houses all or some of the ten advertised en suite bedrooms. The interior of the pub is horseshoe shaped with seating down the left hand side and a raised seating area in the front right and more seating at the right rear. The central bar supports premium keg alongside Carling and two mainstream ciders, Aspalls and Stowford Press. There are also four handpumps that were drawing GK IPA and Abbot Ale. A TV to the side of the bar was showing muted The Chase whilst some low background music played. Up on the wall in the raised seating area is a list of the previous pub landlords going back to 1792. The service was polite and the pub was comfortable, but there is no getting away from the fact that this is a Greene King pub.
On 21st October 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Pen & Parchment
Quite an interesting-looking Greene King pub between the Avon and the canal, but remodelled to leave a variety of seating / dining areas in an overall 'L' shape. Refurbished inside in quite a bland way, with light decor and semi-modern furniture. Substantial front patio beer garden. IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Silhill Silver Star (£3.79) as a guest from three of four handpumps.
On 17th September 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Pen & Parchment
An imposing brick built pub on the edge of the town centre and overlooking the canal, it’s a good size internally and was full to capacity on a recent Friday evening visit with many tables reserved for diners. In fact food seems to be very much the focus here, with limited room available for those just wanting a pint.
Internally it’s somewhat more contemporary than might be expected, and has clearly had extensive refurbishments at some point leaving little of any character other than some very old supporting timberwork and beams. Flooring was a mixture of wood strip and carpet, whilst the paintwork was a very dark green on the lower part of the walls and cream plasterwork above. Some exposed brickwork was at the rear of the pub as well as an old brick chimney breast. A partitioned off and slightly raised section was at the front of the pub with a list of all the previous landlords written on the wall at the end. A fruit machine was opposite the bar as well as a TV screen, although the volume was off so this was not too intrusive. Service at the bar seemed particularly slow, although to be fair they were at least fairly switched on – going off to find some cucumber to serve with Hendrick’s gin, for example.
Food wise, the menu offered a good selection of “pub grub” such as sausage & mash, beef & ale pie, burger, lamb shank, curry and so on. Most of these were priced around a tenner, and our sweet chilli salmon and fish & chips were both decent and tasty dishes and quite good value we thought, especially considering the touristy nature of the area.
Beers on tap were Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale along with Silhill Pure Star which seemed very pleasant, although I’m not a beer expert by any means. A fourth pump appeared to have run out, whilst the cider choice was a little disappointing with just Aspall’s Suffolk. Overall, this was a decent enough pub with good food, but the slow service, lack of many original features and slow service at the bar mean that I would be unlikely to call in again unless it was for another meal.
On 27th February 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
View more reviews of Pen & Parchment (9)
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- Official site of Pen & Parchment - www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Pen & Parchment - whatpub.com
Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway, 1.87 miles, 36 min walk (show)
Wilmcote, 3.52 miles, 1 hr 7 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Car Park : Yes last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 21 October 2022 by Tris C
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Live Music : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Micropub : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Pinball : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Pool Table : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- Real Cider : No last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra
- WiFi : Yes last updated 09 October 2024 by ROB Camra