Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Real Ale Ray
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Pen & Parchment, Stratford Central, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Stratford-Upon-Avon
CV37 6YY
Pub Type
Old English Inns (Greene King)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C 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 5249 recommendations about 5217 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 8117 recommendations about 8117 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 1948 recommendations about 1861 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Pen and Parchment
A splendid looking GK pub, with a comfortable modern interior. There was a large outside seating area out front, which was busy on our visit. A couple of usual GK suspects on the bar, with Poet's Ink being their special. Food specials were two meals for a tenner.
On 18th June 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Anonymous User left this review about The Pen and Parchment
Great Pub even better since the refurbishment after the terrible water business, always welcoming, many a morning I have visited this pub only to be greeted with a smile, beers are GK ales and are always served correctly and with a smile. Coffee is on the menu to compliment the great meals offered, the big red bus can hide this pub but in any case outside tables for the summer plenty to choose. Good day Sheila worth a visit DC......
On 7th January 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 0 recommendations about 0 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Pen and Parchment
This is a picturesque detached Old English Inn chain pub and eatery in undressed brick, though clad in creeping ivy, or some other climbing plant, next to the bridge and River Avon, with a nice front patio
The interior is an open plan L-shape around the serving bar that faces you on entry. It is laid out for food, with a slightly raised area to the right on entry, so there is no bar as such, but some tables do have comfy seats and an odd bar stool! The décor is a mix of cream, beige, green, white, undressed brick, with a few ceiling and support beams. There is a part wood floor, around the serving bar, with the rest carpeted. I didn’t eat here, but there were 2 for £10 selections and the food looked fine. There were a few old photos and bits and pieces on the walls and I am glad to say I saw no evidence of a ‘slagging off’ notice board and the service I received was fine. The music was mixed and at a decent level and the TV was on silent, with the news on.
Beer; tap stuff, with a Greene King owned range on handpull; Sunchaser, Abbot, IPA and Hardy & Hansons’ Olde Trip, which was decent
This place is tidy enough, but is aimed at the food market really, which often gives me a feel of a place being soulless – however, I preferred it here than at the Red Lion – I would return here to eat, but unless I go out onto the patio, I wouldn’t simply want to drink.
On 17th September 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Pen and Parchment
What is it about this review that makes me suspect you may be connected to this pub Mr Timms?
Oh yes, one 10 star positive review about one pub and that's all, EVER.
I knew there was something :-))
On 23rd April 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ben Timms left this review about The Pen and Parchment
The Pen and Parchment is a delighful pub that always has a great atmosphere helped by its friendly staff. I often frequent this pub when visiting Stratford, and have found the food to be excellent (I usually have the beef and ale pie or the Sunday carvery, which I highly recommend!) and the staff most helpful with our two young ones. They have a good selection of drinks; when I have been in there are usually two guest ales out of the choice of four, with the other two being from the Greene King family.
In my experience the level of service and quality of food has been significantly greater in The Pen and Parchment than in the near-by Cox's Yard, and would most definately choose to eat there over most pubs in the town.
Highly recommended!
Ben Timms
On 15th March 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Pen and Parchment
This pub has been ripped out and “improved” like most pubs in Stratford. It’s only small but still manages to be soulless, it probably used to be a nice little local. It’s aimed at the tourist trade with the whole place being full of dining tables and chairs. It’s got exactly the same menu as The Garrick and The Dirty Duck so they’re probably all owned by the same people. Four handpumps on the bar all serving beer from the Greene King stable. GK IPA, Abbot and XX Mild (a bit of a surprise that one) plus Morlands Old Original. I had a pint of the mild which was pretty good.
Now for the bad news. We asked at the bar where Cox’s Yard was as we knew it was nearby, but couldn’t spot it in the dark. We were pointed in the right direction but were told “You don’t want to go there, they don’t sell real ale (they do) and the foods crap (it isn’t)”. They then gleefully pointed out a large framed poster on the wall of a newspaper article criticising the other pub. Sorry guys this really isn’t on, you don’t slag off your nearest neighbour by having negative reviews about it on your walls. Grow up.
On 1st February 2010
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]