The Ivy is Here - Stratford Upon Avon

The Ivy is open, and Stratford-upon-Avon is on a roll

The wait is over. The Ivy Stratford-upon-Avon opened its doors on Tuesday 29 September, bringing all-day dining to the High Street, with a terrace looking out onto Bell Court.

It's the first Ivy in Warwickshire. It has created more than 100 new jobs, most of them filled by local people. You'll find timeless classics, seasonal specials and a dedicated pre-theatre menu for nights at the RSC. There's also a bar you can walk straight into with no booking needed. It works for a morning coffee, a drink before the curtain goes up, or a long lunch that slowly turns into dinner.

A town with momentum

The Ivy arrives at a good moment. Town centre footfall is up 6% year to date compared with previous years. It's a clear sign that people are choosing Stratford-upon-Avon, coming back and staying a little longer. New names are arriving, and local favourites are growing too.

Pick Thai: the much-loved, family-run Thai restaurant has outgrown its Church Street home and moved to a much larger space on Ely Street. The new home is a beautifully updated, Grade II-listed building. A local business going from strength to strength is exactly what a thriving town looks like.

Golden Phoenix: authentic Cantonese cooking at Bell Court, from Peking duck to Sichuan-inspired favourites, served at lunch and dinner.

The Broken Binding: the bookshop and publisher behind some of the most collectable fantasy, sci-fi and horror editions around has chosen Red Lion Court for its first ever shop. Look out for the upstairs reading lounge and a gallery space with exhibitions that change every few months.

More to come

There's more on the way. New fashion retailers and lifestyle brands are getting ready to open in the town centre. They'll add to the independent shops, restaurants and attractions that already make Stratford-upon-Avon such a good day out. We'll share names as soon as we can.

So whether you live here or you're visiting for the first time, now is a great time to rediscover the town. Book a table, browse something new, and see what's changed.