Over 50 Stratford town centre places for you to enjoy the Eat Out to Help Out scheme running in August! ❤️ 😋

All day every Monday to Wednesday - eat in only.

Have you tried the offer anywhere yet?

* All Bar One, Bell Court
* Ask Italian, Bell Court
* Bardia's, Bell Court
* Bensons Restaurant & Tea Rooms, 40 Henley St 
* Bistrot Pierre, Swans Nest Hotel, Swans Nest Lane,
* Boston Tea Party, Henley St, CV37 6QW
* Box Brownie Coffee, 20 Henley St, CV37 6QW
* Caffe Vineria, Wood St
* Carluccio's, Waterside
* Coffee #1, Henley St 
* Costa Coffee, Henley St 
* Cox's Yard, Bridgefoot, CV37 6YY
* Crowne Plaza, Bridgefoot,CV37 6YR
* Doubletree By Hilton, Arden St, CV37 6QQ
* Edward Moon 9 Chapel St CV37 6EP
* El Greco, Rother St 
* Esquires Coffee House , Arden Quarter, CV37 6PP
* Giggling Squid, High St
* Hathaway Tea Rooms, 19 High St, CV37 6AU
* Havilands Tearoom, Meer St 
* Hobsons Patisseries, 1 Henley St, CV37 6PT
* Honey Blue, 2 Shrieves Walk, CV37 6GJ
* Hooray's British Gelato Kitchen, 27-28, High St, CV37 6AU
* Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, Rother St, CV37 6LU
* HR Coffee Bar 12 Windsor Street, CV37 6NL
* Huffkins, 1 Old Red Lion, Bridge St CV37 6AB
* Kungfu Stratford Oriental, Bell Court, CV37 6EX
* Lambs Restaurant, 12 Sheep St, CV37 6EF
* Loxleys, 3 Sheep St, CV37 6EF
* M & S Cafe, Bridge St 
* McDonald's, 3 Bridge St
* Miller & Carter, Bell Court 
* Mor Bakery, Bell Court
* Plantarium Cafe, 1 The Minories, Henley St
* Number 9, Church St
* Sabai Sabai, 19-20, Wood St, CV37 6JF
* Shakespaw Cat Cafe 6 Union St, CV37 6QT
* Starbucks, 8-9 High Street, CV37 6AU
* Subway, 10 Henley St, CV37 6PT
* The Cornish Bakery, Henley St
* The Encore, Bridge St 
* The Fourteas Tearoom, 24 Sheep St, CV37 6EF
* The Golden Bee, Sheep St
* The Keys 6 Ely Street, CV37 6LW
* The Old Thatch Tavern, 23 Greenhill St, CV37
* The One Elm, 1 Guild St, 
* The Opposition, 13 Sheep St
* The Queens Head 53-54 Ely St
* The Rose and Crown, Sheep St
* The Vintner, Sheep St 
* The White Swan, Rother St
* Veenos, Bell Court 
* Yorks Cafe, High St 
* Zizzis, Sheep St

If any others have joined the scheme, please let us know. 👍🏻

The following businesses in Stratford have been give the We're Good To Go status by VisitEngland

• Hathaway Tea Rooms
• The Arden Hotel
• Mercure Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare Hotel
• Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon
• Hotel du Vin Stratford
• Shakespeare Birthplace
• Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon
• Avon Boating Ltd
• Stratford Town Walk
• Royal Shakespeare Company -  Riverside Café, Rocket ice cream van and outdoor performances

Huge congratulations to them !

The “We’re Good To Go” industry standard mark is a self-assessment scheme that has been designed by VisitEngland in partnership with the national tourist organisations Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales to provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for all sectors of the tourism industry, as well as reassurance to visitors that businesses have clear processes in place and are following industry and Government COVID-19 guidance on cleanliness and social distancing.

Summary of Temporary Road Layout Changes in Response To COVID-19:

Stratford-upon-Avon Updated 7 August 2020

The scheme in Stratford-upon-Avon is due to be revised from week commencing Monday 10th August. The key measures of the revised scheme will be:

• High Street – Full closure between 11am and 6pm
• Bridge Street – Some barriers in place to create space for social distancing.
• 20mph speed limit

The works will be carried out in two phases:

• Alterations to Bridge Street, Wood Street and Greenhill Street is planned to be carried out between 6pm and 10pm, starting on 10th August and completing on 11th August
• Beginning 17th August it is intended to implement changes on Sheep Street, High Street, Chapel Street and Church Street, subject to the proposed Traffic Order being agreed.

The changes from the previous scheme are as follows:

• Sheep Street, Chapel Street, Wood Street, Greenhill Street – Temporary scheme measures removed. Permanent signs and markings reinstated. Temporary bus stop to remain on Wood Street.
• Union Street - Temporary scheme to stay, with the addition of two parking spaces (1hr), at the Guild Street end of the taxi rank.
• High Street - Full closure from its junction with Bridge Street to its junction with Sheep Street, from 11am until 6pm seven days a week, with no deliveries permitted during this closure. Outside of these hours to be 2-way traffic and previous parking restrictions.
• Bridge Street - 2-way traffic reinstated, removal of temporary central barrier, provide barriers from the golden post boxes to just past M&S to provide additional space for social distancing, echelon parking (1hr, no return 2hrs) and one bus stop to be provided between L'Occitaine shop to the old BHS. Temporary barriers to remain on the Boots side with an informal crossing point near Sainsbury's.
• Gyratory - all cones to be removed.
• The right turn restriction from Alcester Road onto Grove Road which was temporarily rescinded as part of the previous scheme will be reinstated. 

Feast not Famine

This year’s food festival in Stratford town centre is off the menu but another celebration of all that’s good to eat and drink is extended to compensate.

It was of little surprise this popular event which sees the town centre crowded with stalls and visitors has been dropped. Instead, Stratford Feasts which was launched in October last year and ran again in February this year will put the spotlight on the town’s food and drink offering.  The aim of the feasts is to promote a variety of places to eat and drink out and highlight special menus, promotions and options.

Stratforward marketing and events manager Tor Wilkes said: “It was with great sadness that we are not running our annual food festival, which is traditionally an excellent time to celebrate and get an overview of Stratford’s fantastic food scene. Usually, the Food Festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors into Stratford. The Taste and Ale Trails are especially popular – you get a chance to try food or ale in more than eight venues for a small sum. The free demonstrations in the cookery theatre are always well attended.  They give an insight into the kitchens and personalities of many venues and provide inspiration. There are many stalls of food and drink producers with a strong local flavour. The event was cancelled due to the pandemic, though all options were considered.”

Stratford town centre has over 110  fabulous places to eat and drink and many will be highlighted during Stratford Feasts. It will be a great opportunity to experience Stratford’s food and drink scene and offer support to the many venues doing their best in these trying times.  The festival is set to return on 18th and 19th September in 2021 so please put it in your diary.”

In the meantime more than 50 places in Stratford are taking part in the government’s  Eat Out to Help Out scheme, offering a discount on food and soft drinks on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August. 

Information on Feasts will be released next month. Watch this space!

Eat Out to Help Out

The Government Eat Out to Help Out scheme started today and many of Stratford's restaurants and cafes are participating. Get up to £10 discount on your meal, all day and night on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays during August. 👨‍🍳 👩‍🍳 🍛

Check the list here to see where you can eat today 😋

Sponsor a Duck in the 'On Line Duck Race' in aid of The Shakespeare Hospice!

Stratford's annual Duck Race in aid of The Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford upon Avon, will run on line for the first time ever! It will be organised by Stratford Rotary Club and run on August 29th 2020.

To get involved in the Virtual Duck Race, please sponsor a duck!

Will your business sponsor a Corporate Duck? They will be entered into the Shakespeare Hospice Challenge Trophy Race. Like a race night, there will be 4 or 5 heats (depending upon the number of Corporate sponsors) and the winner will go into the final. Every duck will be in the “water” at least twice; once for the heats and once in the “all runners and riders” last race.

The corporate package for £35 gets you:

• Business mentioned in the Herald
• Business Logo on Race Intro background
• Duck named for your business in The Shakespeare Hospice Challenge Trophy Race heats
• Duck named for your business in final (if you win your heat)
• Duck named your business in the last race the Rotary Grand Final
• Certificate of participation
• A small Shakespeare duck to keep

The winner of ~The Shakespeare Hospice Challenge Trophy wins the Duck Trophy, which will be presented by the Mayor and kept for a year.

If you would like to support this event please, send your logo (jpeg or png), your business name (or preferred name for the duck), a contact email and phone number as soon as possible but no later than Monday 27th July to Claire Whatley at whatleyclaire@hotmail.com

Please make payment of £35 to SuA Rotary Club, Barclays Bank, Account Sort Code 20-48-08 Account 50867136.  Please add your business name as the reference.

Stratford Rotary Club will be issuing some social media / digital marketing material shortly and would ask participating businesses to share it widely with your business and personal network, to gain maximum engagement for the event!  Please also feel free to promote the duck sponsorship opportunity with other businesses in your supply chain!

Thank you for your valuable support.

What a weekend!

Many of Stratford's finest drinking establishments, restaurants, hairdressers and barbers reopened after nearly a 4-month break. 

Loxley’s, Millar & Carter, La Marina Bistro, The Keys, Veeno, All Bar One, The Golden Bee, Cox's Yard, Riverbank, The Cornerhouse and The Boathouse were amongst those open! 

Some restaurants in town are aiming for mid/late July to open to ensure they are fully compliant.  Cafes put their tables and chairs out and welcomed back their customers. Boston Tea Party had a fantastic weekend and their new QR code system worked well. 

Many of Stratford's attractions opened at last, including Avon Boating for boat cruises and hiring boats, Magic Alley,  the Big Wheel, Tudor World.

Most hotels reopened including Hotel du Vin who also opened their bistrot and courtyard.  Hotel Indigo also opened and The Woodsman will be open in a few days.

Hairdressers and Barbers are working flat out with very long days. Huge thanks to you all!

With each day more and more shops opening up including Jo Malone and Accessorise. 

Wonderful to see people coming out to enjoy the town and receiving a warm welcome. 

To keep in touch and see our regular updates follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 

https://www.instagram.com/stratforward/  

https://www.facebook.com/Stratforward

Who’s Coming Out Out this weekend? 

Hospitality businesses are reopening as lockdown continues to lift at last. Yess! The doors will be opening in Stratford on July 4^th for many places to eat and drink including:

• Cox’s Yard, Bridgeway
• The Keys (Previously The Keys and Kitchen), Ely St
• Loxley’s Restaurant, Sheep St – fully booked
• The Corner House, Union St
• The Golden Bee, Sheep St
• Veenos, Bell Court
• Pizza Barge & Quarterdeck
• Stratford Marina - 10am for breakfast and midday for tapas
• Stratford Boathouse, Swans Nest Lane
• All Bar One – fully booked
• Miller and Carter – fully booked
• The Riverbank, Swans Nest Lane

More cafes are open including The Deli Café, The Fourteas for takeaway.

If you prefer to stay in for now, 33 The Scullery will continue to prepare high quality food and deliver to you.  So will Stratford’s Balti Kitchen and many others.

Attractions are opening also, though some with restrictions:

• Magic Alley, Bell Court
• Canal and River Cruises, the Bancroft
• Avon Boating, Swans Nest Lane
• Butterfly Farm, Swans Nest Lane
• The Big Wheel, Swans Nest Lane
• Mini Golf, Swans Nest Lane

Many other restaurants, attractions and shops will be hot on their heels, opening over the next few weeks including The Woodsman on 6^th July, Sorrentos on 8^th, El Greco on 15^th and Lambs, The Oppo and Vintner on 16^th.

All premises have introduced measures to help people feel safe, with masks, visors, gloves, sanitiser, queueing systems and so on. Pavements have been widened and so roads narrowed into a one way system. All car parks are open as normal. Public toilets and Bell Court’s toilets are open and free to use! (The only closed public toilets are Windsor Street and Ely Street for safety reasons.)

There are over 150 shops and places open including Stratford’s markets which will also take place on Rother Street on July 4^th and on Waterside on Sunday 5^th.  There will be plenty to see and do in Stratford as well as the beautiful river and parks to picnic and enjoy.  Do come and support Stratford, we need people to come to the town more than ever.

#DiscoverYourDoorstep #SupportStratford #LoveStratforduponAvon

Do you Run a Hospitality Business?

If so, this info and the links could be useful. This information should answer many questions on what needs to be done before you can open, following government guidance.