The Dirty Duck / The Black Swan Restaurant and Bar

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 22:17 -- Administrator
All restaurants in Stratford-on-Avon » Traditional restaurants in Stratford-on-Avon » The Dirty Duck / The Black Swan Restaurant and Bar

The Dirty Duck / The Black Swan Restaurant and Bar

Traditional

Waterside
Stratford-Upon-Avon
CV37 6BA

Contact
t: 01789 297 312
e: Send Email
Open Hours
Food Served
Thurs 12pm-10pm
Fri 12pm-10pm
Sat 12pm-10pm
Sun 12pm-8pm
Every Day
Luxuriating splendidly on the waterside of the world-renowned Stratford-upon-Avon, this charming public house is special in more ways than one. It is the only pub in England to be licensed under two names. Its original title, The Black Swan, originated from the American GIs that camped over the river during the Second World War, and the second, cheekier name evolved when local brewery families started playing darts in the long bar and couldn't resist jokingly renaming it The Dirty Duck.

The pub is a hit with the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is just a stone's throw from the front door. Many famous actors have visited including Peter O'Toole, Laurence Olivier and Lord Attenborough and the pub is now a thriving haven for enraptured tourists and thespians alike with fabulous views across the river and gardens.

Once inside take your pick from interesting, low lit and cosy bars. One is literally covered with signed black and white photographs of many a visiting star, while the other leads you through to a lovely flagstone eating area nestling quietly behind.

All the food is sourced from local suppliers, with dishes combining the traditional with the adventurous. The sumptuous goat's cheese fritters with apple chutney were mouth-wateringly wonderful, and my partner sampled the lovely old English 'smokie' - a ramekin of smoked haddock fillet in a rich tomato and cream sauce topped with Parmesan.

I enjoyed smothered chicken with sweet cure bacon with wonderfully fresh and light vegetables, while my companion loved the tenderly exquisite lamb shank served on the bone with mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and minted gravy. We then enjoyed the prettily presented clotted cream ice cream and fabulous chocolate torte. Whether a lover of the theatre, fine foods, or both, I would suggest that you make your way to The Dirty Duck.

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