Garrick

You'll find yourself on Stratford's main drag at the Garrick, a proper old-school pub that's been pulling pints since the 18th century. The building's got that solid Georgian charm—all dark wood, low beams, and the kind of bones that make you feel like you're stepping into actual history rather than a theme park version of it. It's the sort of place where locals genuinely mix with visitors, where you can nurse a pint without feeling obligated to perform tourism, and where the bar staff know what they're doing. The menu sticks to straightforward pub food done right—expect decent ales from Greene King's range and the kind of comfort eating that makes sense after a walk around town.