Dirty Duck — Restaurant in Stratford-on-Avon

We spent the bank holiday weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon, and what a place! Among all the spots we visited, The Dirty Duck stood out as an absolute gem. It’s undoubtedly the busiest pub in town, yet the team there was nothing short of brilliant.

We went every day of the weekend and witnessed the relentless pace, meal after meal flying out of the kitchen, the bar team constantly serving with a queue at the door, and all of it done with genuine smiles and unwavering professionalism. Despite being short-staffed on Saturday and Sunday (as is often the case on bank holidays), they somehow managed to cope under immense pressure and rising heat.

We got chatting with the manager, Tony, late on Saturday evening. He shared that several team members had called in sick, leaving the team absolutely exhausted. They then had to close half an hour early, on the Sunday, they had sold out of everything, and while we were speaking to Tony, he and the team were receiving unjustified abuse from some customers, completely absurd given the circumstances.

Stratford was heaving all weekend, and we couldn’t get a table anywhere else (we foolishly didn’t book ahead). However, every time we returned to The Dirty Duck on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, we found a table, queued up to order, and were rewarded with outstanding food and service.

The servers were run off their feet, yet they kept smiling and truly made our weekend special. Huge thanks to Tony and his excellent team, you were the highlight...

I was visiting Birmingham from Glasgow over the weekend and decided to take a day-trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. I wanted to check out this place as the name was the inspiration for the Mucky Mallard from the TV show Shakespeare and Hathway.

I arrived for the pub opening at 12pm and the place was beautiful. A proper old-style pub with log-burner fires. Have to give a shoutout to the friendly barman (didn't get his name but he was young, really tall and had actor-level good looks!). It was a really nice welcome to SUA and he chatted away and asked me what brought me there from Scotland. Staff were all so nice.

Sitting in the Actor's Bar surrounded by autographed photos of Shakespeare Actors next to the warm log-burner was a fantastic experience. There's something quite cool about knowing you're in the same place where Judi Dench and Ian McKellen have drunk.

The location is also spectacular. Views across the canal and the park as well as the theatre. There are seats where you can enjoy but it was February and raining.

Didn't get the chance to try the food as it was so busy (btw, book or arrive early as the place gets really crowded). But it's an excuse to come back.

Honestly, a great bar with amazing staff and fantastic views. Can't recommend enough and can't wait...

Ate here earlier in year and had a pleasant but unremarkable meal.

Last night I stupidly ordered the Xmas menu and had their pigs in blankets starter and the Turkey Dinner. These are two of my favourite things. I even checked before I ordered that the turkey would be proper carved turkey and not some processed rubbish shipped in for Xmas. I was assured it was the real thing.

The starter and main course arrived and were both totally inedible. I could not believe anyone could make pigs in blankets so tasteless and unappealing that I could not eat them - but they did . Unbelievably the turkey then arrived as 3 identical circles of processed meat - it tasted so awful I honestly think my cat may have refused to eat it. Despite being pretty ravenous I left the lot . I took a pic which I'll try to add to this review.

To be fair the staff refunded my meal and also my sisters which was a salad served on a hot plate !

Green King should be ashamed of supplying the pub with such low quality food to foist on customers during the supposed season of goodwill. To anyone reading this avoid the Xmas meals like the plague, you'd be better off with a £2 TV dinner.

Twelfth night was superb but I sadly watched it with an...