Garrick, Stratford-upon-Avon

One of the few places you can go to in town where you get the 'olde worlde' feel without being kippered by smoking log fires. My haddock and chips was a generous portion of piping hot, crispy chips, crunchy batter, melt in your mouth fish, proper mushy peas. Drew had the chicken burger which was super spicy but he was disappointed that it was encased in a bog-standard bun. Latte was good, one of the few places to serve it with a small biscotti.

Just a heads up. This is the third time in a row we have been to the Garrick in the early evening and they have run out of something. The roast dinners there are to die for, but the last couple of times we went they had none left. This time we asked for a sharing platter of garlic and herb bread and were told that they did not have any.

Access can be difficult given the nature of the building. The entrance corridor is uneven and narrow so it is easier to let people pass rather than struggle on. The arrangement of chairs and tables can make the process of finding a table and getting seated a little awkward and if the place is crowded downright bloody difficult. There are suitable tables and chairs, such as where we were today where access is no problem, so I would advise going when the place is less busy. Staff go out of their way to help you, even, as they once did with us, clearing a route through to the only available table.

Update 15.4.12
The haddock and chips was as tasty as ever, full marks for consistency. Drew tried the gammon with pineapple this time and liked it a lot; a decent portion and well-cooked. In the interests of research we both had dessert. Mine was the banoffee tart, a tasty take on the usual pie. Crumbly pastry, sweet and sticky toffee sauce, generous on the banana. Drew's sticky toffee cheesecake was equally enjoyable according to him. I was not allowed to taste it.

Marks & Spencer's Cafe, Stratford-upon-Avon

This is an excellent place to hide in plain sight. If someone is hassling you to Take More Care and you are sick of the sight of broccoli, this is the kind of place you can get full fat lattes and brownies and toasted teacakes with actual butter. If caught, brazen it out. Have a bottle of water handy and insist that no one cleared the table so the sticky detritus of crumbs and cream cannot possibly be yours.

A medium cup of coffee is a generous slug of organic, Fairtrade coffee at an astoundingly reasonable £2.45. Very creamy, dark foam, quite a sweet chocolatey aftertaste. Food-wise the range is very limited. They seem to work on a 'once its gone its gone basis' rather than replenish stocks. I have turned up there at 3pm and been left with a choice of lemon drizzle cake or millionaire shortbread. No great hardship, I know, but worth remembering if you are in town late on and hungry. First thing in the morning there is a run on toasted teacakes, so get in quick. These are the best in town, warm, toasted in a palate of umbers and siennas, with pulpy fruit and a generous allowance of butter. Rest the pat of butter on the teacake to soften it a little, spread liberally and wolf it down in an unseemly manner.

Access is excellent as are the helpful staff. And the regulars are great. The sort that suggest you resolve a difficult sudoku by the diligent application of reason, logic and clear-headed conjecture.*






*and not, apparently, by shouting at it.



Access:*****
Latte: *****

Vienna Patisserie, Stratford-upon-Avon

Not really a lunch stopover although they do sell a token number of sandwiches and savoury filled croissants. My personal recommendation is the coffee eclair although it is considerably sweeter and more cloying than its chocolate and cream counterpart; but this place is cakes without compromise. Full on wodges of cream, confectioner's custard and flaky pastry. And be careful. One sugar-loaded cake and a large latte and you will have to be tethered to your chair. Latte is pleasant enough but to be honest they could knock up a Nescafe and froth it up by blowing through a straw and you would be too bamboozled to notice.

Access is not a problem but there is quite a steep step up into the place; helpful staff more than make up for this.

15.5.12 There is a new addition to the cake collection - a banoffee eclair. Covered in almonds though. Not keen on almonds. Bummer.

Stalls, Preston-on-Stour

A lifestyle emporium on the edge of the Alscot Country Estate that has a coffee shop. A bit of an out of the way find that serves superb coffee and accompanying home made cakes in which you can indulge whilst looking out over sumptuous grounds. Ideal for taking visitors and showing off, airily mentioning this chic little out of the way, off the beaten track, no-tourists-only-locals-go-there that does a-MAZE-ing coffee and if we're lucky we might get a teensy, tiny peek at the deer in the park.

Also a good venue to hole up if you find yourself in the area in the event of the oncoming zombie apocalypse. High walls, lockable doors and the wood store place next door handy for improvised weaponry.

The Henley Street Tea Rooms, Stratford-upon-Avon

They're our neighbours. They gave us vouchers. We love them. End of.

Apropos of nothing, best ham, egg and chips in town and the only establishment around the Birthplace to have a alcohol licence. Best value breakfast in town.

The Chestnut Tree, Bourton-On-The-Water

The ham and cheese toastie was lovely, generous portions of both ham and cheese. Though I don't claim to be salad's biggest fan the small portion surprised even me - shredded carrot and lettuce and a meagre half a tomato. Drew had a Spanish quiche and salad from the specials menu but the quiche itself wasn't fully defrosted. Passable latte.

To be fair, the couple at the next table were having the full roast dinner and they looked as though they were enjoying it. Seemed like a decent portion too.

A real bugbear is the minimum spend for the use of a debit card; here, an eye-watering FIFTEEN pounds. A real shame as most of the items on the menu are quite reasonably priced for a Cotswold village.

Ideal for taking your Mum for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake. Just don't forget to go to the cashpoint first.

Starbucks, Stratford-upon-Avon

Unable to give a true, impartial assessment of this establishment as I am still in thrall to the handsome, dreadlocked young man who held the door for me last time I went. I am sure the latte was very pleasant but I had fallen in love so I don't really remember much.