T H E G O O D P U B G U I D E O v e r 5 0 0 0 p u b s ! G r e a t f o o d - G o o d p l a c e s t o s t ay STRATFORD-UPON-AVON THE GARRICK High Street; close to Town Hall The name Garrick originates from 1769 when the actor David Garrick visited Stratford. The back bar has an open fire. The bar food included filled rolls, ploughman's (£2), steak and kidney pie (£2.10), and lasagne (£3.40). The beers include Flowers IPA and Original. There is a fruit machine and thoughtfully chosen piped music. Lunchtime meals (not Sun or Mon) and snacks. Children in dining room Tues-Sat lunchtimes only. Nearby daytime parking difficult. Open 10.30-2.30, 5.30-11 all year. THE SLUG & LETTUCE 38 Guild Street At the back of this busy town-centre pub there is a small stone terrace, with lighting at night, and lots of flowers in boxes. There are newspapers for customers. The bar food changes every day, and might include tomato and basil soup (£1.50), Burgundy mushrooms (£2.75), roast baby spring chicken (£5.50), or prawns in garlic butter (£6.25). There are imaginative home-made puddings, and good coffee. The young staff are friendly. There is a good wine list, a good variety of spirits and several beers and ales. Meals and snacks (noon-10 Mon-Sat, normal hours Sun) Children welcome. Jazz in courtyard summer afternoons. Open 11-11 all year. THE WHITE SWAN Rother Street; leads into A34 An old-fashioned bar and a long quiet room with cushioned leather armchairs, a nice window seat and carved fireplaces. A staffed food counter serves home-made soup (£1.35), ploughman's (£2.75), a daily hot dish (£3.50) and puddings (from £1.35). There are Bass, Marston's Pedigree and Wadworths 6X beers available. Lunchtime snacks, Restaurant, Children welcome. Open 10.30-2.30, 6-11 all year. Bedrooms tel Stratford-upon-Avon (0789) 297022; £62. THE RED LION Welford Road How nice to ask for a fresh orange juice and actually get one, instead of the usual small bottle of juice - two fat oranges juiced in front of you, for 50p. This is just a small example of how much the Coopers have done since taking over this pub a couple of years ago. It's been lovingly furnished, with deep leather armchairs and a sofa, and fresh flowers and pretty plates decorating the walls. Besides sandwiches (£1.50) and ploughman's (£2.25), good, honest home-made bar food, changing day by day, might include soup (95p), cheese dip with fresh mayonnaise (£1.25), orange, tomato and cheese salad (£1.35), lasagne (£3.95) and traditional puddings such as whisky syllabub or bread-and-butter pudding (£1.50); a good value three-course Sunday lunch (served 12-1) is £8.50. There are well kept Marstons Burton and Pedigree beers, good wines by the glass, good coffee, newspapers, quiet friendly service, and a fire burning in an open stove. Meals and snacks(not Sun or Mon) Small restaurant (Fri and Sat evening, early Sun lunch) tel (0604) 740238 Open 11.30-2.30, 7-11 all year; closed Mon.