The Red Lion, Stratford-Upon-Avon Is Now Open – Opening Marks Heartwood Inns’ 33rd Opening

Award-winning Heartwood Inns opened The Red Lion in Stratford-upon-Avon on the 23rd September, its 33rd pub in the Heartwood estate.

In a ceremony officiated by the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon, Dani Hunter, the pub was officially opened to welcome the Stratford-upon-Avon community through its doors. The Mayor was joined by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Stratford Upon Avon BID to celebrate the opening of the pub.

The Red Lion is located on the canal in historic Stratford-Upon-Avon and is located just moments from the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. A listed building, the pub has undergone a sympathetic multi-million pound refurbishment to create 182 internal seats across the bar and dining room with an additional 386 external seats created in the spectacular garden.

Guests enjoyed bubbly, sweet treats, a speech from Operations Director Sam Woo, tours of the newly refurbished pub and even Shakespeare’s characters made an appearance at the pub to welcome in the local community.

Under the leadership of General Manager Ritesh Shetty and Head Chef Vikki Kumar, guests will enjoy a seasonally changing, sustainably sourced menu in line with Heartwood’s three star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association, the highest rating possible. Alongside a carefully curated drinks list, the pub will offer a selection of local cask ales available on draught.

Richard Ferrier, CEO of Heartwood Collection, said: 

“We are absolutely delighted to be bringing this iconic pub back to life in a truly special town. Following a sympathetic refurbishment of the bar, restaurant and the spectacular garden, we are proud to be joining this vibrant and historic community.”

-End-

Notes to editors

Heartwood Collection is the Group that operates 33 Heartwood Inns pubs and 14 Brasserie Blanc restaurants across the UK. 

Heartwood Collection’s current site portfolio is as follows:

Inns

The Barley Mow – Englefield Green, Surrey

The Black Horse – Thame, Oxfordshire

The Black Horse – Reigate, Surrey

The Black Swan - Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire

The Boot – Histon, Cambridgeshire

The Britannia – Parkstone, Dorset

The British Queen – Locksbottom, Kent

The Cricketers – Cobham, Surrey

The Coat & Bear - Newbury, Berkshire

The George & Dragon - Marlow, Buckinghamshire

The Hare – Old Redding, Harrow Weald, Middlesex

The Highwayman – Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

The Jobber’s Rest – Upminster, Essex

The Jolly Farmer – Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire

The King’s Arms – Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

The King’s Head – Teddington, Middlesex

The March Hare – Guildford, Surrey

The Oaks – Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset

The Plough & Harrow - Long Ditton, Surrey

The Prince of Wales - East Barnet, London 

The Queen’s Head – Weybridge, Surrey

The Quill & Scholar - Lichfield, Staffordshire 

The Ragged Robin - Godalming, Surrey

The Red Deer – Horsham, West Sussex

The Red Lion - Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire 

The Rising Sun - Reading, Berkshire

The Ropemaker - Emsworth, Hampshire

The Royal Forest - Epping Forest, Greater London

The Sun Inn – Chobham, Surrey

The White Bear – Ruislip, Middlesex

The White Hart - Lewes, East Sussex

The White Hart - Lymington, Hampshire

The White Horse - Dorking, Surrey 

Upcoming openings

The Old Crown - Great Bookham, Surrey. Opening 9th October 2025

The Woodman - Southgate, London. Opening 2026

The Potter’s Heron - Chandlers Ford, Hampshire. Opening Spring 2026

Brasserie Blanc Restaurants

London – Chancery Lane

London – Fulham Reach

London – Southbank

London – Threadneedle Street

Beaconsfield

Bournemouth

Cheltenham

Chichester

Hale Barns

Leeds

Milton Keynes

Oxford

Portsmouth

Winchester

Press Contact

For any media enquiries please contact press@heartwoodcollection.com.

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