As anyone who knows me will already be aware, I love coffee and I also love to support independent businesses wherever I can. So an independent coffee shop pushes all the right buttons. While we have a thriving independent scene in Birmingham, it’s not always so easy when I’m working elsewhere. As the most important tourist destination in our region, Stratford is somewhere I inevitably spend quite a bit of time. In the past, I had to settle for either a chain coffee shop or a tea room to satisfy my pre and post-tour caffeine urges. But that has changed now, with my discovery of Box Brownie on Henley Street, a great independent. Box Brownie ticks all the boxes. Excellent coffee with no gimmicks, delicious (and generously portioned) cakes, muffins and biscuits, as well as a tasty range of savoury snacks, sourced from named local suppliers wherever possible. Service is always friendly and efficient, and there is plenty of seating inside, along with several tables outside for those (all too rare) sunny days. Add in the wonderful location – on the main pedestrianised street, just a few steps from Shakespeare’s Birthplace – and Box Brownie makes the perfect place for a guide like me to grab a proper coffee before meeting a group, or to chill and watch the world go by when I get some free time in the town. So next time you’re in Stratford, keep walking past the chains and support a quality independent business.
If you and friends or colleagues want to discover Stratford in the company of an expert Blue Badge guide, why not book a private tour? Coach transport can be arranged on request, or travel by train from Birmingham. Visit our website for more details.
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