The Ivy to open Stratford-upon-Avon brasserie on 29 September

The Ivy’s new Stratford-upon-Avon brasserie will open on 29 September 2026 in a renovated former Debenhams store, with bookings already open. A preview published by Nub News gives an early look at the restaurant, which will offer all-day dining and a special pre-theatre menu for visitors to the nearby Royal Shakespeare Company.

Stratford opening date and location

The Stratford-upon-Avon restaurant will be The Ivy’s 47th establishment. Its opening brings a new dining use to a building previously occupied by Debenhams, following a renovation of the former department store.

Nub News published its preview on 25 September, ahead of the scheduled opening. The report describes a brasserie intended to serve diners throughout the day, rather than a venue focused only on evening meals.

The main details confirmed in the preview are:

The checked summary does not give a street address or daily opening hours. Although the restaurant is described as offering all-day dining, it does not set out the times for individual services or say whether those times will vary during the week.

Inside the brasserie and launch preview

The renovated venue will accommodate up to 154 diners, with an outdoor terrace providing space for a further 12. The terrace is a separate part of the dining offer, although the summary does not explain how those tables will be allocated or reserved.

The launch event featured drinks, canapés and live music. Nub News presents those elements as part of the restaurant’s intention to create an engaging dining experience, alongside its food service.

Those details relate to the preview event. The summary does not confirm a regular live music programme, so readers should not take the launch entertainment as a schedule for future visits.

Richard Chiswell will manage the restaurant, with Marc Chiong leading the kitchen as head chef. They are the two senior team members named in the preview, which reports that the team is looking forward to welcoming guests as the opening approaches.

All-day menu and seasonal dishes

The food offer will combine timeless classics with seasonal specials. Nub News describes an extensive menu intended to cater for a range of tastes, but the checked summary does not name individual dishes or provide prices.

For readers considering a meal, the confirmed menu features are:

• All-day dining.
• A selection of classic dishes.
• Seasonal specials alongside the main offer.
• A dedicated pre-theatre menu.

The distinction between the wider menu and the pre-theatre offer is useful when planning a visit. The restaurant is not being presented solely as a place to eat before a performance; theatre dining will sit within its broader all-day service.

There is not enough detail in the summary to compare the cost of different menus or identify specific dietary choices. Its description of a menu catering for diverse tastes should not be read as confirmation of particular vegetarian, vegan, allergy-friendly or other dietary options.

Pre-theatre dining near the RSC

The Ivy will offer a special pre-theatre menu for visitors to the nearby Royal Shakespeare Company. The preview links that offer to Stratford-upon-Avon’s artistic character, making theatre audiences an explicit part of the restaurant’s plans.

This is a distinct feature of the opening announcement, rather than simply a reference to the town’s cultural setting. People combining a performance with a meal will have a menu designed for that type of visit.

However, the checked summary does not state the pre-theatre menu’s serving times, number of courses or price. It also gives no information about how far ahead of a performance diners should book their table.

The reference to the Royal Shakespeare Company establishes the intended audience for the menu. It does not, on its own, confirm a formal partnership, ticket package or joint booking arrangement between the theatre company and the restaurant.

Bookings and details still to check

Bookings are already open ahead of the 29 September opening. The preview does not provide a reservation link or explain the booking process, and it gives no indication of how much availability remains for the first services.

Readers planning a visit have a confirmed opening date, but several practical details are absent from the checked summary. These include:

• Menu prices and individual dishes.
• Exact daily service hours.
• Pre-theatre menu timings.
• Arrangements for booking terrace tables.

The launch preview is therefore an introduction to the venue rather than a complete guide to arranging a meal. It establishes the setting, capacity, senior team and broad dining offer without supplying every detail needed to choose a table or menu.

The opening date is the clearest point for planning: the public launch is scheduled for 29 September, following the earlier preview event reported by Nub News.

What this means for Kenilworth

For Kenilworth residents, the announcement concerns a new restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon, not an opening in Kenilworth itself. Its practical relevance is as another dining option for people planning to spend time in Stratford, particularly those visiting the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The all-day offer also means the restaurant is not aimed only at theatre audiences. Residents considering a separate meal out can look to the wider menu, while those attending a performance have the announced pre-theatre option to consider.

The source does not provide journey times from Kenilworth, public transport information or parking details, so it cannot support specific travel advice. Nor does it report any direct effect on Kenilworth businesses or employment. For local readers, the confirmed change is the addition of this Stratford dining venue from 29 September, with reservations already available.