Shakespearean tragedy sees Stratford-upon-Avon go from Bard to worse

PEOPLE in William Shakespeare’s home town fear it is facing terminal decline as businesses shut up shop in the face of spiralling costs.

- Adam Dutton

Big-name stores and local firms alike have deserted tourist attraction Stratford-upon-Avon, leaving empty buildings and To Let signs.

In the past 12 months, the Body Shop, Fraser Hart, Jack Willis, Joules and the Karl Stallard furniture store closed, followed by restaurants such as Sorrento, Bella Italia, Veeno and Cafe Rouge.

The town’s Shakespeare Hotel has been shut since last August for “an extensive and exciting refurbishment programme”.

Visitor numbers to the Bard of Avon’s Warwickshire birthplace peaked at about 2.7 million before Covid, but have not recovered.

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Since last summer, five popular restaurants have shut suddenly over costs and a lack of workers.

Meanwhile, people say the only businesses opening up in the town are Turkish barber shops.