Despite the squeezed middle and the weak pound supposedly keeping foreign tourists away in droves, Stratford continues to add to its enviable cross-section of restaurants, according to commercial property experts at CPBigwood. 

The town currently boasts anything from the traditional carvery to contemporary Thai fusion with award winning local independents rubbing shoulders with the large chains (The Gondola Group has all three of its main brands, Pizza Express, Ask and Zizzi in the town centre).

While some towns are fearing saturation of the casual dining market, James Ironmonger, a commercial agent in the newly merged CPBigwood, has no such fears.

"We recently marketed a town centre shop and were inundated with inquiries from the restaurant sector.

"The appetite for changing use from traditional A1 to A3 restaurant is as strong as ever in Stratford," he said, citing his recent application for such a change of planning use on the former Blockbuster on Greenhill Street on which a decision is now pending. Interested parties are eagerly awaiting the outcome.

Stuart Rose, who heads up commercial agency at CP Bigwood from the Colmore Row office in Birmingham city centre, has also spotted the phenomenon. 

"By contrast, Birmingham's restaurant market has been hit quite badly by the downturn in the general economy and many of the larger restaurant chains have been shy to commit to new city centre developments like The Cube until they are sure that disposable incomes back to what they were three or four years ago," he said. 

Mr Rose is well placed to observe the changes in the market, having acted for many years for the likes of McDonald's, Pizza Express and Pizza Hut.

He added that with his track record with the larger national restaurant chains and James Ironmonger's intimate knowledge of the Stratford market, CP Bigwood were confident that there will be restaurant lettings in Stratford for many years to come in spite of uncertain economic times due to the "unique" characteristics of Stratford with the theatre and the river.

For more information on commercial properties contact James Ironmonger at CPBigwood on 01789 294444.

For more information about CPBigwood, please visit their website here: www.cpbigwood.com