Stroud’s dining scene has been catapulted into the national spotlight after Juliet, the town’s bistro, received a rare 10/10 rating from leading food critic Giles Coren in The Times.
Coren, who has awarded a perfect score only four or five times in his 25-year career, praised every aspect of the restaurant — from the menu and service to its atmosphere — adding that the food “literally couldn’t be improved.”
Juliet is the creation of artist and restaurateur Dan Chadwick, who restored the landmark Old Music Centre in Stroud and relaunched it in October 2024, naming the venue after his wife, Juliet Chadwick. Dan also owns the historic Woolpack Inn in Slad, which he has run for 25 years.
The restaurant offers an extensive menu of snacks, small plates, mains, and puddings, alongside a seasonal specials board. Highlights include vitello tonnato, zucchini fritti, steak frites, and an acclaimed gazpacho that Coren declared was worth braving the M4 for.
Writing his review in The Times, Giles said: “Juliet is something you almost never get: a timeless, friendly, entirely unpretentious, beautiful modern bistro, serving perfectly executed, classically inspired dishes, quietly and elegantly, on a main road in a town three quarters of British adults haven’t heard of.
“I mean, the town is Stroud. It’s an important West Country town, a local hub and a hippy mecca and I love it to death, but most British people are stupid and parochial and haven’t heard of anywhere.
“I knew it would be good because it comes from the heart of Dan Chadwick, one of the best men ever to own a restaurant. He’s my favourite kind of restaurateur: the educated, softly spoken, quietly chatty, ever so slightly giggly type, never without a half-empty glass of something delicious in his hand, which he’ll tell you is half-full.”
“Everything here — the menu, the servers, the soft leather banquettes, the linen and paper-covered tables, the menu, the execution of the dishes, the pace of their arrival — is all that you dream of when you think of a bistro. And my score will reflect that shamelessly. Because Juliet is not just great for a boondocks bistro; it’s great for anywhere in the world.”
“Six tiny snacks, twelve small dishes, seven big dishes, two sides, seven (count them, seven) puddings, and then a baroque little specials window offering a pair of carabineros for £26 and a hogget chop with fine beans and anchovy for £22.
After sharing what he ordered to begin, including gazpacho, pan con tomate, oeuf mayonnaise with anchovy, and zucchini fritti. Giles added: “Seriously, I’d risk all the horrors of the “smart” M4 just for these.”
On X (formerly Twitter) he added: “In 25 years as a restaurant critic I have given a 10/10 score only four or five times. Max twice a decade. But I’ve given one to Juliet in Stroud.”
Juliet 49 London Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 01453 367019. Open Mon-Sat, lunch noon-2.30pm, dinner 6-9.30pm (bar menu noon-9.30pm). From about £40 a head à la carte, plus drinks and service.
