Cafe & Bar

Doug's Bar & Dot's Cafe

Swing by and soak up some culture while you explore what’s on. We are offering refreshments in the lobby and in the courtyard, as well as a well-stocked bar.

Opens before and after shows and events.

Can be arranged for private events with Venue Hire

Opening Times

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 12-2pm

In short, Dot was the first baby to be born in this building back when it was a maternity hospital during WWII. Her parents were originally from Yorkshire, but during the 1930s there was little work to be found. Like many others, her father moved south to the Midlands in search of employment and found a job in a factory in Coventry. By the time the Second World War began, the factory had been turned over to making aeroplane parts.

In 1940, Dot’s mother was pregnant with her when the Coventry Blitz began. Dot was born on 15th September, Battle of Britain Day. Her mother had arranged for a midwife, but tragically that midwife was killed during an air raid while delivering another baby. A shelter took a direct hit, killing the midwife, the mother and the newborn child.After the bombing, Dot’s mother received a letter instructing her to report to the council house steps at a set time on Friday 13th September, bringing only a suitcase. Along with other expectant mothers affected by the Blitz, she was put on a coach and taken out of Coventry to Stratford. Dot’s mother arrived in Stratford on market day, and her room overlooked the market below. She loved markets and always remembered how picturesque and comforting the scene felt after the trauma of Coventry.

Two days later, at lunchtime on Sunday 15th September, Dot was born.

What followed became part of family lore. According to Dot’s mother, when the Mayor visited on the Monday to formally declare the building open as a maternity hospital, he was delighted – and surprised – to discover that a baby had already been born there; Dot was the first. In celebration, the Mayor supposedly conferred the freedom of Stratford upon her. There was never any paperwork to prove it, and Dot herself could never claim it officially, but the story lived on as something passed down by her mother, and that, as far as the family was concerned, was how it happened.

Thank you so much to Martin, Karen (as well as the Escape Arts team) and Dot herself for all their hard work keeping the stories of Stratford’s residents and it’s buildings alive!

Launch Party

We Thank Dot for visiting us and opening Dot’s cafe for our launch party – You can read more about that here.

Access

14 Rother Street,
Stratford-upon-avon, United Kingdom

The Old Civic Building has 2 entrances – one is the main side entrance that goes through the courtyard from the Rotherstreet car park – this leads directly into our lobby/box office.

The front of the building also has an entrance that faces Rotherstreet.

Rother Street Arthouse Carpark

Rother Street Parking

NCP Stratford on Avon Rother Street

Stratford Market Car Park

Group Bookings

Swing by and soak up some culture while you explore what’s on. We are offering refreshments in the lobby and in the courtyard, as well as a well-stocked bar.

Amenities

14 Rother Street,
Stratford-upon-avon, United Kingdom

Rother Street Arthouse Carpark

Rother Street Parking

NCP Stratford on Avon Rother Street

Stratford Market Car Park

The Area

Swing by and soak up some culture while you explore what’s on. We are offering refreshments in the lobby and in the courtyard, as well as a well-stocked bar.

Other

14 Rother Street,
Stratford-upon-avon, United Kingdom

Whats On

Your Visit

Venue Hire

Cafe & Bar