Nine restaurants in Stratford are competing in a citywide hot chicken sandwich contest throughout April 2026, a culinary celebration timed to coincide with the arrival of the Nashville Takeover music event from April 10 to 12.
The Downtown Stratford Business Improvement Area, which represents more than 300 businesses in the city core, confirmed the expanded roster of nine participating restaurants this week. The lineup includes the Black Swan, Foster’s Inn, Mercer Hall, Work, Joe’s Diner, Gilly’s, Features, Chuck’s Roadhouse, and The Bunker. Diners are encouraged to visit these locations throughout the month to try the sandwiches and cast their votes, with the winning establishment to be crowned at the end of April.
Stratford is one of 13 communities across Canada selected to host the Nashville Takeover this year. The three-day event, presented by Backyard Music Co., features over 15 songwriters from Nashville and Canada. The performances are designed to transform parts of the downtown area into intimate, Nashville-style music venues. Confirmed performance locations include The Bunker, Parlour Inn, Grayson Mills, Chuck’s Roadhouse, The Copperlight, Pazzo Pizzeria, and Cafe Bouffon.
Founded by artist Scotty James and his partner Andrea Watson, the Nashville Takeover aims to provide smaller communities with the type of songwriter experiences typically found only in large cities. The event series launched in 2025 and is expanding its reach across the country throughout 2026, with Stratford serving as the first stop on the tour.
