The results of surgery for benign oesophageal stricture in 53 consecutive cases referred to a sub-regional Cardiothoracic Unit are presented. The operations included retrograde dilatation and either total fundoplication or Allison repair, or an oesophageal resection with gastro-oesophageal anastomosis through a trans-thoracic approach. Postoperative fatality was 9%. Most subsequent deaths were due to unrelated acute events with a 5-year survival rate of 62%. Sixty per cent were free from dysphagia and 82% led active and independent lives without support. Surgery offers an alternative to dilatation in elderly patients with oesophageal stricture.