We asked top chefs to come up with their favourite Sunday lunch spots from across the country. Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
1. The Owl, Hawnby, North Yorkshire
Peter Creed knows a thing or two about pubs — he runs several including The Bell at Langford in the Cotswolds (see below). Aside from his own, he loves The Owl. “I always order roast beef. Everything is bought from local farmers. It’s a rare breed of a pub and echoes the way we try to be.”
theowlhawnby.co.uk
2. The Rose, Deal, Kent
“A stroll along the seaside followed by Sunday lunch here is pretty much a perfect day,” says Oli Brown, head chef at Updown in Kent. “They do big platters of seriously good roast potatoes and inventive vegetables, plus great cocktails and service.”
therosedeal.com
3. The Lamb, Shipton, Cotswolds
“I absolutely love this pub. I’ve tried to order everything on the menu before,” says Trevor Gulliver, author, restaurateur and co-founder of the legendary St John restaurant.
thelambshipton.com
4. The Mariners, Rock, Cornwall
Tom Kerridge says this one “ticks all the boxes”: “Summer or winter, a beautiful place to overlook the estuary going into the other side of Padstow. Paul Ainsworth does brilliant Sunday lunches.”
paul-ainsworth.co.uk
Advertisement
5. The Halfway at Kinerton, Cheltenham
“My dearest friends took me here recently and the food blew me away,” says Ravinder Bhogal, founder of Jikoni restaurant in London. “The vegetarian options for a Sunday roast, such as mushroom and celeriac pie with mushroom and shallot gravy, are particularly thoughtful.”
thehalfwayatkineton.com
6. The Harwood Arms, London SW6
“It’s slightly upmarket and a bit more formal but you can still drink a Guinness with your lunch and don’t get looks. It’s, of course, really good food,” says Frederick Page, head chef at Marle at Heckfield Place.
harwoodarms.com
7. The Golden Lion, Padstow, Cornwall
“I’ve been going here for years,” says Paul Ainsworth, chef-patron at Michelin-starred Number 6. “It’s owned by the Rickard family and it’s a quintessential British pub. It’s a really traditional pub with really low ceilings. Midweek it’s fantastic — I love their fish and chips — but on a Sunday it’s the best place for a roast. I love their cauliflower and leek fondue.”
goldenlionpadstow.com
8. The Red Lion & Sun, London N6
Oisin Rogers, the publican behind the Devonshire, London’s hottest restaurant, says: “I love recommending here for Sunday lunch. The food is superb and it’s run by Heath Ball, an eccentric, hilarious bald New Zealander. He’s a very amusing chap.”
theredlionandsun.com
9. Hawksmoor, various locations
“It’s the best in London for multiple reasons: the potatoes are always good, the meat is perfectly cooked — I’m a beef roast guy — and the gravy is proper gravy,” says Henry Freestone, head chef at Bambi restaurant in east London. “None of that Bisto rubbish.”
thehawksmoor.com
10. The Guinea Grill, London W1
Advertisement
José Pizarro says this place is “delightful”. “I love to start with the spicy lamb, then finish with a big roast. I definitely have their beef. It’s delightful and it comes with all sorts of bits and pieces and cooked vegetables. And, of course, plenty of gravy.”
theguinea.co.uk
11. The Three Horseshoes Inn, Groesffordd, Wales
“For me, Sundays are about slowing down and taking time,” explains Simon Stallard, founder of the Standard Inn in Cornwall. “After a cold, wet walk with the dog I want an open fire, solid pint of beer and a great lunch, which I find at this pub. The roast here is incredible.”
threehorseshoesgroesffordd.com
12. Marksman Public House, London E2
“I love the old-school roast with a twist of gastronomic pub you find here,” explains Santiago Lastra, who runs the Michelin-starred Kol in London. “And then when you finish your lunch you can go to Equal Parts across the road for cocktails.”
marksmanpublichouse.com
13. Blacklock, London, various
Mark Wogan, founder of the Homeslice pizza restaurant group, usually cooks Sunday lunch at home but when he does eat out, he chooses Blacklock in Shoreditch, famous for its multi-meat “all in” roast. “They don’t skimp on anything,” he says.
theblacklock.com
• I tried Britain’s best Sunday roast — after a four-year wait
14. The Abbey Inn, Byland, North Yorkshire
Advertisement
“I’m obsessed with the fact that every guest gets a Yorkshire pudding on a side plate that is filled with whatever meat they have ordered,” says Luke French, who runs the celebrated Sheffield restaurant Jöro. “I’m also a mad-head for cauliflower cheese and theirs is the best I’ve ever had. The desserts are next level too.”
abbeyinnbyland.co.uk
15. Coombeshead Farm, Lewannick, Cornwall
“The Sunday lunches here are hearty, wholesome food from the land,” says Nicholas Balfe, chef-director of Holm in Somerset. “Reared on the farm by a passionate team and you can taste the love that’s gone into it.”
coombesheadfarm.co.uk
16. Canton Arms, London SW8
“I couldn’t ask for a better local,” says Robin Gill, owner of Darby’s restaurant in south London. “It’s got beautiful food, great sharing dishes and the team is proper old-school. It’s got London charm.”
cantonarms.com
17. The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Oxfordshire
“Why do I love it? It has great character and ambience,” says Raymond Blanc. “The service has always been thoughtful, kind and very hospitable. Last time I went I had the roast Paddock Farm pork loin, stuffing and apple sauce with a delicious Yorkshire pudding.”
thewildrabbit.co.uk
18. Roast, London SE1
Luke Selby, executive chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, says: “I don’t often get to go to have a Sunday roast but I love Roast in Borough Market. I love to explore the market first, then the food at Roast never disappoints. The roast potatoes with garlic and rosemary are amazing.”
roast-restaurant.com
19. Millbrook Inn, Southpool, Devon
Advertisement
He may run a seafood restaurant empire, but on a Sunday the chef Mitch Tonks orders all the meat at this quintessential village pub. “It’s got great decor, an open fire, and at high tide you can access it by boat from Salcombe. The beers are great and they do a top Sunday lunch with meat from the owner’s farm in Fowlescombe.”
millbrookinnsouthpool.co.uk
20. Updown, Deal, Kent
Outside London, Josh Katz, chef-owner of Berber & Q in London, loves the roast dinner at Updown in Kent. “It’s a beautiful farmhouse with guest rooms and exceptional cooking and hospitality from Oli Brown and Ruth Leigh.”
updownfarmhouse.com
21. Talbot Arms, Settle, North Yorkshire
This is Mathew Carver’s favourite pub in Settle, the small market town near his new cheese restaurant, Rind. “They offer a great Sunday roast, normally just focusing on one meat option each week and affordably priced at around £12 to £14, which helps to avoid the taxing task of deciding what you fancy. They’re also known for a great selection of local Yorkshire cask ales to wash it down.”
talbotsettle.co.uk
22. Castle Farm, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset
Potatoes are arguably the most important part of Sunday lunch. The tatties at Castle Farm are “always excellent”, says Harry Russell, executive chef of the Chickpea Group. “They serve lots of veg from the garden, all the meat is delicious and it comes out sharing style, so you can just dig in.”
castlefarm.co.uk
• This £75 Sunday roast is the best — and poshest — I’ve ever eaten
23. The Camberwell Arms, London SE5
Advertisement
Jackson Boxer, the man behind London restaurants including Brunswick House, likes a Sunday lunch cooked and enjoyed at home, but makes an exception for this pub. “It is delightfully informal, welcoming, bold and specialises in large, generous, delicious sharing dishes, exactly the kind of thing I would cook at home were I so minded.”
thecamberwellarms.co.uk
24. The Unruly Pig, Bromeswell, Suffolk
Ben Waugh, executive chef at Bancone in London, says the cooking here is exceptional: “Large cuts of meat cooked over fire served with generous sides, carved and served to share for the table. You could sit there for hours with a bottle or two of red from the well-thought-out wine list.”
theunrulypig.co.uk
25. The Bell, Langford, Oxfordshire
“It’s everything you want from a roast,” explains François O’Neill, founder of Maison François. “Incredible locally sourced meat and delicious sides. It’s also not too far from London, which makes it great for a quick weekend trip.”
thebelllangford.com
