Few things are as sacred in Britain as a proper Sunday roast. Across the country talented chefs champion British farmers and growers, giving seasonal ingredients the spotlight they deserve and hungry weekenders the hearty meal they crave. Our resident pubs expert, David Hancock, has spent decades exploring the best pubs with rooms, and he knows where to find a roast worth the journey. He’s rounded up Britain’s best pubs for Sunday roasts, where chefs are doing it right. Pull up a chair, order a pint and settle in for the finest British ritual of them all.
Timbrell’s Yard, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
With the River Avon flowing past an 18th-century inn glowing with life, Timbrell’s Yard is made for lazy Sundays. The terrace catches the afternoon sun, the open fire draws you in, and the team work closely with nearby farms and producers, serving up food that feels both classic and confidently modern.
Expect generous plates of dry-aged topside of beef, roast chicken with chestnut stuffing, or slow roasted pork belly with fennel and sea salt crackling, all served up with Yorkshire puddings, herby potatoes, and proper gravy. Vegetarians (and vegans) are brilliantly catered for too. No dry nut roasts here. The kitchen’s inventive alternative of crispy rosemary polenta with black garlic ketchup, and a rich red wine and mushroom gravy is every bit as satisfying as the meaty options.
The Killingworth Castle, Oxfordshire
Just a short hop from London, this 17th-century inn near Blenheim Palace offers Sunday lunch with a touch of theatre. The food has three AA Rosettes to its name, but there’s no pretension here, just thoughtful cooking and organic ingredients handled with care.
Start with chef’s snacks and homemade bread before tucking into roast sirloin of Hereford beef with sticky ox cheek, or Cotswold chicken with truffle stuffing. The sides are just as exciting as the main event, with creamy cauliflower and leek cheese, roast carrots with honey, and greens with toasted seeds. For pudding, it’s a toss-up between a rich chocolate delice with Guinness ice cream and a warm treacle tart.
The Howard Arms, Warwickshire
Golden Cotswold stone, roses on the walls, and the smell of something delicious from the kitchen, The Howard Arms does comfort with effortless charm. Inside, beams, flagstones and a crackling fire set the scene for one of the region’s best Sunday lunches.
Choose from dry-aged beef sirloin, free-range chicken with bread sauce, or Old Spot pork loin, all served with Yorkshire puddings, seasonal greens, root vegetables and cauliflower cheese. For pudding, there’s treacle rich sticky toffee or a dark chocolate mousse with honeycomb ice cream. With the village green outside and the fields of Chipping Campden beyond, it’s as quintessentially English as a Sunday can get.
The Cat, Sussex
Tucked into a quiet Sussex village near Ashdown Forest, The Cat is a warm, welcoming freehouse that takes its Sunday menu seriously. The roasts are everything you’d want, with aged sirloin with horseradish, pork belly with apple sauce, or chicken with caramelised bread sauce, all served with Yorkshire puddings, honey roasted carrots, cauliflower cheese and all the trimmings.
Desserts are nostalgic with sticky toffee pudding and apple and plum crumble, though you may be tempted by the impressive local cheese board. A classic country Sunday, done beautifully.
The Brisley Bell, Norfolk
Set on the edge of a sleepy Norfolk village, The Brisley Bell is everything a proper country inn should be. Two fires crackling away, dogs snoozing under the tables, and a menu that celebrates the region’s finest produce. Head Chef Hervé Stouvenel, who helped the pub earn its ‘Great British Pub of the Year’ title, blends classic English comfort with French flair.
Expect roasts with heart. Swannington beef sirloin with Yorkshire puddings and rich gravy, or pork loin with apple sauce and crisp crackling. Vegetarians are equally well treated with dishes like purple sweet potato tart tatin with melted raclette. Finish with a sticky toffee chocolate torte or a classic crumble with custard. A Norfolk Sunday doesn’t get much better.
The Durham Ox, North Yorkshire
High on the hill at Crayke, once home to the Grand Old Duke of York himself, sits The Durham Ox, a cheerful, dog-friendly inn that’s a beacon for good food and hospitality. Locally sourced Yorkshire produce shines here, from dry-aged beef by renowned farmer Charles Ashbridge to homemade pies and plenty for vegans too.
The Sunday beef is a must, with perfectly cooked sirloin. For those sharing, the Chateaubriand or Ox Celebration of Beef platter turns lunch into a feast. Add a Bloody Mary or one of their locally distilled gins and you’re set for the afternoon. Stay the night in one of the beautifully converted cottages or book the Pool Cabin for a touch of indulgence.
The Olive Branch, Rutland
At the end of a tree lined lane, The Olive Branch has all the hallmarks of a great country pub: history, warmth, and food that’s both elegant and generous. The 400-year-old inn is known for its field-to-fork ethos, with eggs from the hens, veg from the garden, and local meat and fish cooked with precision.
Sunday lunch here is a celebration. You’ve got 28-day aged beef sirloin with horseradish hollandaise, or roast pork with all the trimmings, including those all-important perfectly crisp roasties. You’ll want to save space for dessert, with an impressive menu including tonka bean panna cotta with smoked toffee and popcorn ice cream, or a fig frangipane tart with fermented honey. It’s indulgent, seasonal, and oh so special.
The Black Bull, Cumbria
On the edge of the Howgill Fells, The Black Bull is a 17th-century coaching inn with a modern, relaxed soul. Owners Nina and James have built a reputation for thoughtful, locally sourced cooking, and their Sunday roasts are reason enough to pop this bookish Dales town on your places to visit list.
The menu moves with the seasons but often features Howgill Hereford beef or Herdwick lamb, both served with treacle carrots, roasties and towering Yorkshire puds. There’s a vegan roast too, plus comforting sides like sausage cassoulet. For pudding, it’s hard to choose between a glossy sticky toffee or a tart Tatin to share. Afterwards, take a wander through Sedbergh’s streets of second-hand bookshops and let lunch settle.
The Riverside at Aymestrey, Herefordshire
Beside the River Lugg, this 16th-century timbered inn feels rooted in its landscape. Chef-patron Andy Link runs it with a clear ethos: sustainable, local and community driven. Much of what lands on the plate is grown in the one-acre kitchen garden or sourced from neighbouring farms, and it shows in the flavour.
Sunday lunch is both refined and generous, with Hereford beef, seasonal greens, or roast chicken with pumpkin seed and tarragon stuffing. Vegetarians will love the earthy and aromatic celeriac and truffle dish. For dessert, the mincemeat frangipane with ginger ice cream or the chocolate delice with pear are perfect finales. After lunch, you can wander the riverside garden and see where your meal began.
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David Hancock
David Hancock is our Sawday’s pubs expert, who has been discovering special pubs for decades – and he always knows where to find the best Sunday roast.
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