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In a world of uncertainty, one thing's for sure, a great Sunday lunch is unbeatable. Even better are the ones you don't have to cook yourself. We've rounded up the best Sunday roasts in London from Islington to Peckham whether you're after roast beef with all the trimmings, or something interesting for vegetarians.
Central London
Blacklock
Shoreditch, City, Soho
Blacklock’s Sunday lunch is the stuff of London legend - back in 2016, it won the much-coveted OFM Award for best Sunday roast.
What’s the Sunday roast? Choose from 55-Day Aged Beef Rump, Cornish Lamb Leg or Middlewhite Pork Loin or - even better go ‘all in’ and try them all. It comes with all the trimmings, including Blacklock’s infamous bone marrow gravy.
What about non-meat eaters? Honestly, this one really is for the carnivores...
Make a booking at:
The Guinea
Mayfair - 30 Bruton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 6N
This historic Mayfair pub prides itself on the meat it serves up - dry-aged, grass-fed English and Scotch beef - and Sunday lunch here is no exception.
What’s the Sunday roast? Roast sirloin of Scottish dry-aged beef, pork loin on the bone and a 6 bone rack of lamb plus beef dripping roast potatoes, honey glazed carrots and parsnips, curly kale, baby onions with bacon, (optional) and gravy from the pan
What about non-meat eaters? Go big with an order of Blue cheese, truffle and walnut gratin with vegetable gravy and Yorkshire pudding
Hawksmoor
Spitalfields, Covent Garden, Seven Dials, Borough, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly
Anywhere as devoted to meat as Hawksmoor is should be able to turn out a solid roast, and so this proves to be - it's definitively one of the best in town.
What’s the Sunday roast? They keep it simple with just one meat - a slow roast rump. And that comes with beef dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, carrots, greens, roasted shallots and garlic as well as bone marrow and onion gravy.
What about non-meat eaters? If you’re pescatarian, there are loads to choose from here with fish brought in fresh from Brixham Harbour. For vegetarians - there’s one key main, a roasted celeriac dish with pickled shiitake, lentils and goats curd.
Make a booking at:
Spitalfields Borough Knightsbridge Seven Dials Air Street
Jones Family Project and Kitchen
Shoreditch and Belgravia
This family-run enterprise has close ties with The Ginger Pig, so you can expect the provenance of the meat to be tip-top.
What’s the Sunday roast? Choose from half a roast chicken or beef picaña. Sides are roast potatoes, honey roast parsnip & carrots, seasonal greens, Yorkshire pudding & gravy
What about non-meat eaters? There’s a Nut Roast, served with honey roast parsnip & carrots, seasonal greens, Yorkshire pudding & cheese sauce
Make a booking at:
Roast
Borough Market - The Floral Hall, Stoney Street, London SE1 1TL
The clue is in the name - this Borough Market stalwart has been looming over the market since 2005. With such a super location, every menu has a roll call telling you the suppliers from the market behind each dish.
What’s the Sunday roast? Choose from roast chicken, pork belly, slow-roasted lamb shoulder or sirloin of beef. Sides are roast potatoes, seasonal veg and a Yorkshire pudding.
What about non-meat eaters? Choose from a fillet of hake, or a vegetarian special which could be something like lemon ricotta, spinach, pea and shallots tortellini with a truffle and Pecorino nut crumble.
Simpsons in the Strand
100 Strand, London WC2R 0EW
This London institution has been revealing huge roasts from underneath shiny silver domes since 1828. But it's far from fusty - a recentish refurb has gussied it up a bit without touching the stuff folk love like the booths and panelling. Celebrating something special? Then ask for Winston Churchill's table by the fireplace.
What’s the Sunday roast? Every Day is Sunday really - with two options heading your way on the carving trolleys - 30-day dry-aged roast rib of Scottish beef or Honey and mustard glazed Sussex ham.
What about non-meat eaters? Pescatarians do better with options ranging from Scottish lobster Thermidor to roast loin of monkfish. Veggies are also catered for with the WWII option of Lord Woolton pie and 'Vedgeree'.
Temper Soho
25 Broadwick St, Soho, London W1F
There are three Temper restaurants with a strong focus on smoked meat and we think the original in Soho is the best for a Sunday lunch, although the Covent Garden branch is an option. And of course, you can always have a taco for starters...
What’s the Sunday roast? So much on offer - from smoked goat to porchetta to beef. You can also pre-order a whole suckling pig. To go with it, you’ll have to fork out for the roast garnish of lamb fat roast potatoes, seasonal greens, roasted carrots and spiced cabbage.
What about non-meat eaters? Choose the mushroom, onion and almond empanada with smoked garlic.
The Thomas Cubitt
25 Broadwick St, Soho, London W1F
Meat is a big deal at this Belgravia gastropub which actually butchers it on-site allowing them to play around more with the cuts they offer.
What’s the Sunday roast? There's a lot of choice - along with the usual Salt Marsh lamb and Middle White pork you can opt for roast pheasant for two or go all in with their 'Ultimate Roast' platter featuring traditional breed sirloin, Middle White pork & Salt Marsh lamb.
What about non-meat eaters? There's always a veggie/vegan roast option - right now it's Salt baked butternut squash.
East London
The Coach
Clerkenwell - 26-28 Ray Street Clerkenwell London EC1R 3DJ
From the Henry Harris stable of pubs, this Clerkenwell pub, for many years a haunt of journos when the Guardian used to be on the Farringdon Road, has had the best of makeovers, retaining all its quirkiness but adding several lovely dining areas into the mix.
What’s the Sunday roast? There's a wide choice of cuts on offer including Middle White pork belly and half a Landais poussin. If you're after a sharing feast how about the seven-hour braised shoulder of lamb or the roast 48-day aged Hereford côte de bœuf?
What about non-meat eaters? There isn't a veggie roast option, but there are other dishes to delight including gnocchi with marinated peppers, spinach and pecorino or a grilled corn salad with lime and avocado.
Duke of Richmond
316 Queensbridge Rd, London E8 3NH
This is the Dalston pub from Tom Oldroyd, who’s also behind the wonderful Oldroyd in Islington. While the burger and the crab and chip butty are a must, the team here obviously understands the need to get the Sunday lunch just right...
What’s the Sunday roast? At the time of writing, roast rump of Highland beef which comes with carrots, soubise onions, roast potatoes & Yorkshire pudding
What about non-meat eaters? Brown butter roast cauliflower & hazelnut crumb, carrots, potatoes, corn & gravy
More about the Duke of Richmond
The Gun
Spitalfields - 54 Brushfield St, Spitalfields, London E1 6AG
There's been a hostelry on this spot since the 17th century, but the current pub is a very modern iteration, complete with full-grown tree inside.
What’s the Sunday roast? There are two meaty options, herb-roasted chicken or 12-hour slow-roasted Stokes Farm beef rump. Controversially, perhaps, it's served inside the biggest Yorkshire pudding you're likely to see.
What about non-meat eaters? For you, there's a roasted root parcel on offer with pine nuts, squash puree and vegan gravy.
The Ned
City - 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
They go BIG on Sunday lunch at this hotel and members' club in the City. Three spots on the ground floor of this massive club serve up feasts with unlimited options.
What’s the Sunday roast? We've a lot of love for Kaia's sushi Sunday lunch, but the unqualified hit here (and so busy it's booked up eight weeks in advance) is the Ned's Feast served across Millie’s Lounge, The Nickel Bar and Lutyens Grill. Lobsters, oysters, roast meats and dessert - you name it, it's here.
What about non-meat eaters? Pescatarians will be in seventh heaven here, but if you're veggie you may be better off coming on a Saturday for the all-you-can-eat veggie Malibu Kitchen Saturday Brunch.
Quality Chop House
Clerkenwell - 92–94 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3EA
Is there anything that they don't do well at QCH? Sunday lunches may be a marginally pared-down menu to the rest of the week, but they're still strong on seasonal starters and interesting cuts of meat for the roast.
What’s the Sunday roast? A recent menu offered options of Mangalitza collar, Belted Galloway rump & brisket, Swaledale leg & shoulder and Yorkshire mallard. All come with the usual options and you can pay extra to add in some confit potatoes.
What about non-meat eaters? A roast option might be butter and herb-roasted celeriac and there's always a veggie non-roast menu on offer as well.
Madame Pigg
Dalston - 480 Kingsland Rd, Dalston, London E8 4AE
Chef Adam Hardiman came here via St John and a variety of London gastropub, so if he can't turn out a good Sunday lunch then we might as well all go home.
What’s the Sunday roast? There are four main meaty options - Roast Aberdeen Angus beef, Porchetta, whole or half chicken and a Welsh lamb rump.
What about non-meat eaters? They've got the option of a whole crispy sea bass with Vietnamese veg or a vegan nut roast with a wild mushroom gravy.
The Marksman
254 Hackney Road, London, E2 7SJ
The first Public House in London to be awarded the Michelin Pub of the Year, this popular East London gastropub also turns out a very good Sunday lunch.
What’s the Sunday roast? Menus change regularly, but a recent one features Hereford Wing Rib & Yorkshire Puddings or Pot Roast Tamworth Belly, Sausage & Baked Beans - all made for sharing between two. Sides are all a fiver extra - expect roasties plus dishes like Buttered Greens.
What about non-meat eaters? It’s pretty heavy on meat and fish, but purely veggie mains like Chard & Spenwood Pie are available.
The Sekforde
Clerkenwell - 34 Sekforde St, London EC1R 0HA
Enjoy your Sunday lunch at this Clerkenwell pub knowing you're doing your bit for the planet. The Sekforde is aiming to be the greenest pub in London with the intention to "eliminate all plastics and food waste". All that's perfectly fine and dandy but they also do legendary Yorkshires - practically as big as your head. Don't forget to leave room for their lovely puddings.
What’s the Sunday roast? It's a to-the-point menu on Sundays with four meat options - Sirloin, leg of lamb and roast pork and chicken.
What about non-meat eaters? Nut roast for you my friend, but it's a good 'un.
Yardarm
Leyton - 238 Francis Rd, Leyton, London E10 6NQ
Now that this popular wine bar and deli has its own restaurant, and a very interesting chef to boot (Joe Brundle comes here via Edinburgh's Timberyard and Blue Hill at Stone Barns), it's not only great for locals but worthy of a trip across town. Food here is a virtuous circle, waste goes back to the farm they source their pork from, as pig feed.
What’s the Sunday roast? The meat offering rotates every week - so last week it was roast chicken, this week it’s beef.
What about non-meat eaters? They do a rather splendid nut roast (pictured) that you’re going to want to try.
South London
Camberwell Arms
65 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8TR
Topping the list of the Guardian’s best Sunday lunches in 2017, this South London pub is owned by the team behind The Canton Arms and the Camberwell Arms. With all the awards, it has a great reputation for the Sunday roast, but it’s worth a trip across town for the regular seasonally changing menu.
What’s the Sunday roast? Dry-aged Hereford onglet, béarnaise, roast potatoes and watercress for two to share, or Roasted porchetta, Catalogna chicory, anchovy and roast potatoes are a couple of options. There's a pie to share too, if you fancy that.
What about non-meat eaters? There’s plenty of choice on the extensive menu including a recent starter of Griddled Calçot onions and romesco.
More about the Camberwell Arms
Canton Arms
177 South Lambeth Rd, South Lambeth, London, SW8 1XP
This pub has Trish Hilferty in charge, who was formerly of both the Eagle in Clerkenwell and the Anchor & Hope in Waterloo and is referred to as “gastropub royalty” - so it’s definitely a pub to make a trek to. It’s also well known for its foie gras - so if the foie gras toastie is on the menu, keep that in mind.
What’s the Sunday roast? Rare roast Dexter beef. And there’s a huge seven-hour Salt Marsh lamb shoulder for up to five people sharing. It comes with potato and olive oil gratin.
What about non-meat eaters? Chose from the main menu - example dishes are ”Tartiflette, gruyere and truffle”
Coal Rooms
Peckham - Coal Rooms, 11a Station Way, London SE15 4RX
With an on-site butchery, you’d expect any meal with meat as the star of the show to be good here, and you wouldn’t be wrong.
What’s the Sunday roast? Roasts are a BIG thing here and choices range from 40-day aged Belted Galloway Rumps to a Whole Cotswold chicken for two. All the roasts come with beef dripping potatoes, roasted carrots, cabbage and Yorkshire puddings.
What about non-meat eaters? Vegetarians aren't an afterthought here with a lovely roasted celeriac and mushroom gravy the thing to go for.
Knife
Clapham - 160 Clapham Park Rd, Clapham Common, London SW4 7DE
The website for this popular South London spot sets out their stall as: 'serious steaks and Sunday roasts'. Judging by the popularity of the latter at least, they're getting it right. In the kitchen is chef Andrew Bradford - who co-owns the place with Matt Wells, who also owns nearby The Dairy.
What’s the Sunday roast? There's a choice of four meats on offer - Rare Roast Belted Galloway Beef Rump from master butchery Lake District Farmers, Herdwick Lamb Leg & Shoulder, Slow Cooked Saddleback Pork Belly and Roast Cumbrian Chicken.
What about non-meat eaters? How does the Stinking Bishop & Wild Mushroom Wellington sound? Pretty good, hey?
North London
Compton Arms
4 Compton Ave, Islington, London N1 2XD
Ever since landlord Nick Stephens brought in Four Legs as the restaurant residency the dynamic duo of Jamie Allan and Ed McIlroy (ex-Hill & Szrok and Bao Fitzrovia respectively) have transformed the foodie credential of this Islington local.
What’s the Sunday roast? There are three options - aged wagyu rump with all the trimmings, whole roast chicken with french fries and aioli as well as lemon sole with pink fir potatoes.
What about non-meat eaters? Each week you'll find a seasonal veggie offering - right now it's radicchio tardivo.
The Drapers Arms
44 Barnsbury St, Islington, London N1 1ER
Picked by the Guardian as serving one of the best Sunday lunches in the country, this neighbourhood Islington pub is one of a few gastropubs worth crossing town for.
What’s the Sunday roast? A recent menu had three sharing roasts on the menu, aimed at between two and three people - whole roast chicken, slow-cooked shoulder of lamb and roast forerib of beef. All come with roast potatoes, carrots and greens and there are Yorkshire puddings with the beef.
What about non-meat eaters? Pescatarians probably do better here, but there should be a vegan main option on the menu, like a Roast cauliflower, lentils, kale & walnut sauce.
The Junction Tavern
101 Fortess Rd, Kentish Town, London NW5 1AG
Tufnell Park folk throng this cavernous neighbourhood pub of a weekend which boast not only a spacious pub garden but a very well rated roast offering.
What’s the Sunday roast? Choose between Roast sirloin of Angus beef or Roast Waveney Valley pork loin and - if there's a group of you - you also get a choice of Whole roasted Suffolk chicken for two or Picanha (roasted rump of beef) for four.
What about non-meat eaters? They're well catered for - two of the main roasts are veggie - whether you're after a nut loaf or maybe a vegan wellington.
More about The Junction Tavern
Red Lion and Sun
25 North Rd, Highgate, London N6 4BE
We visited this Highgate pub for a Test Drive and it’s a perfect place to go if the weather’s behaving with a lovely back garden (but there's also plenty of space inside). Expect meat from the nearby Highgate Butchers and a seasonal, locally sourced menu outside of the roasts.
What’s the Sunday roast? It can vary depending on the supply, but on our last visit, it was a confit of Cornish lamb shoulder, roast Aberdeen Angus rib-eye or a slow roast belly of middle white pork. It comes with roast potatoes, green beans, carrot turnip, swede mash, Yorkshire and LOTS of gravy.
What about non-meat eaters? Vegetarian nut roast (served without the Yorkshire)
More about The Red Lion and Sun
Parlour
Kensal Rise - 5 Regent Street, London NW10 5LG
Run by Jesse Dunford Wood, Parlour in Kensal Rise has a pretty epic Sunday Roast menu. But it’s just as worth visiting for a couple of his specials - the Chicken Kyiv and 'Desperate Dan's' Famous Cow Pie.
What’s the Sunday roast? QUITE the choice. So there’s Sirloin of Shorthorn Beef, Mary's Lop Eared Pork, or Goosnargh Chicken Breast. Or if the choice is just too much, go for “a bit of everything”. And there are big platters for larger groups. Thre are also all the usual trimmings and ‘lashings’ of gravy
What about non-meat eaters? A recent main was a Vegan~Nut~Roast, Mushrooms, Red Wine Sauce & No Yorkie.
The Wells
30 Well Walk, Hampstead, London NW3 1BX
One of the best pubs in the Hampstead area, a local favourite and definitely THE place to go for a Sunday lunch there.
What’s the Sunday roast? Either roast rare breed beef, corn-fed chicken breast or roast lamb rump plus roast potatoes, roasted root vegetables, greens & gravy on the side.
What about non-meat eaters? Pick from the a-la-carte menu which runs alongside this. A recent example of a veggie main was goat’s cheese grilled red peppers stuffed with mushroom risotto on tomato sauce and spinach.
West London
The Cleveland Arms
Paddington - 28 Chilworth St, London W2 6DT
This local favourite now has ex-Aster chef Elisabeth Passédat in the kitchen where her Sunday roast is winning plaudits.
What’s the Sunday roast? Choose from Gloucester Old Spot Braised Pork Belly, Roast Chicken & Braised Leeks and roast beef topside or go for a whole braised lamb shoulder for six. All come with family roast potatoes, greens and a Yorkshire pudding.
What about non-meat eaters? At the time of writing, the veggie main on a Sunday is Roasted aubergine with sesame and giant couscous..
Harwood Arms
Walham Grove, Fulham, London, SW6 1QR
It’s still the only Michelin-starred pub in London, which should give you an idea of the quality and it also comes from Brett Graham (with ex Ledbury chef Sally Abé in charge as Head Chef). The venison scotch egg is a must before hitting the roasts.
What’s the Sunday roast? Roast sirloin of 45 day Blue Grey beef. On the side are Yorkshire puddings, cauliflower cheese croquettes (which on their own would make us want to come here), horseradish cream, roast potatoes, root vegetables, bone marrow gravy and greens.
What about non-meat eaters? They have a separate vegetarian menu on request.
Hero of Maida
55 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JD
Anywhere with Henry Harris (formerly of Racine) in charge of the menu is going to be great and since opening in the summer of 2018 this has been hugely popular with well-heeled locals.
What’s the Sunday roast? Solo dishes include a 45 day aged Hereford sirloin or slow roast pork belly or you can share a whole roast black leg chicken or a slow braised Cotswold lamb shoulder. All roasts come with buttered greens, swede mash, roast potatoes, leek gratin, gravy and Yorkshire puddings
What about non-meat eaters? There’s loads of choice in the starters and a main of roast squash with Brussels tops and goat’s curd on toast on a recent menu sounded good.
Also try...
- Anchor and Hope - Waterloo - normally a no-bookings restaurant but Sunday's the one time you can reserve a table.
- The Culpeper - Spitalfields - a great spot in the City and with rooms to stay if you've just eaten too much to walk...
- Smokehouse - Islington - the restaurant has a big focus on smoked meats and has pork, lamb or beef for the Sunday roast.
- Dean St Townhouse - Soho - right in the heart of town, you don't need to be a Soho House member to grab a Sunday lunch here.
- Galvin La Chapelle/ Galvin Hop - Spitalfields - The city outpost for the Galvin Brothers - head to La Chapelle for a more formal dining approach or to next door to the more casual bistrot & bar.
- Jugged Hare - The City - This city pub is also a good place to come if you fancy some game for your Sunday lunch.
- Boxcar - as both a butcher and grill, you know the Sunday roast will be great at this Marylebone spot.
- Maison Bab is now offering unlimited pork shawarma carve on Sunday with all the garnishes, plus free-flowing cocktails.
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