We all love a good roast on a Sunday but while many of us might think we are dab hands in the kitchen, it's far more enjoyable to get others to do all the cooking - not to mention all that washing up afterwards.
As we head towards spring, there are few things better than a slap up Sunday lunch in a gastropub or restaurant with a roaring fire, and Bristol is blessed with such places.
Below is a round-up of the best roast-serving pubs in Bristol but if we’ve missed out your favourite, tell us your recommendations in the comments below. It's time to pile on the roasties and cauliflower cheese, pass the gravy boat and tuck in …
READ MORE: New bagel bakery to open in Bristol next month
The Knowle
This imposing former hotel overlooking Knowle and Brislington has become a go-to place for Sunday lunch since it reopened under new owners (the same team behind The Greenbank in Easton, The Eastfield Inn in Henleaze, The Alma Tavern in Clifton and The Westbury Park - all of which serve equally fine Sunday roasts).
Served from 12pm until 4pm, the Sunday roast choice includes 30-day aged roast topside of beef; chicken supreme with leek stuffing and pigs in blankets or sweet potato and lentil nut roast served with all the usual trimmings. Prices range from £12.50 to £14.95, and there’s a good size garden for the warmer months.
Leighton Road, Knowle, BS4 2LL. Tel: 0117 9716351.
The Gloucester Old Spot
A popular choice for families with kids due to the colourful enclosed beer garden and heated terrace, The Gloucester Old Spot is well known for its brilliant Sunday roasts.
Prices start at £14 for the mushroom, chestnut and pine nut cabbage parcel and the three meat options - slow-roasted topside of beef, roast pork belly and roast chicken leg - cost £16, all served with roast potatoes, gravy, maple glazed carrots, parsnips, red cabbage, greens, creamed leeks and Yorkshire pudding.
Those with even bigger appetites can go for The Whole Hog (£23) - a mountainous plate comprising roast beef, chicken, pork, pigs in blankets, squash puree, roast potatoes, gravy and all the trimmings.
138-140 Kellaway Avenue, Horfield, BS6 7YQ. Tel: 0117 9247693.
Kensington Arms
This Victorian corner pub in Redland attracts discerning local drinkers and diners. The elegant dining room is packed with mismatched antique furniture, Victorian prints and views into the open kitchen.
The set menu on Sundays costs £28 for three courses or £24 for two and includes Saddleback pork belly, carrot puree, and spinach and apricot stuffed shoulder of Chew Valley lamb, mint sauce, all served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, buttered greens, braised red cabbage, orange and star anise glazed carrots, sherry glazed beetroot and cauliflower cheese.
35-37 Stanley Road, Redland, BS6 6NP. Tel: 0117 9446444.
The Bank Tavern
The Bank Tavern’s legendary roast dinner was named the best in the UK by The Observer Food Monthly three years ago, which might explain why it’s so hard to get a table.
The food at the Georgian pub, located behind The Lanes, is brilliant value at £17.95 for three courses or £14.95 for two - although main dishes are also priced individually.
Main courses include slow-cooked pork belly or vegetarian-friendly vegetable and lentil loaf, all served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, parsnip purée, creamy leeks, braised red cabbage and vegetables.
John Street, BS1 2HR. Tel: 0117 9304691.
The Spotted Cow
Bedminster’s very own, The Spotted Cow, offers up the traditional Sunday lunch and trimmings at reasonable prices, with a standard main costing between £12.95 for the mushroom and Stilton wellington with red onion marmalade and £15.95 for the Hereford Cross beef sirloin with Yorkshire pudding, horseradish sauce, roast potatoes, squash puree, seasonal vegetables and rich gravy. The kids roasts are £6 and include a choice of three meats or a vegetarian version.
139 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1EZ. Tel: 0117 9634433.
The Grace
Still one of Gloucester Road’s finest, The Grace offers a wide selection of local ales and ciders, as well as a legendary Bloody Mary to perk you up on Sunday lunchtime.
The roasts include rare roast rump of beef, with baised ox cheek roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and horseradish sauce (£16.50) and free-range rosemary and garlic roast chicken with pig in blanket, roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding (£15.50).
197 Gloucester Road, BS7 8BG. Tel: 0117 9244334.
The Lock Up
This family-run restaurant and bar has become a popular spot for people in Redfield and St George since it opened in 2016.
The Sunday roasts include three meat options - rare beef rump, cider-braised Old Spot pork belly or slow-roasted lamb shoulder - and range in price from £14 to £14.50.
For vegetarians, there’s butternut squash and courgette loaf, wild mushroom and rosemary gravy at £13.40.
182 Church Road, Redfield, BS5 9HX. Tel: 0117 3290707.
Harbour House
Previously known as Severnshed, this Brunel-built 19th-century boathouse is a relaxed place on a Sunday lunchtime, with a lovely waterside terrace for the warmer months.
Served from noon until 5pm, the Sunday roasts are all served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli, red cabbage and gravy.
Choose between rump of beef (£15), pork belly (£14) or a whole baby chicken (£14.50), with kids’ roasts at £7. Vegetarians can go for the mushroom wellington (£13) or the season vegan roast.
Either way, leave room for the sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream.
The Grove, BS1 4RB. Tel: 0117 9251212.
The Ox
Beneath the Commercial Rooms Wetherspoons in Corn Street, The Ox is known as one of Bristol’s best steak restaurants but it also serves a cracking Sunday roast.
Dry-aged beef rump with horseradish (£18) is one way to go, or perhaps the slow-roasted porchetta with apple sauce at £16.50 - all mains are served with roast potatoes, roast carrots, braised red cabbage, leeks and greens, Yorkshire pudding and cauliflower cheese.
For larger groups, the sharing roasts are popular - there’s charcoal-roasted 10oz beef sirloin and porchetta with roast bone marrow, onions and Parmesan (£45) or a 30oz T-Bone/Bone-in rib of beef with horseradish for £70.
Children aged 12 or under can enjoy a ‘Little Ox Kids Roast’ for £7.50.
43 Corn Street, BS1 1HT. Tel: 0117 9221001.
Bianchis
Formerly the legendary Bell’s Diner in the heart of Montpelier, Bianchis is an Italian restaurant run by the same team behind Pasta Loco and Pasta Ripiena.
Sunday lunch here is relaxed and family-friendly, with set menus at £32 for three courses or £28 for two.
A typical meal might begin with clams, braised octopus, datterini tomatoes and soft herbs followed by porchetta or a quarter free-range chicken - all mains served with triple roasted garlic and oregano roast potatoes, braised greens, honey and mustard grilled carrots, cauliflower and parmesan puree and salsa verde.
If you still have room, finish with the limoncello tiramisu with crushed pistachios.
1-3 York Road, Montpelier, BS6 5QB. Tel: 0117 3294100.
Caper and Cure
On the bustling corner of Stokes Croft, Caper and Cure is a surprisingly chilled venue to sit back and enjoy a long Sunday lunch.
Main courses are reasonably priced from £12 to £14 and choices include Himalayan salt-aged beef rump cap, rolled local Middle White pork shoulder with crispy crackling or the veggie/vegan option of mushroom and oat wellington.
They are all served with roast potatoes, red cabbage, crushed swede, celeriac and horseradish puree, buttered greens, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.
The desserts are excellent, too, with chocolate mousse, boozy prunes, creme fraiche and hazelnuts being one tempting option.
108A Stokes Croft, BS1 3RU. Tel: 0117 9232858.
Star and Dove
This much loved Totterdown pub opposite Victoria Park is gaining a huge reputation for its Sunday roasts under the latest owner.
There’s rib of beef (£18.50), rare breed pork belly (£17) or salt baked celeriac (£14) for the vegetarians, all served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, carrot, hispi cabbage and gravy.
You can also add cauliflower cheese for £3.50 and kids’ roasts are half the price of the adult versions.
75-78 St Luke's Rd, Totterdown, Bristol BS3 4RY. Tel: 0117 4030386.
Pasture
Opposite St Mary Redcliffe Church, chef Sam Elliott has made his mark with Pasture, the success of which has already seen a second site open in Cardiff.
Booking is essential for Sunday lunch at this upmarket steak restaurant where the main courses range from £17 for the nut roast (roasted squash, chickpeas, nuts, herbs and quinoa with mushroom gravy) to £19 for the roast rump of beef - all served with roast potatoes,
leek gratin, greens, celeriac puree, Yorkshire puddings and ‘bottomless’ gravy.
2 Portwall Lane, Redcliffe, BS1 6NB. Tel: 07741 193445.
Bar 44
For Sunday lunch with a difference, head to Bar 44, the Spanish restaurant serving platters of roast 35-day dry-aged Hereford beef (£38) or shoulder of lamb with mint (£36) for two people to share.
Both are served with chorizo Yorkshire pudding, Jamón fat roast bravas potatoes with rosemary, garlic and thyme, Manchego cauliflower cheese, hispi cabbage with jamón butter, roast carrots with honey and thyme, and red wine gravy.
There’s also a veggie roast for £28 and children’s roasts are £6. Vegan and gluten-free roasts are also available.
18-20 Regent Street, Clifton Village, BS8 4HG. Tel: 03333 444049.
Read next
- I tried Farro's new ice cream everyone has been raving about
- The Bristol tapas bar in Stokes Croft celebrating local ingredients
- The central Bristol pub where pirates and sea captains used to drink
- Inside Bristol's brand new underground cocktail bar
- Shirehampton butcher Paul is still cutting it after 44 years
