Best roasts in London: Sunday lunch sorted
Searching for the best Sunday roast London has to offer? Get your fill of succulent meat, crispy potatoes and rivers of gravy with our guide
Best Roasts in London: Sunday lunch sorted. Photo: Marksman
Smokehouse Islington
Tucked away on a sleepy Shoreditch back street, The Princess of Shoreditch is unlikely to pick up passers-by, but it's considered a gem by the in-the-know crowd, who hold its Sunday roast in high esteem. The menu is broken into three courses – be careful, those starters are hearty and ultimately not as interesting as the desserts, so do leave room. Mains include hake en croute: thick chunks of fish and a light scattering of greens nestled inside thick soft pastry, shaped charmingly like a fish. Another highlight is the 48 day-aged sirloin: three generous slices of beef, served with an equally generous Yorkshire pud. All roasts come served with crisp and fatty roast potatoes, and buttery seasonal vegetables. As for dessert, the sticky toffee pudding served in a moat of treacly sauce with a scoop of honeycomb ice cream is one of the most delicious you’ll find in London.
Where: 76-78 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE
Click here to book
The Drapers Arms, Islington
With its elegant decor, buzzy atmosphere and, crucially, tip-top roasts, Sunday lunch at neighbourhood pub The Drapers Arms is always a treat. To make the most of the menu here, come with like-minded diners and be prepared to share: the best dishes serve tables of two, three or four, and include slow-cooked lamb shoulder, roast forerib of beef and roast duck magret, all of which come with roasties, carrots and greens. There’s a meat-heavy selection of starters too – braised oxtail with bone-marrow toast and pickle salad sets the tone – and less interesting but no less pleasant desserts (vanilla cheesecake, profiteroles etc). If the weather is in your favour, walk off the feasting with a stroll along the nearby slice of tranquility that is the New River Path.
Where: 44 Barnsbury Street, London N1 1ER
Click here to book
Marksman, Hackney
Marksman in Hackney comes from serious pedigree: its chef proprietors Tom Harris and Jon Rotheram are both formerly of Michelin-starred St John, and since taking on the establishment back in 2015, they’ve earned it a Michelin Pub of the Year award. While the food here is second to none any day of the week, the Sunday lunch menu is a chance to sample what Harris and Rotheram do best: hearty British fare with superstar enhancements. Do opt for the full three courses, which may or may not include cured chalk-stream trout served with dill mustard and a rye cracker; roast mallard with damson jelly and bread sauce; and a show-stopping brown butter and honey tart for dessert.
Where: 254 Hackney Road, London E2 7SJ
Click here to book
The Anchor and Hope, Waterloo
Those paying close attention will recall we mentioned there was a third London sibling to Stockwell’s Canton Arms and Stokey’s Clarence Tavern. Meet the Anchor and Hope, the group’s Waterloo outpost – ideal for those who don’t want to head too far north or south for a gourmet Sunday lunch. Potted shrimps; chicken, foie gras and prosciutto terrine; grilled dover soles; and suet-crusted Swaledale steak pie are among the menu highlights here, but there are more traditional cuts of meat, too. Do leave room for the relatively lengthy dessert menu, which may include a hot chocolate pot; a brioche and marmalade butter pudding; and stem ginger ice cream.
Where: 36 The Cut, London SE1 8LP
Click here to book
Roast, Borough
Stellar restaurant group JKS, the sibling-run dream-team behind the likes of Bao, Hoppers, Gymkhana and Sabor, have turned their attention to the great British pub this year, stepping in to run revamped watering holes The George in Fitzrovia (pictured left) and The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea (right). Both have been welcomed by rave reviews, but this marks their first autumn – aka, time to show us what they can do with a traditional Sunday lunch. If you've been everywhere else on this list and are determined to discover a Hot New Roast, or are bemoaning the fact we haven't profiled more west London pubs on this list, then be brave, be bold and be among the first diners to sample what they've got. With acclaimed chefs James Knappett (Kitchen Table) and Alex Harper (The Ledbury and several other Michelin-starred restaurants) in charge of the menus at both pubs, we're expecting big, scrummy things.
Tucked away on a sleepy Shoreditch back street, The Princess of Shoreditch is unlikely to pick up passers-by, but it's considered a gem by the in-the-know crowd, who hold its Sunday roast in high esteem. The menu is broken into three courses – be careful, those starters are hearty and ultimately not as interesting as the desserts, so do leave room. Mains include hake en croute: thick chunks of fish and a light scattering of greens nestled inside thick soft pastry, shaped charmingly like a fish. Another highlight is the 48 day-aged sirloin: three generous slices of beef, served with an equally generous Yorkshire pud. All roasts come served with crisp and fatty roast potatoes, and buttery seasonal vegetables. As for dessert, the sticky toffee pudding served in a moat of treacly sauce with a scoop of honeycomb ice cream is one of the most delicious you’ll find in London.
Where: 76-78 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE
Click here to book
The Drapers Arms, Islington
With its elegant decor, buzzy atmosphere and, crucially, tip-top roasts, Sunday lunch at neighbourhood pub The Drapers Arms is always a treat. To make the most of the menu here, come with like-minded diners and be prepared to share: the best dishes serve tables of two, three or four, and include slow-cooked lamb shoulder, roast forerib of beef and roast duck magret, all of which come with roasties, carrots and greens. There’s a meat-heavy selection of starters too – braised oxtail with bone-marrow toast and pickle salad sets the tone – and less interesting but no less pleasant desserts (vanilla cheesecake, profiteroles etc). If the weather is in your favour, walk off the feasting with a stroll along the nearby slice of tranquility that is the New River Path.
Where: 44 Barnsbury Street, London N1 1ER
Click here to book
Marksman, Hackney
Marksman in Hackney comes from serious pedigree: its chef proprietors Tom Harris and Jon Rotheram are both formerly of Michelin-starred St John, and since taking on the establishment back in 2015, they’ve earned it a Michelin Pub of the Year award. While the food here is second to none any day of the week, the Sunday lunch menu is a chance to sample what Harris and Rotheram do best: hearty British fare with superstar enhancements. Do opt for the full three courses, which may or may not include cured chalk-stream trout served with dill mustard and a rye cracker; roast mallard with damson jelly and bread sauce; and a show-stopping brown butter and honey tart for dessert.
Where: 254 Hackney Road, London E2 7SJ
Click here to book
The Anchor and Hope, Waterloo
Those paying close attention will recall we mentioned there was a third London sibling to Stockwell’s Canton Arms and Stokey’s Clarence Tavern. Meet the Anchor and Hope, the group’s Waterloo outpost – ideal for those who don’t want to head too far north or south for a gourmet Sunday lunch. Potted shrimps; chicken, foie gras and prosciutto terrine; grilled dover soles; and suet-crusted Swaledale steak pie are among the menu highlights here, but there are more traditional cuts of meat, too. Do leave room for the relatively lengthy dessert menu, which may include a hot chocolate pot; a brioche and marmalade butter pudding; and stem ginger ice cream.
Where: 36 The Cut, London SE1 8LP
Click here to book
Roast, Borough
Stellar restaurant group JKS, the sibling-run dream-team behind the likes of Bao, Hoppers, Gymkhana and Sabor, have turned their attention to the great British pub this year, stepping in to run revamped watering holes The George in Fitzrovia (pictured left) and The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea (right). Both have been welcomed by rave reviews, but this marks their first autumn – aka, time to show us what they can do with a traditional Sunday lunch. If you've been everywhere else on this list and are determined to discover a Hot New Roast, or are bemoaning the fact we haven't profiled more west London pubs on this list, then be brave, be bold and be among the first diners to sample what they've got. With acclaimed chefs James Knappett (Kitchen Table) and Alex Harper (The Ledbury and several other Michelin-starred restaurants) in charge of the menus at both pubs, we're expecting big, scrummy things.
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