History

The Sunday roast is a national ritual, but Bristol turned it competitive. The Bank Tavern's roast won national attention after the Observer Food Monthly named it among Britain's best Sunday lunches in 2019, and its bookings now sell out about a year in advance. Across the city, pubs measure themselves against it, from Henbury's Blaise Inn to the Ox's basement dining room, while vegan kitchens plate their own versions.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Eggs

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 45 minTotal 2 hr 15 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 1.2kg topside or sirloin of beef
  • 1kg floury potatoes, peeled and halved
  • 4 tablespoons beef dripping or vegetable oil
  • 140g plain flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 200ml whole milk
  • 500ml beef stock
  • 1 tablespoon flour for the gravy
  • Salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 220C. Season the beef all over, sear it hard in a roasting tray, then roast for 15 minutes before dropping to 170C for 40 minutes for medium-rare. Rest under foil for 30 minutes.
  2. Parboil the potatoes for 8 minutes, shake them rough in the colander, then roast in smoking dripping at 200C for about 50 minutes, turning once.
  3. Whisk flour, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt into a smooth batter and rest it. Pour into a muffin tin of smoking-hot fat and bake 20 to 25 minutes without opening the door.
  4. Make gravy in the beef tray: stir flour into the juices, cook out for a minute, then whisk in stock and simmer until glossy.
  5. Carve the rested beef thinly and serve everything hot, gravy last.

Tip from the editors. Rest the beef longer than feels right, a full 30 minutes; the difference between a good roast and a great one is mostly patience.

Where to eat west country sunday roast

West Country Sunday roast in Bristol

The Bank Tavern ★ 4.4

££ British gastropubOld CityUntil 01:00 Thu-Sat

The Bank Tavern hides down a John Street alley in Bristol with an award-named Sunday lunch so popular its roast bookings sell out a year ahead.

TryA closing pint down the alley

TipSunday sittings for 2026 sold out again; weekday lunches need no booking and carry the same kitchen's cooking.

Directions

The Ox ★ 4.1

£££ SteakhouseOld City

The Ox has grilled charcoal-cooked beef in a wood-panelled bank vault under Corn Street in Bristol's Old City since 2013, with roasts on Sundays.

OrderSteak from Buxton Butchers beef, or the Sunday roast served until 17:00.

TipMonday is bring-your-own-wine night with corkage from £10, which turns a steak dinner into genuine value.

Directions

The Blaise Inn ★ 4.3

££ British gastropubHenbury

The Blaise Inn is a Bib Gourmand village pub by Blaise Castle estate in Henbury, north Bristol, worth the bus ride for its two-course lunch deal.

OrderThe set lunch, then a walk through the Blaise Castle parkland next door.

TipKitchen closes between lunch and dinner; Sunday food stops at 16:00 sharp, so aim for a 13:00 roast sitting.

Directions

Koocha Mezze Bar ★ 4.1

££ PersianMontpelier

Koocha Mezze Bar runs a fully plant-based Persian kitchen on Cheltenham Road in Bristol, all pink neon, mezze boards and pomegranate-heavy cocktails.

OrderThe full mezze spread for the table, with a sharbat or a cocktail.

TipEverything is vegan including the Sunday roasts, which run first come first served alongside the main menu.

Directions

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