When you need a hearty meal to reward you at the end of a long week, there’s nothing better than a Sunday roast – and there are so many brilliant places in Nottingham that serve these.
I’ve rounded up a range of pubs and restaurants across the county that make delicious and different versions of the iconic meal, from full carveries to fine dining. I have considered reader recommendations and reviews, what makes a place stand out in terms of atmosphere and food, and what the dietary options are like (such as veggie and gluten-free).
If you’re looking for places to eat in Nottingham and nothing but a plate filled with potatoes, veggies, gravy, and more will do, these are all worth checking out. And, if you want to keep up with food features, event guides, activities, and more, subscribe to receive The Notts Edit in your inbox for free.
11 of the best Sunday roasts in Nottingham
By Eve Smallman
1. Cleaver and Wake
Where: The Island Quarter, Nottingham
This is one of the most refined restaurants in Nottingham, and as well as offering intricate seasonal lunch and dinner menus, it also has a show-stopping Sunday menu. It has roast chicken, overnight roast pork belly, dry-aged rump of beef (all with real gravy), and wild mushroom wellington (with roast potatoes and seasonal veg, with the meat ones served with real gravy and the veggie one with mushroom sauce. The starters and desserts are also seriously sumptuous, with options like chalk stream trout pastrami, artisan cheeses, and Sab’s chocolate orange. This could also be combined with a walk along the canal, to the Victoria Embankment, and back.
Visit if: It’s a special occasion and you want a roast with major razzle-dazzle.
2. Royal Oak
Where: High Street, Edwinstowe
Cosy yet modern, this quintessential English pub is homely and relaxing. The Sunday dinner menu changes weekly here, but on the sample menu, the main meat roasts are roast beef, roast turkey, and belly pork. All the mains come with beef-dripping roast potatoes, cauliflower puree, Yorkshire pudding confit carrot, green veggies, and red wine gravy. There isn’t a roast dinner vegetarian option, but you can get goat cheese, spinach, and truffle Wellington with new potatoes or butternut tagliatelle with blue cheese (both £16).
Visit if: You’re looking for somewhere to fuel up after a walk around Sherwood Forest – it’s just 15 minutes away from here.
3. Malt Cross
Where: St James’s Street, Nottingham
The former Victorian music hall is a beautiful, impressive location for a Sunday roast. The food is just as stunning as the venue, with choices such as roast beef, chicken supreme, pork belly, and beetroot wellington, which all come with roasties, a giant Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, and stuffing. There is also a huge range of craft ales and ciders on draft and in the fridge too, to wash it all down with. Once you’re done with the mains, you can choose from puddings, like Eton mess and chocolate brownie, which are made in-house.
Visit if: You’re looking for a cosy spot to dive into after a morning of wandering around town.
4. The Rancliffe Arms
Where: Loughborough Road, Bunny
Originally a 16th-century coach house, this pub is a snug spot for a Sunday roast in Nottinghamshire. Unlike the others in this list it has a full carvery. Meat-wise there’s turkey, pork, beef, and ham, veggie wise there’s rustic pastry tartlets and ratatouille with brie, and vegans can enjoy falafel and the ratatouille without the cheese. All the desserts, such as sticky toffee pudding and bakewell pudding, are freshly made, too. For those with dietary requirements you can order from your table and get yours specially cooked to order. Pair this up with a circular walk around the village for a lovely day.
Visit if: You’re going with people (big or small) who just want to put what they like on the plate.
5. The Air Hostess
Where: Stanstead Avenue, Tollerton
This community-owned pub may be called Air Hostess, but it serves anything but plane food. When it comes to its roasts, you can choose from leg of lamb, rump of beef or loin of pork, which all come with two potato types, Yorkshires, veg, cauliflower in cheese and beer sauce, as well as being topped with parmesan and crispy onions. Veggies can also get the same delicious accompaniments, just served with either cauliflower steak or pan-fried Quorn fillets.
Visit if: You’re looking for a dog-friendly pub in Nottingham that serves hearty roasts (it also pairs nicely with the Tollerton to Plumtree circular).
6. Piccalilli
Where: Cannon Court, Nottingham
Tucked away just off Old Market Square, Piccalilli specialises in elevated English and European cuisine. Its Sunday roasts are just as stunning as its small plates – start with devilled eggs and welsh rarebit croquettes, before tucking into a hearty plate. Meat eaters can choose between roast and braised Bavette and roast pork and crackling, while veggies can dine on faux roast lamb. There is also always a weekly special – ring beforehand to find out what this is. These come with all the trimmings, and can be topped up with red Leicester cauliflower cheese, cider braised cabbage. You could also walk around beauty spot The Arboretum beforehand.
Visit if: You’re looking for a refined roast in the city centre – Piccalilli holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
7. The Embankment
Where: Arkwright Street, Nottingham
Head just outside the city centre and you’ll find this Grade II listed building right by the football stadiums and Trent Bridge. The menu does vary slightly each week, so it does recommend ringing up and checking before you head down. However, the kinds of foods you can expect include roast beef topside, garlic and herb chicken breast, braised lamb shoulder, and wild mushroom and leek tart, which are all served with roasties and mash, stuffing, greens, braised cabbage, and a Yorkshire pudding. For those feeling adventurous, you can try the Sunday roast burger, which has everything from Yorkshires to pigs in blankets on it.
Visit if: You’re looking for a place you can easily drive to in Nottingham that has plenty of space.
8. The Nelson
Where: Chestnut Grove, Burton Joyce
Enjoy a range of roast favourites at the award-winning The Nelson, which has sirloin of beef, leg of lamb, half roast chicken, and more to choose from. You can also have The Proper Nelson, which comes with a trio of pork, lamb, and beef with all the trimmings. In wintertime, you can go for a brisk walk down the River Trent before tucking into a roast by the roaring fire, or you can do the same in summer but dine in the garden instead.
Visit if: You’re looking for a good, old-fashioned pub that still is suitably stylish.
9. Skein
Where: Goose Gate, Hockley
Nestled on the streets of hip Hockley, Skein offers two-courses and three-courses. The menu rotates seasonally, but a sample of what it offers includes sage and pumpkin pasta and spiced harissa clams for starters. For mains, choose from chicken breast, silverside of beef, butternut and squash wellington, and basil and garlic porchetta. These are all served with roast potatoes, carrots, and veg, but you can add pigs and blankets, yorkies, and cauliflower cheese on. And, for dessert, think dark chocolate delice, earl grey sponge, and sticky toffee pudding — mmm.
Visit if: You’d like a refined Sunday roast that’s as delicious as it is chic.
10. The Good Fellow George
Where: Canning Circus, Nottingham
After the walk up Derby Road, you definitely deserve a reward in the form of a hearty roast dinner — and The Good Fellow George will sort you out with all that and more. The menu is subject to change, but as a taster, the kind of meat options you can expect are 28 day matured Derbyshire beef, slow roast pork belly with crackling and apple sauce, and wild mushroom nut roast. Starters can include brown shrimp and butter and antipasti and desserts can include Bramley apple crumble and chocolate fondant pudding. It’s also near The Park (one of the city’s poshest areas), which makes for an elegant stroll beforehand.
Visit if: You’re looking for a Sunday roast you can quickly get to from town (but still feels outside the city centre).
11. The White Horse
Where: Church Street, Ruddington
With a traditional yet sophisticated interior and a spacious beer garden, The White Horse is a lovely spot to go to for a roast no matter what the weather. There’s a great range of meat options, including a triple meat one. These all come with the usual roast dinner suspects like roasties, greens, and carrots. If you’re feeling especially peckish, you can also get a set of three courses, including soup, all the roast options (with supplements for some) and desserts like Beeston Brownies and lemon tart. If you have dietary requirements, make sure to let the team know, as they can adjust accordingly (including for gluten-free).
Visit if: You’re looking for a place that’s great value for money and will cater to the whole family.
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