Nottingham's Best Sunday Roasts

The Sunday roast is Britain's greatest culinary tradition, and Nottingham does it well. From gastropubs pushing the form to classic locals that have been serving the same reliable roast for decades, the city and its suburbs offer a roast for every taste, budget, and atmosphere.

The Hand & Heart on Derby Road is one of the most reliable city-centre options. The pub itself is a classic — multiple bars, a good beer garden, and a kitchen that takes the roast seriously. Expect proper roast potatoes (crisp on the outside, fluffy inside), a generous portion of meat, seasonal vegetables that have been treated with respect, and a Yorkshire pudding that justifies the trip alone. Vegetarian options are thoughtful rather than afterthoughts — roasted vegetable wellingtons, nut roasts that hold together, and cauliflower cheese that's properly cheesy.

Over in West Bridgford, The Embankment on Arkwright Street brings the riverside location to complement a strong roast offering. The dining room overlooks the Trent, which adds something to a leisurely Sunday lunch, and the kitchen delivers consistent quality across beef, chicken, pork, and lamb options. The portions are substantial — this is a roast for people who came hungry — and the dessert menu (sticky toffee pudding, apple crumble with proper custard) rewards those who save room.

For something more ambitious, Fothergills on Castle Road brings bistro sensibility to the Sunday format. Set in a striking Watson Fothergill building beside the castle, the roast here leans on local producers, the vegetables change with what's available, and the execution is a cut above most pub kitchens. It's a more refined option, but it's the kind of Sunday lunch that feels like an occasion.

Further out, The Burnt Stump near Arnold and The Crusader in Clifton represent the classic suburban pub roast — good quality, fair prices, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. These are the places where the bar staff know the regulars by name and the roast comes with a side of community. In Beeston, The Square has built a reputation for a well-executed roast in a pub that also happens to have an excellent beer garden.

A good Sunday roast isn't just about the food — it's about the ritual. The walk to the pub, the first drink at the bar, the paper (or phone) before the plates arrive, the post-roast inertia that makes the walk home feel longer than it should. Nottingham's pubs understand this. Whether you want fine dining or a straightforward pub lunch, the city's roast scene delivers.