The Sunday roast holds a privileged status amongst the greatest traditions and stories of UK food culture. Like many of the best English customs, the humble roast has its roots in family gatherings when generations would come together on the quietest day of the week, with an opportunity to eat, talk and share.
As ever, London has been a pioneer in bringing this proud tradition to the masses for over 200 years. Its 18th-century inns began serving Sunday roasts to weary travellers who wandered miles in all weathers to worship at the city’s churches and were in need of sustenance, community and good cheer.
The beautiful neighbourhood of Hampstead in north London is fortunate to have many modern versions of these inns serving fantastic versions of this quintessentially English meal. Of course, times have changed, and their travels may have only been a brisk walk on the Heath and not the multi-miles pilgrimage of old, but the philosophy remains the same. It has to be great food to be enjoyed in wonderful surroundings in the company of people who matter to you.
The Spaniards Inn
The Spaniards Inn is a Grade II listed building dating back almost half a millennia, just a few short steps away from the breathtaking scenery of Hampstead Heath on Spaniards Road. Two Spanish brothers, Francisco and Juan Poreno were responsible for creating the first version of this place and the tale goes that a dramatic duel between them led to one being buried in the garden with the other left to haunt the grounds. Little wonder then that Dickens and Keats are both said to have enjoyed a Sunday lunch here too.
Timber beams, flagged floors and oak panelling all combine to make the picture-perfect representation of an old world London Tavern with a welcoming intimacy that has made The Spaniards a firm local favourite for centuries. Their Sunday Lunch service runs all day from 11:30am to 10:30pm and it is a masterclass in the robust ingredients, hearty dishes and simple skills involved in the very best of British cuisine. For the full experience, trying one of their famous cask ales as an accompaniment, in front of the open fires, is a delight too.
The Flask
Among the charming cobbles of Flask Walk near Hampstead station is The Flask, another Grade II-listed building that confidently claims to be the creators of ‘the best Sunday Roast north of the Thames’. If the first taste of any meal is indeed with the eye, then they might just have made a convincing case as you wander into its elegant interior of a restored wooden bar, antique prints and bright sun-lit conservatory space. The Flask has resolutely maintained its original soul and character with modern additions that feel appropriately grand. The same can be said of their Sunday Lunch menu with neat touches such as the cauliflower cheese made with Beauvale Blue to give it a deeper punch alongside the beef striploin or West Country pork belly.
Sunday service here operates from 12pm to 10:30pm, with a considerable rush around the coveted 4pm slot. This means the serving times at the table can be quite leisurely, but that just adds more opportunities to take in this rare Victorian treasure. After all, the Sunday roast was always intended to be enjoyed at a relaxed pace and The Flask allows you to do so in both comfort and style.
The Bull & Last
The Bull & Last on Highgate Road is an institution on the eastern fringe of Hampstead Heath that has made the journey from Victorian Coaching Inn to a modern and distinguished Gastro-pub-hotel. It is safe to say that The Bull & Last understands the ritual of a Sunday Lunch and its heritage architecture could be easily mistaken for a country retreat of the 1900s, not the venue of the metropolis of London in 2025. While the ground floor has all the energy of a traditional English pub, there is an altogether calmer ambience in the upstairs dining room that means booking in advance is a wise choice, especially if there are four or more that will be eating together.
The nose-to-tail principles that have been such an integral part of UK cuisine in the last decade are well observed at The Bull & Last, with locally sourced and foraged ingredients brought to bear for a superb Sunday menu. Lamb rump, beef sirloin and free-range chicken with accoutrements of charred broccoli, wonderful roast potatoes and creamy gravy are the stars of the show here, and service runs from only 12pm to 4pm, making it a sold-out affair.
The Garden Gate
The Garden Gate provides a unique alternative to the rustic sensibilities of many of the options around Hampstead. This is a contemporary vision of the English pub aesthetic in a sophisticated way that still allows for informal and more casual dining, perfect for a Sunday lunch. Large windows, polished-wood tables and an overall urban garden energy are delivered to South End Road just near the famous Heath.
With so much striking scenery and greenery abounding, The Garden Gate has an ace up its sleeve with their garden offering a beautiful verdant canopy to idle under. This is the prime spot and claiming a space will inevitably mean booking a little in advance, but the experience is worthwhile – as is the food of course. If there is a subtle chill in the air, it should only serve as fuel to the appetite for their Sunday roast sharing platters of aged-beef sirloin, roast chicken and lamb rump all served with pigs-in-blankets, bacon & chestnut stuffing and perhaps most importantly for roast connoisseurs, ample pourings of red wine gravy. Sunday service is from 12pm to 8pm with an opportunity to wander inside for a post-roast tipple from a collection of great ales, or even a sticky toffee crumble if you would like your afternoon to finish on a sweeter note.
After a rousing ramble up to Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath with family, or maybe even a more vigorous jog or cycle, the Sunday roasts in the area are first-class fare. With such great choices on show, it might mean that you will soon be making it a weekly ritual all of your own. If so, this guide gives you the best place to start finding your very own favourites.
