A roast supper tastes that bit more delicious when it’s devoured in an off-the-beaten-track pub – preferably one with plenty of cosy nooks, top-notch brews on tap, fires ablaze and endless countryside views. Here are some of our favourite finds for Sunday lunch in the wild
Pony Chew Valley, Somerset
This restaurant with an on-site micro farm and cookery school knows how to deliver a stonking Sunday lunch.
Its end-of-week set menu is crammed with flavour-packed compilations such as local rack of pork with onion soubise, and Loch Duart salmon with warm tartare sauce and samphire. Next-level sides for the table include buttered garden cavolo nero and cabbage, cauliflower and leek cheese, and honey and mustard glazed carrots and parsnips.
Bookending the mains are tempting starters like Cornish mussel and clam chowder on toasted focaccia, and lip-smacking puddings such as apple and raisin bread and butter pudding with brandy butter sauce.
The Three Horseshoes, Somerset
This 17th-century inn from celebrated chef Margot Henderson (winner of Chef of the Year at our Food Lifestyle Awards 2025) is on the hit list of many foodies across the region and beyond.
Tick it off the checklist with a gorgeous Sunday lunch that chimes with the seasons. Temptations on the menu include starters such as lamb scrumpets and celeriac remoulade, followed by mains including Roast Hereford Rump with carrots and horseradish; beef shin and red wine pie; and Cornish sole with brown butter and capers. Naturally, there are all manner of scrumptious sides to add to the occasion – from roasties and cauliflower gratin to green salad and new potatoes.
Comforting puds, such as treacle tart and sticky toffee pudding, round off the meal in sumptuous style. There’s also an apple crumble with vanilla ice cream option for two, if you can possibly bare to share.
Dartmoor Inn, Lydford
There are countless country inns where you can rock up at the bar in your wellies following a moorland yomp. But for those seeking something smarter than post-hike pub grub, The Dartmoor Inn strikes the balance between cosy bar and smart restaurant and has made a name for itself among savvy foodies looking for contemporary Dartmoor dining.
The refined Sunday lunch menu includes creative small plates such as wood pigeon with jerusalem artichoke, mushroom and blackberry; citrus cured sea trout with avo, orange, pickled cucumber and dill; and crisp smoked ham hock with apple and pickled shallot. The main event could see you feast on the likes of ten-hour braised brisket with all the classic sides, risotto with celeriac, truffle, goat’s curd and salsa verde, or a stacked steak burger with triple-cooked chips.
Continue pushing the boat out with a luscious pud of caramel pannacotta, sticky toffee pudding or affogato.
Sign of the Angel, Wiltshire
Located in the picture-perfect National Trust village of Lacock, this gorgeous inn is a go-to for Sunday best in a pleasingly traditional setting.
Exposed beams, antique furniture and a roaring fire create a cosy atmosphere in which to feast on delicious dishes such as slow-cooked Somerset lamb shoulder with mint verde, followed by warm plum frangipane or dark chocolate crémeux with cherry compote.
If your stomach is really growling, the seasonal menu also features light bites of grilled chorizo with hummus, crisp wild mushrooms with aioli and smoked mackerel pate with pickles and toast.
Blue Ball Inn, Devon
Hidden away on the magical landscape of Exmoor National Park is this 13th-century pub-with-rooms.
Blue Ball Inn is located in Countisbury on Devon’s sliver of Exmoor (near the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth), making it an ideal destination to chase a walk on the moors with an indulgent feed.
Sure, you could wrap up the week with classic pub fare such as Exmoor beef burger or cider-battered fish and chips, but it would be a shame to miss out on the cosy pub’s staple Sunday roast. Pork belly, chicken supreme and beef topside are served with all of the trimmings – think silky cauliflower cheese, seasonal greens, roasted parsnips and spuds – as is the plant-based beetroot wellington. Dessert is all about the sweet thrills of seasonal crumble and custard, sticky toffee pud, or cheesecake of the day.
Post-feast, retire to one of the comfy sofas to nurse a pint of something deliciously local by the crackling fire.
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