5 of England’s most glorious pub lunches

Pubs are an essential part of England and the UK’s cultural fabric. Other than simply being snug drinking dens, they’re known for plating up lunches that’ll stop you in your tracks. From towering Yorkshire puddings and roasts with every trimming imaginable, we’ve scoured England for some of the establishments that take pub lunches to a higher, more delicious ground.

The Spaniard’s Inn in London

Steeped in a more treacherous history than your average pub, The Spaniard’s Inn is a London institution – and that’s before even looking at its menu. Hugging the western edge of Hampstead Heath, the Spaniards was a popular haunt for highwaymen in the 1700s who watched rich travellers gallop by before plotting their robbery. Couple that with a mention in Charles Dickens’s The Pickwick Papers and the Spaniard’s resident ghost stories having served as inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and you’ve got yourself a storied visit. When you do sit down in the wood-panelled dining room however, the Sunday roasts may inspire you to do some (food) writing of your own. Whole roast chicken with bacon and sage stuffing is a sharing option, while the rib of beef with red wine jus and Yorkshire pudding for carnivores, and the nut roast for vegetarians, are definite crowd pleasers. Plates are piled high so you won’t want to walk far when you’re done – luckily La Gaffe is perched just on the Heath’s southside.

The Sparrowhawk in Formby

Nestled in the countryside beyond the sand dunes and coastal pinewoods of Formby, The Sparrowhawk is a cheerful country pub. On the outside, a sunny terrace overlooks wooded gardens, while inside, contemporary dining spaces pair with cosy fireside alcoves laden with books for the essential post-lunch comedown. The lunch itself is pub food done well; on weekdays you’ll find classics such as flaky chicken and leek pie, golden battered fish with chunky chips, and honey mustard-glazed roast ham topped with a yolky fried egg. Come Sunday, the roasts are a plentiful affair with lamb, beef, pork and even a mixed roast an option, all served with honey-coloured roast potatoes, soft and crunchy sprouts and lashings of savoury gravy, to name but a few of the trimmings. Follow that with a traditional rhubarb crumble while the fireplace roars in the background, and a warm air of contentedness will inevitably envelop you. Only a 15-minute drive away and you’ll reach the elegantly styled Birches Brow Boutique Guestrooms.

The Shoe Inn in Exton

Snugly tucked away in the heart of the Meon Valley, The Shoe Inn is a masterful showcase of just how good pubs and their food can be. A popular pitstop for walkers and ramblers, The Shoe is situated along the River Meon which ebbs gently past the pub’s handsome gardens, home to an ice cream shack in the summertime. It’s an idyllic setting and a wonderful embodiment of Hampshire’s most appealing traits, and the food helps round out the picture in exquisite fashion. Local ingredients are the backbone of the menu, where fish is sourced upriver at a nearby fishery, so opt for grilled or battered haddock, laden town with mushy peas, tartare sauce and Maris Piper chips or their acclaimed fish pie. Other highlights include sirloin steak with grilled mushroom, tomatoes and Hampshire watercress, and roast duck breast served alongside butter toasted gnocchi, tenderstem broccoli, and caramel orange and spiced red wine jus. Stay at The Thomas Lord in West Meon which is a short drive away and does a fantastic Sunday roast.

Hand & Heart in Nottingham

Built into the sandstone caves below Nottingham’s castle, Hand & Heart has an irreverent and casual charm to it. Renowned for its selection of cask ales and mammoth-sized roasts, this is a popular local watering hole that combines quality food with a unique setting. Find yourself a seat in the floral-wallpapered living room or go one better and choose to dine in the pub’s cave where sandstone walls curl around and overhead, while candles and string lights provide the necessary ambience. Tuck into a generously-portioned steak, smoked bacon and local ale pie, or if you’re visiting on Sunday, the slow-cooked lamb shank with rosemary jus or pork belly will hit the spot nicely. The pub is a popular venue for folk musicians so it’s worth hanging around afterwards for a dash of merrymaking before retreating to nearby Clarendon House.

The Tickell Arms in Whittlesford

Based in a powder blue country home, The Tickell Arms is a truly bucolic picture. Entering the pub, you’ll walk through a narrow door adorned with an ornate wrought-iron lantern, before being greeted by a gorgeously-styled interior that crosses pared-back traditional decor with rustic details – think dark wooden floorboards, reclaimed tables, restored Victorian fireplaces and tiny wood-burning stoves. It’s easy to get distracted by your surroundings but when your meal arrives, you’ll be firmly fixed on your plate. Whole plaice comes with a side of herby new potatoes, buttered spinach and kale, pine nuts and Beurre Blanc, while meat lovers will find much to love in the slow-cooked blade of beef served with juniper sauce, or duck breast drizzled in orange puree. Sunday roast options are equally lavish with the stuffed pork belly being a particular highlight. The Pear Tree Inn is a 12-minute drive away and a complimentary glass of their sloe gin is the perfect digestif after your meal.