Sunday lunch at The Bell in Oxfordshire (Credit: Neil Watson)
04/10/2024
5 of the Best Country Pubs for Sunday Lunch
There’s nothing better than enjoying a Sunday pub lunch in the beauty of the English countryside. Food and drink writer Nicky Rampley-Clarke shares some of the best places to dine.
From dusting off the cobwebs with a brisk walk followed by a delicious roast with all the trimmings, washed down with a warming red, a Sunday pub lunch with family and friends has become something of a ritual in Britain, no matter how gorgeous your home or how good your cooking.
Just in time for the cosy season, we round-up the latest and greatest country pubs in the South of England for a Sunday outing, whether you’re hankering after a traditional roast or something a bit different.
And, they’re all just a drive or easy train ride from our homes in London and the South East.
The Running Horses in Surrey
The Running Horses, Mickleham, Surrey
Best for… autumn walks
Once a 16th-century coaching inn servicing the main trade route from London to the South, The Running Horses, in the picturesque hamlet of Mickleham, is bursting with character and a menu to please even the most discerning of palates.
Don’t just take our word for it, either: named Pub & Bar of the Year 2023, it’s officially got the full package, from roaring fireplace to traditional décor (horseracing medals, room keys, equestrian buckles) and seasonal food, including dishes such as courgette koftas, cauliflower steak and roasted herbed belly of pork, plus all the trimmings. The sticky toffee pudding, meanwhile, is the stuff of legend.
But the best bit? The inn couldn’t be closer to Box Hill, within an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so it’s perfectly positioned for working up an appetite before Sunday lunch (or, indeed, working it off afterwards).
Sunday lunch at The Bell, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
The Bell, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
Best for… celeb-spotting
As if the Cotswolds needed any more star power, traditional 17th-century pub The Bell in quaint Charlbury has been given a trendy lease of life under the ownership of Carole Bamford, the founder of the award-winning Daylesford Organic brand.
The pub features Cotswold stone, wooden tables and crackling fire, not to mention a cracking Sunday lunch menu with produce sourced from its sister farm Daylesford Organic, as well as other local suppliers and growers.
Nestled among royals and rock stars, you’ll enjoy the likes of pheasant breast salad, sirloin of organic beef – served perfectly pink – and bitter chocolate mousse. And they serve ‘little roasts’ if you’re bringing kids. Vegetarian dishes such as celeriac soup with chestnuts, and butternut squash and sage nut roast with salsa verde are delicious, too.
Don’t forget to order a pint (or two) of Hawkstone, local resident Jeremy Clarkson’s own beer, before you leave. Or why not book an overnight stay in one of the beautifully restored rooms and make it a long weekend?
Michelin-starred food at The Hand & Flowers
The Hand & Flowers, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Best for… Michelin stars
As the only pub in Britain to have bagged (and kept) two Michelin stars, it’s not surprising that it’s quite difficult to secure a coveted reservation at The Hand & Flowers, the jewel in the crown of an ever-increasing portfolio by famous chef Tom Kerridge. Persevere, though, as it’s more than worth it with a focus on sourcing the best possible ingredients and cooking them simply but brilliantly.
The Sunday lunch house menu has delights such as glazed omelette of smoked haddock and Parmesan; West country chicken with mushroom, hazelnut and pistachio ‘pie’ with Scottish girolles, baby onions, bacon and sauce vin jaune; and malted nougat delice with cocoa, ale & smoked toffee.
The Michelin-starred food makes it a special occasion treat, but the atmosphere is relaxed with unpretentious service and friendly staff. Wrap up the afternoon with a stroll along the River Thames in beautiful Marlow as day turns to dusk.
The vine-covered patio at The Chequers Inn at Well
The Chequers Inn at Well, Hook, Hampshire
Best for… dog-lovers
Characterised by a vine-covered patio out-front that transports you to sunnier climes - a Greek taverna or Italian trattoria, perhaps? - this secreted-away 15th-century pub in the hamlet of Well keeps things seriously traditional. And by that, we don’t just mean with its inglenook fireplace, wooden panelling and horse memorabilia, but in the dishes coming out of the kitchen: prawn and avocado cocktail, fillet of beef Wellington, steamed treacle sponge pudding - all the classics are present and correct. Don’t miss their famous fresh fish specials either. And, of course, there’s always an excellent roast with all the trimmings on Sundays.
Book a spot on that covered and heated patio, whatever the weather, so you can enjoy Sunday lunch with your four-legged friend in tow. Or there are two dog-friendly tables inside the bar.
Seafood is a speciality at The Sportsman (Credit: Phil Watson)
The Sportsman, Seasalter, Whitstable, Kent
Best for… seafood Sundays
With awards coming out of its ears and a Michelin star, it’s hardly surprising that foodies come from far and wide to sample the delights being served up at The Sportsman on the Kent coast, near the seaside town of Whitstable, which is famous for its oysters. If you’re feeling energetic, take a scenic coastal walk to the pub along the Saxon Shore Way from Whitstable (around an hour and a quarter).
Despite its unassuming location, this gastropub is wholly deserving of its accolades and praise, with a reservations book that’s fit-to-bursting every weekend (read: don’t go unannounced). As you’d expect, seafood is something of a speciality on the daily-changing, five-course tasting menu with a choice of options. Think poached rock oysters and slip sole grilled in mussel butter, all curated by chef Stephen Harris to showcase the best local ingredients.