Best Sunday roast in Brighton: 17 places for a slap-up lunch

On the hunt for the best roast in Brighton? With the city bursting with cosy pubs and incredible restaurants, it’s no surprise that this seaside city boasts a hefty selection of places serving a stellar Sunday lunch. Many major in traditional offerings, while others push the boat out with unconventional mains and trimmings. Whatever you’re in the mood for, you can guarantee to find something to soothe the soul in our list of the best Sunday roasts Brighton has to offer.

Of course, being one of the UK’s best vegan cities, you can expect to find a decent selection of veggie and vegan Sunday roasts in this list. Some are 100% vegan establishments, while others feature excellent vegan alternatives on otherwise meaty menus. By and large, you can always count on Brighton’s best restaurants to consider the needs of plant-based eaters very seriously.

So, what makes the best Sunday roast? We'd argue that the quality of ingredients is crucial to a really good one, and you’ll find that most of these places source their produce from local Sussex suppliers to guarantee the best possible flavour. In our humble opinion, it’s really important to get the basics right, from nailing perfectly fluffy roasties and light-as-air Yorkshire puddings, to not skimping on gravy! Some of these spots have taken their roast offerings up a notch with special sides and creative trimmings, like cheesy leek croquettes and parsnip puree.

One thing's for sure, Brighton is bursting with top Sunday roast options, and we’ve rounded them up into one mighty list. If you’re looking for some comfort food to round off your week, you can’t do much better than a roast with all the trimmings. Have a scroll to find our ultimate picks – these guys don’t disappoint.

Best restaurants in Brighton for Sunday roasts

Booking a Sunday roast for a special occasion? There are plenty of restaurants in Brighton serving slap-up roasts in a swish setting. Gather a group and get yourself down to one of these spots.

Pearly Cow

What: Much lyrical has been waxed about Pearly Cow’s Sunday roast, to the point where we had no other choice but to put it at the top of this list. The popular grill restaurant has earned a legion of fans for its indulgent steaks and fresh fish dishes, although many pay a visit for its chips alone (they’re cooked in beef fat and served with Dijonnaise). Back to their Sunday roasts, which include high-quality cuts like Sussex wagyu topside of beef and rolled porchetta with roast apple and fennel, served with an unrivalled selection of sides. We’re talking roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, roast carrots, red cabbage, greens and gravy. Sunday lunch is a two or three-course affair here, so make sure to check out the starters which include a trio of tacos with toppings like salted cod, crab and nori mayonnaise. Sweet fans will love the sound of its raspberry trifle with pistachio and white chocolate.
How much: Two courses for £32, three courses for £40
Where: 123 Kings Road, BN1 2FA
Book now: Pearly Cow

The Coal Shed

What: Masters of open-fire cooking The Coal Shed have been serving legendary Sunday roasts for over a decade. Every precaution is taken to ensure its meat has maximum flavour, from dry-aging beef in a Himalayan salt chamber, to sourcing herb-fed chicken from local farms. Meats are cooked and basted over hot coals, and its beef roasts are served with thyme, garlic and Jersey butter - yum. Trimmings include garlic and thyme beef fat roast potatoes, orange roasted carrots, buttered greens, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings and gravy, and if you want to order a portion of cauliflower cheese fondue on the side, you can. The restaurant’s plush dining room makes this one a nice spot for special occasions.
How much: From £24 per person
Where: 31-31 North Street, BN1 1EB
Book now: The Coal Shed

Cyan

What: On Sundays, all menus are swapped out for Cyan’s signature set Sunday lunch, which includes your choice of main with trimmings, and a pud. For under £25, that's not bad, right? Choose between chicken with chipolatas and stuffing, sirloin with Yorkshires and red wine gravy, and pork belly with apple puree and crackling, all served alongside a mountain of sides including roasties, veg, cauliflower cheese, and greens. Got a sweet tooth? You can’t go wrong with the likes of pear tart tatin, a blackberry Bakewell tart, or the king of all puds, a sticky toffee pudding.
How much: £24.95 per person
Where: The Grand, 97-99 Kings Road, BN1 2FW
Book now: Cyan

Wild Flor

What: Join head chef George Upshall once a month at Wild Flor for his Sunday Lunch Club! The ever-changing menu is always based around peak-season ingredients and costs £50 for four delicious courses. While the menu is never the same, a previous lunch included welcome snacks to start followed by trout with roe, cucumber and dill, then roast duck with preserved cheery pithivier, almond and pistachio. To finish, think dark chocolate and pear trifle, and you can always add a suggested drinks pairing for an extra £30 if you like. It might not be traditional, but it sure is good.
How much: Four courses for £50
Where: 42 Church Road, BN3 2FN
Book now: Wild Flor

The Gingerman

What: If you’d like to enjoy a Sunday roast in a more refined setting, then The Gingerman restaurant is a wonderful place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Just a stone’s throw from Brighton’s seafront, you can choose between roast beef, pork belly or a veggie squash pithivier. Portions are slightly daintier here, leaving you room to round off with something off the pud list.
How much: From £20 per person
Where: 21a Norfolk Square, BN1 2PD
Book now: The Gingerman

The Ginger Pig

What: From the same group behind The Gingerman, The Ginger Pig serves seasonal menus with produce sourced from Sussex’s best suppliers. Kick off your Sunday with its Ginger Pig Bloody Mary, made with either roasted bone marrow vodka or house cucumber gin, before tucking into a proper roast dinner. Roast sirloin of beef, pork belly or slow-roast lamb shoulder are served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, honey roast carrots, red cabbage, seasonal greens and gravy.
How much: From £20 per person
Where: 3 Hove Street, BN3 2TR
Book now: The Ginger Pig

Embers

What: With a name like Embers, you can bet this open fire restaurant serves up some seriously smoky dishes! Its Sunday roast menu, for example, revolves around ember-roasted mains, from pork loin with apple sauce and scratchings to baked onions with chestnut and sage stuffing. All are served with skillet roasties, cauliflower cheese puree, roasted carrots, charred broccoli, hispi cabbage and a sage and onion crumb. Oh, and the portions are huge!
How much: From £23 per person
Where: 42 Meeting House Lane, BN1 1HB
Book now: Embers

Petit Pois

What: Petit Pois' Sunday roasts are something quite special, but you've been warned, once they're gone, they're gone! Slow-cooked pork belly with crackling, roast chicken with wild mushroom and blue cheese sauce, medium-rare beef, or a mix of all three are up for grabs, all served with duck fat roast potatoes, honey roasted carrots, braised red cabbage, parsnip purée, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. There's also a kids Sunday roast menu for just £10!
How much: £19.50 per person
Where: 70 Ship Street, BN1 1AE
Book now: Petit Pois

The Mesmerist

What: The food programme at The Mesmerist comes courtesy of south American-inspired smokehouse Red Dog barbecue, which means that most of the time the menu revolves around Hickory smoked meats, outrageous burgers, and Nashville hot fried chicken. On Sundays, it's a similarly meaty affair, only in the form of an American-style Sunday roast. Prime rib (served pink) comes with roast potatoes, gravy, creamed corn and collard greens, which you can order for one or to share family style. Veggies are taken care of too with a smoked 'not meat-loaf' main. 
Where: 1-3 Prince Albert Street, BN1 1HE
Book now: The Mesmerist

Best pubs in Brighton for Sunday roasts

Sometimes, you just can't beat a proper pub roast. No frills, zero fuss, just hearty grub (and lots of it) served with a smile - and maybe a pint or two. Check out these brilliant Brighton pubs for your next Sunday lunch. 

The Cleveland Arms

What: Proudly serving homecooked food with all its meat sourced from local Sussex farms, you can always count on The Cleveland Arms’ award-winning Sunday roast to put a smile on your face. There are a wealth of meat, veggie and vegan options, all served with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, gravy and Yorkshire puds.
How much: From £18 per person
Where: Cleveland Road, BN1 6FF
Book now: The Cleveland Arms

The Roundhill

What: This 100% vegan pub serves up one of the best plant-based Sunday roasts in the city. Choose between three epic mains including seitan roast ‘beef’, a squash, sage and cashew nut roast, or a smoked beetroot and mushroom wellington, all of which are served with a plethora or sides. Think garlic and herb roast potatoes, buttered carrots, kale, red cabbage, maple glazed parsnips, swede mash, Yorkshire pudding and red wine gravy.
How much: From £15.50 per person
Where: 100 Ditchling Road, BN1 4SG
Book now: The Roundhill

The Cricketers

What: This historic watering hole located in the Lanes dates back as far as 1547 – the oldest pub in Brighton. Red velvet seating, thick carpets and quirky ornaments create an eclectic feel, although the food here is slick and well-executed. It offers a huge selection of Sunday roasts, from dry aged rump of beef to shoulder of lamb, chicken supreme or a squash, walnut and mushroom wellington. Hardcore meat fans can opt for a selection of four different meats if they’re feeling especially peckish.
How much: From £16.95 per person
Where: 15 Black Lion Street, BN1 1ND
Book now: The Cricketers

The Geese

What: Despite being known as the bangers and mash pub, The Geese has also gained a reputation for its properly delicious Sunday roasts. Pork belly, beef rump and garlic and thyme roast chicken are up for grabs, while veggies can choose between a beetroot and sweet potato wellington or vegan sausage as their main event. Anyone who feels their plate is slightly lacking, can add pigs in blankets or cauliflower cheese to proceedings. We’d recommend leaving room for dessert if you can, which includes sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, or cheesecake with raspberry coulis.
How much: From £18.95 per per person
Where: 16 Southover Street, BN2 9UA
Book now: The Geese

The Chimney House

What: Prestonville pub The Chimney House is a pet-friendly, family-friendly boozer with an epic Sunday menu. Meat is locally sourced, from Dingley Dell pork to South Downs lamb, and served with all the trimmings. You can make it a three-course affair if you like, with starters such as duck liver parfait with marmalade on toast, and vanilla ice cream profiteroles with salted chocolate sauce to finish.
How much: From £21 per person
Where: 28 Upper Hamilton Road, BN1 5DF
Book now: The Chimney House

Good Companions

What: This Seven Dials pub serves up some seriously good grub, and we’d suggest coming back another day to try its amazing burgers and indulgent toasties. On a Sunday though, you just can’t beat its generous roasts, which all come with cheesy leek croquettes, confit garlic roast potatoes, maple glazed carrots, parsnip puree, seasonal greens, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It even makes its own housemade beef 'seitan' with horseradish puree for plant-based eaters. 
How much: From £18 per person
Where: 132 Dyke Road, BN1 3TE
Book now: Good Companions

The Dyke

What: The Dyke underwent a major renovation following a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2019. Good thing, too. This traditional pub has become a local favourite for its welcoming staff, local lagers, fine wines and classic pub food. Naturally, that includes a Sunday roast, with slow-roast pork shoulder, roast beef rump, herb-cured roast chicken, a four-meat combo and a squash and lentil Wellington all up for grabs. All the usual trimmings are present, but if you want to order anything extra, there are pigs in blankets, smoked cauliflower cheese and stuffing croquettes on the menu for an extra five or six quid. 
How much: From £17 per person
Where: 218 Dyke Road, BN1 5AA
Book now: The Dyke

The Farm Hove

What: A charming tavern serving eastern European small plates might not sound like a quintessential Sunday roast spot, but hear us out. The Farm Tavern’s Sunday roast is a thing of beauty, all washed down with its signature Bloody Marys. We’d argue the veggie options are the thing to get here, with options spanning sweet potato and walnut loaf, and creamy smoked tofu, spinach and sweet potato pie, but meat eaters will also find pork, beef and chicken to satisfy them.
How much: From £18 per person
Where: 13 Farm road, BN3 1FB
Book now: The Farm Hove

Keen to unlock more of Brighton's brilliant culinary scene? Brighton's best vegan restaurants are an excellent place to start, with the city home to an impressive portfolio of places serving epic plant-based food.