We’re officially in roast dinner season, so it’s time to go on the hunt for the best Sunday lunch in Leeds. From the succulent, pink roast beef and the crunchy pork crackling to the perfectly crisp roasties and lashings of hearty gravy – you can’t go wrong with a big ol’ Sunday roast in Leeds.
But with so many up-and-coming gastro pubs and restaurants popping up in this northern city nowadays, choosing where to indulge in a Leeds Sunday lunch can be almost impossible. Luckily, though, we’ve created this handy guide to the best Sunday dinner in Leeds. On the list, you’ll find everything from traditional British pubs and fancy restaurants to trendy new pop ups and gastropub haunts. Go ahead and take your pick from the very best Sunday roasts in Leeds and thank us later.
Be sure to also check out our guide to the best Sunday dinner in York, too.
The Best Sunday Roast in Leeds
Whitelock’s
Hidden away down a narrow alley just off one of Leeds city centre’s busiest streets is Whitelock’s Ale House – famous for being the oldest pub in Leeds. Once you actually find the pub and walk through the door, you’ll be welcomed by remnants of the day – think dark wood, a long, brass bar, a real log fire, and printed mirrors hanging from the walls. Without a doubt, this is one of the cosiest pubs in the city and they serve up some of the best Sunday lunch in Leeds between 12 noon and 8pm.
Fronting a menu filled with British pub classics, there’s no wonder that Whitelock’s offers one of the best Sunday roasts in Leeds, and with plenty of options to choose from. There are three different cuts of meat, including roast beef, pork and lamb, along with a roasted nut and herb loaf for the veggies. And of course, each Sunday lunch is served with all the trimmings and substantial layering of gravy. You even have the choice of going for a full blown three-courser. Why not try the soup of the day or halloumi fries to start, and the cardamom brownie or Yorkshire Parkin for dessert? Visit this oldy worldy pub an get stuck into the best Sunday dinner in Leeds in 2022, then wash it down with one of their many real ales.
Shears Yard
For something a bit more modern, Shears Yard offers one of the hippest interiors and one of the best Sunday lunches in Leeds city centre. Housed within a converted warehouse, step foot inside and be impressed by the exposed brickwork, vaulted ceilings, filament lighting and sparse concrete flooring. But it’s not just the stunning interior that will blow your socks off; this contemporary pub/restaurant serves by far one of the best Sunday dinners in Leeds. Head down between 12 noon and 5pm to sample their cracking Sunday lunch menu.
On the menu, you’ll find a selection of starters, mains and desserts. Why not start off your Leeds Sunday lunch with a smoked chicken & duck terrine, a braised ox cheek chilli fritter, or a spring vegetable minestrone style broth? Moving onto the main event, choose from a range of meats, including roast sirloin beef, slow cooked pork shoulder and roast halibut fillet. Or, if you’re not a meat eater, take your pick from leek, spinach and blue cheese crumble and wild mushroom and vegetable chilli con carne. Got room for dessert? Try their chocolate and cookie dough brownie, the sticky banoffee pudding or the warm rhubarb frangipane. Whatever you decide to order, it’s sure to be one of the best Sunday roasts in Leeds. And, with a focus on fresh, seasonal and locally produced ingredients, you’ll know you’re only eating the very best.
Beck & Call
Situated in the heart of Meanwood, this family-friendly pub does one of the best Sunday lunches in Leeds. So, next time you’re in or around Leeds, be sure to take a trip to Beck & Call and while away the afternoon with a delicious plate of food, surrounded by good company and an even better interior. Quirky frames, brightly coloured walls and paired-back furniture make this a lovely spot to grab a Sunday dinner in Leeds.
All the food served at Beck & Call has been carefully sourced from local suppliers – from the Yorkshire farm-sourced meat to the fresh veggies. You’ll have the choice of three meats, including topside of beef, pork belly and slow roast lamb shoulder, as well as vegetarian haggis for the non-meat eaters. Served with all the trimmings, you can expect creamed horseradish, creamy leeks, seasonal greens and pigs in blankets. Prefer something lighter? This pub also offers some smaller options, inspired by their usual Sunday lunches but with a little twist. For dessert, choose from the likes of warm chocolate brownie, caramel cheesecake, lemon tart and sticky toffee pudding. Considered one of the best Sunday dinners in Leeds, Beck & Call certainly won’t disappoint.
The Tetley
Not quite as old as Whitelock’s, but still old, Tetley’s Brewery dates all the way back to 1822, when it was purchased and established by Joshue Tetley for £400. Rooted in the city of Leeds, ask anyone and they’re sure to say that this is one of the best Sunday lunches in Leeds. The bar and kitchen is headed up by Head Chef, Connaire Moran – formally of The Owl and The Reliance (both also featuring on this list).
Perusing through the menu here, you’ll find mouth-watering delights that you just can’t resist. With a choice of three meats – beef, pork and chicken – accompanied by perfectly crisp roast potatoes, carrots, seasonal greens, a humungous Yorkshire pud and a healthy portion of gravy. There’s also a vegan mushroom wellington for anyone who doesn’t fancy meat. Still hungry? Choose from sticky toffee pudding, warm brownie and Northern Bloc ice cream for dessert. So, if you’re looking for one of the best Sunday dinners in Leeds, be sure to head down to The Tetley.
The Adelphi
The perfect cosy pub to curl up in and enjoy one of the best Sunday roasts in Leeds, The Adelphi is proper old school. On entry, you’ll be hit with warm, welcoming vibes thanks to the dark mahogany wood, patterned carpets and, of course, the extensive brass bar and more than friendly bar tenders. If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a Sunday lunch in Leeds with friends, The Adelphi is the place to go.
Why not grab a sharer to start? Something for all the group to dig into? Choose from sharing platters like rosemary and garlic camembert baked in sourdough or nachos topped with all the favourites. Prefer to have your own starter? Take your pick from Korean-style fried chicken, pan-fried king prawns and chorizo, and crispy calamari. Moving onto mains, The Adelphi has a number of meat options to choose from – think 21 day-aged sirloin beef, half a roast chicken or slow cooked belly pork. For the veggies? Don’t worry, they’ve got a nut roast. All these options come with all the usual trimmings, as well as the option to add on some extras like cauliflower cheese, pigs in blankets and ruffled thyme roast potatoes.
The Reliance
A favourite with the city’s foodie locals, ask any resident where the best Sunday lunch in Leeds is and they’re sure to mention The Reliance. The bright and airy interior provides a welcome break from the usual slightly stuffy, old-fashioned pubs where you might previously have enjoyed a Sunday roast. Open from 12 noon through to 7pm for Sunday dinner, this bar/dining room is certainly one of the best places to eat Sunday lunch in Leeds.
When it comes to the food, The Reliance serve up Sunday lunch in Leeds with a twist. You can choose from starters like butternut squash and parmesan arancini and tapenade with garlic crostini. For the main event, choose from three meat options (loin of pork, shoulder of lamb and topside of beef), as well as a nut roast for the veggies, all served alongside greens carrots, roast potato, Yorkshire pudding and lashings of gravy. Alongside one of the best Sunday roasts in Leeds, this pub/restaurant offers a number of other dishes, including the likes of Hanger steak with rainbow chard and bordelaise sauce; Heirloom squash with Romanesco, tabbouleh and pumpkin seeds; and North Sea cod with Jerusalem artichoke and crispy capers.
Owl
Located right on the Lockside of Leeds Canal you’ll find one of the best restaurants that the city has to offer, where they serve one of the best Sunday dinners in Leeds city centre. If you’re looking for a fine-dining style Sunday roast for a special occasion, Owl is the place to go. Renowned for its intimate atmosphere and fine-dining grub, with Head Chef Mark Owens running the show, this fancy restaurant showcases the best that British food has to offer, including a smash-hit Sunday lunch offering.
The Sunday lunch menu is fronted by an impressive four-course array. For the ‘first course’, choose from Yorkshire inspired dishes like Thirsk lamb with sand carrots, sorrel and roasted garlic, and hand dived scallops with chicken, crème fraiche and heritage turnip. For second course, you’ll be served a whopping Yorkshire pudding with beef dripping, roast potatoes, horseradish and onion. Third course – choose from delights like salt aged loin of beef wellington with beef fat mash, and North Yorkshire red partridge with waldorf dressing lovage and dumpling. For the final course, choose from desserts like rum and honey cake or a cheeseboard. If you’re looking for a next-level fancier than fancy Sunday lunch in Leeds, Owl certainly serves one of the best!
Crafthouse
Owned by hospitality heavy weights, D&D, Crafthouse is a bar/restaurant with unmatched views across the city. Here, guests can not only enjoy one of the best Sunday roasts in Leeds as well as delicious cocktails by sister bar Angelica. When you arrive, you’ll take the lift down to the restaurant, where you’ll be blown away by the suave, stylish interior. Sit down and wait to be served an out-of-this-world Leeds Sunday dinner.
Crafthouse goes the extra mile to make its Sunday lunches stand out from the rest. Starters include dishes like barbecued hispi cabbage, chicken and black pudding galantine and beef carpaccio. For main: Nidderdale roast lamb, Hereford roast beef, roasted hassleback squash, pan fried sea bream or slow cooked West Moor pork shoulder. If you’ve got any room left, take a look at their indulgent selection of desserts – sticky toffee pudding, banoffee choux, whipped vanilla rice pudding and chocolate brownie.
Chophaus
Coming into its own on a Sunday, this suave steakhouse knows what it’s doing when it comes to the best Sunday lunch in Leeds. Located just behind the historic Oakwood clock, in a unique, art-deco inspired building, and the Sunday roasts are just as dedadent. Swing by for a Sunday afternoon spent with loved ones in style.
It’s not just the interior that impresses, though; the Sunday dinner is something to behold. Choose from roast Yorkshire beef rump, half roast Yorkshire chicken, slow cooked Yorkshire pork belly and even Chateaubriand roast for two, served with all the essential trimmings – think beef fat roasties, steamed greens, pork, sage and onion stuffing, Yorkshire pudding and cauliflower cheese. Got room for something sweet? Check out their dessert menu, featuring delights like sticky toffee pudding, blueberry and lemon brulee, vanilla panna cotta and Yorkshire ice cream. Head on over to this trendy steakhouse to try out one of the best Sunday dinners in Leeds in 2022.
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