Beautiful Victorian buildings, wide open spaces, a rich spa history and, of course, plenty of excellent pubs to visit for a delicious Sunday lunch in Harrogate. Here, you’re never far from a good Yorkshire pudding or a refreshing pint of real ale. So, what better place to while away a leisurely Sunday afternoon than in this scenic spa town.
But with so many Sunday roast spots to choose from in Harrogate, picking the best is no mean feat. That’s why we thought we’d help you out; we’ve compiled a list of the very best Sunday roasts in Harrogate in 2023. So, get scrolling and be sure to check out our guide to the best Sunday roasts in York, too!
9 Best Sunday Roast in Harrogate 2023
The Pickled Sprout
First up on our list of the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate is The Pickled Sprout, situated on the pretty cobbled John Street, a bustling area studded with quaint cafes, fancy restaurants and boutique shops. The understated exterior of this Harrogate pub does a good job of concealing the splendour inside. Inside, this Sunday roast spot in Harrogate boasts grand high ceilings, plush velvet seating and stunning botanical touches throughout. The entire space oozes elegance and sophistication, complete with a private dining room for a more intimate experience.
The menu showcases a delicious selection of starters, mains and a tempting assortment of desserts to choose from for the perfect three-course Sunday lunch in Harrogate. Kick off your Harrogate Sunday roast with a heritage beetroot salad, crispy fried squid, or a vegetable spring roll. Moving onto the main course, take your pick from roast rump of Yorkshire beef, roast breast of chicken, and roasted cauliflower steak for the veggies. All these options are served alongside a delightful array of trimmings, including the likes of duck fat roast potatoes or buttery mash, stuffing, market vegetables, perfectly fluffy Yorkshire puddings, and lashings of gravy! So, if you’re looking for the a Sunday roast in Harrogate with relaxing surroundings and locally-sourced grub, look no further than The Pickled Sprout.
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The West Park Hotel
Formerly an old Victorian coaching inn, this whitewash-fronted pub and boutique hotel offers some of the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate in 2023. With splendid views over the iconic Stray, The West Park Hotel thrums with locals at the weekends and boasts a vibrant atmosphere for a Harrogate Sunday lunch you want to forget. Inside, the decor is trend-led and modern, with a grey and teal colour palette, wooden furniture, funky filament light bulbs and a zinc-topped bar crowded with wingback bar stools.
The menu is a traditionally British affair, with hearty dishes that are sure to leave you feeling satisfied. Start your Sunday roast in Harrogate with the soup of the day with freshly baked sourdough, haddock fishcake, or the twice-baked Yorkshire cheddar souffle. For the main event, you’ve got the choice of traditional Sunday roast dishes like 21 day aged Grand Reserve sirloin of beef served pink, roast loin of pork with apple source and crackling, half roast chicken with lemon and thyme stuffing, and salt baked celeriac wellington with sage, onion and chestnut puree and puy lentil gravy. Make sure you leave room for desert with delights like homemade sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and black treacle ice cream, clementine & chocolate mousse with chocolate cookie crumb, candied orange and blood orange ice cream, or apple & blackberry crumble with vanilla custard. De-lish!
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Three’s a Crowd
This gastropub overlooking the West Park Stray, Three’s a Crowd is definitely worthy of a place on the list of the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate in 2023. Once a notorious old boozer, this Harrogate gem has undergone a huge refurbishment while managing to maintain its vintage charm. Huge windows allow the warm natural light from outside in and diners have the option of eating inside or al fresco, given the Yorkshire weather permits. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a legendary Sunday lunch in Harrogate, come rain or shine.
Their ever-changing menu showcases the finest quality seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to create British dishes full of heart and flavour. Get started with ‘nduja king prawns with sourdough focaccia and chilli mayo, the confit duck & guinea fowl terrine with roasted honey fig and muscat grape gel, or the charcuterie board to share, consisting of chorizo, salami, toasted bread, pickles and olives. Moving onto the main course, choose from roast Hereford rump cap, roast Middlewhite porchetta, fennel, apricot and black pudding stuffing, roast corn-fed chicken supreme, or celeriac and aged pecorino wellington. Each is served alongside a hearty array of sides, such as Yorkshire pudding, garlic & rosemary potatoes, stewed spring beans, roast maple & balsamic carrots, and red wine gravy. Be sure to indulge in one of their desserts while you’re there, with treats like nectarine curd pie, sticky toffee pudding, and a cheese selection on offer. So, if you’re looking for a Sunday roast in Harrogate that’s on the fancier side (a special occasion perhaps?), Three’s a Crowd serves up one of the best in town.
Find out more here.
The Malt Shovel
Nestled in the heart of the quiet village of Brearton, just outside of Harrogate, The Malt Shovel is a pretty 16th century village pub and restaurant that offers the perfect spot for lazing away a Sunday afternoon with good food and good company. Having built up a reputation for outstanding food and service, this is a must-visit for anyone looking for the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate. Inside, this friendly pub/restaurant is intimately cosy, complete with log burner and traditional decor.
Using all their expertise and knowledge of the local market, owners Sylwia and Marek have devised a menu which offers a quality dining experience with plenty of choice. Kick start your Sunday roast in Harrogate with the French onion soup, the belly pork & black pudding salad, deep fried brie, chicken liver pate, or roasted pepper and Harrogate Blue tartlet. For main, take your pick from sirloin beef, Nidderdale chicken, pork loin, or the leg of lamb. Alternatively, if you can’t choose one, why not opt for the Malt Mix and choose 3 cuts of beef instead? All roasts come served alongside a delicious selection of trimmings, including roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, roasted parsnips, honey glazed carrots, seasonal green veg, and Yorkshire pudding. Be sure to leave room for dessert, though, with delicious morsels like creme brulee, chocolate tart, sticky toffee pudding, ginger parkin, and lemon posset on the menu.
Find out more here.
The Fat Badger
Housed within a beautiful Georgian property, The Fat Badger is an AA Rosette-awarded pub/restaurant that serves up some of the best choices for a Sunday lunch in Harrogate. Packed full of Old English character, this Harrogate Sunday roast spot is situated in the heart of the up market Montpellier Quarter and serves up traditional pub food with a contemporary twist. Here, you can enjoy a high-level dining experience in the sociable and welcoming surroundings.
Alongside a refreshing array of cask ales, local beers, and thirst-quenching wines, The Fat Badger offers a delightful Sunday lunch menu. Ponder the list and select from their starters, including treats like crispy pork belly & noodle salad, monkfish scampi, pressed Yorkshire ham hock, Mediterranean fish soup, and beetroot cured salmon. Moving onto the main event, take your pick from roast rump cap of beef or roast loin of pork, each of which comes accompanied by seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, creamy mash and gravy. Alternatively, choose from a list of chargrills and the usual mains, such as beer battered haddock, vegetable tagine and the Badger Burger. It’s also worth leaving room for dessert here; sticky toffee pudding, summer trifle, vegan espresso creme caramel, white chocolate ganache, and a cheeseboard with chutney, fruit and biscuits. So, for a Sunday lunch in Harrogate with a twist, be sure to book The Fat Badger.
Find out more here.
The Pine Marten
Having recently been transformed by a brand new look, The Pine Martin pride themselves on the quality of their famous Sunday roasts in Harrogate. The interior decor has been injected with a touch of fun and colour, with the neon artwork and art deco-inspired bar, while managing to maintain its traditional charm of panelled walls and open fireplaces. Take a seat in one of multiple seating areas, each with its own unique personality, and enjoy a lovingly made Harrogate Sunday roast.
As for the food, the menu features a fantastic selection of traditional Sunday roast dishes, including starters, mains, sides and desserts. Start with the pan-fried wild scallops, pork belly bao bun, rustic tomato & basil soup, chipotle sticky chicken, panko-breaded brie, or sticky beef dumpling. For main, opt for the roast half chicken, roast pork belly, roast sirloin of beef, or fig & dolcelatte tart. Can’t decide on one? Go for the trio or duo of roasts instead and get the best of both. All of these Harrogate Sunday lunches are served with roast potatoes, sauteed greens, roasted root vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and bottomless gravy. Need some extra sides? Order the cauliflower cheese, Tenderstem broccoli or Dauphiniose potatoes on the side. Whatever you do, though, leave a little space for pud with options like home-baked chocolate brownie, Lotus Biscoff chocolate bomb, Sicilian lemon posset, apple & damson crumble, and cinnamon churros on the menu. We’d recommend the trio of lemon meringue, raspberry and salted caramel cheesecake.
Find out more here.
The Square & Compass
Located right at the centre of the beautiful village of North Rigton, just outside Harrogate, The Square & Compass is the perfect spot for a picturesque Sunday lunch. Inside, this pub/restaurant manages to seamlessly blend the new with the old, with original wood beams and higgledy-piggledy walls, along with plush seating and a teal colour palette.
The menu is extensive with a great range of starters, mains and desserts to choose from. Starters include treats like dippy duck egg with crispy ham and guacamole, baby back pork ribs with crispy shallots, classic prawn cocktail, and roast beetroot tartare. Move onto the main course with sirloin of beef, salt roasted loin of pork, corn-fed chicken breast, boneless leg of lamb, and puy lentil and cashew nut roast – all of which are served with giant homemade Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, seasonal veg, roast potatoes and gravy. When it comes to dessert, don’t skip! Pannacotta with balsamic strawberries, salted caramel brownie, sticky toffee pudding, fruit crumble with ice cream; the perfect way to finish off some of the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate.
Find out more here.
The Tannin Level
Since 1985, the Tannin Level has been one of the most renowned and best loved pubs/restaurants in Harrogate. Having been serving for more than 30 years, the Tannin Level has become notorious for offering some of the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate in 2023. It boasts a team of talented chefs that are passionate about delivering locally-sourced, seasonally inspired dishes. The setting is spread across three sophisticated dining rooms which provide the ideal setting for enjoying a Sunday roast in Harrogate with loved ones.
The Sunday lunch menu offers plenty of choice to suit all tastes and moods. Start off with the 6-hour braised ox cheek, chicken liver parfait, seared king scallops, burnt goats cheese, or Whitby crab and prawn fishcakes. Follow with the 28-day dry salt aged rump of beef or the Yorkshire woodland pork & crackling. Alternatively, opt for ‘half & half’ or ‘just the veg’. Each of these options come accompanied by Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, buttered seasonal vegetables, cauliflower cheese, and homemade gravy. Finish off with chocolate, orange & hazelnut mousse, creme brulee of the day, poached plum & berry tart, sticky toffee pudding, or 3 scoops of ice cream.
Find out more here.
William & Victoria
Having been a Harrogate favourite for over 40 years, William & Victoria is one of the best known and trusted independents pubs and restaurants in town. Offering a warm welcome, an extensive wine list and some of the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate, it’s a must-visit for anyone looking for good grub in a relaxed setting. Situated in between the fancy Montpellier Quarter and the thriving Cold Bath Road, this friendly pub has been owned and managed by the Straker family since 1982 and is fondly referred to as ‘Will & Vics’ by locals.
The menu is based on British classics with influences from around the world, so you’re sure to find something to suit all tastes. To start, opt for the crispy duck salad, devilled lamb’s kidneys, smoked haddock fish cake, prawn cocktail, honey-glazed goats cheese, locally smoked salmon, or sauteed chicken livers. For main, take your pick from roast sirloin beef, roast loin of pork, slow roast lamb, or whole roasted chicken breast, as well as a number of dishes of the non meat-eaters like Sunday ‘veg out’ and risotto Verde. To finish, order the vanilla pannacotta with winter berry compote, chocolate mousse with Tia Maria cream, classic sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, and banoffee pie. So, if you’re looking for a traditional Sunday roast in Harrogate, head down to tthe William & Victoria.
Find out more here.
That rounds up our pick of the best Sunday lunch in Harrogate in 2023. From traditionally British Sunday roasts in quaint village pubs to those with a modern twist, we’ve included something for everyone. Be sure to check out our guide to the best Sunday roast in Leeds, too!
Techno-Mads 
Excellent! 👌
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