Looking for the best places for a Sunday roast in Derbyshire? As a Derbyshire food blogger I’ve made it my personal mission to find out. Is there anything better on a Sunday than a delicious Sunday lunch? Perfectly roasted, good quality meat (or a vegetarian or vegan alternative), fluffy Yorkshire puddings, crispy roast potatoes and tasty vegetables. Looking for somewhere new to try for Sunday dinner in Derbyshire and the Peak District? Here’s my recommendations for the best Sunday roasts in Derbyshire.
All prices correct at time of original publishing. However, most restaurants change their menus frequently. Usually I have written about the menu at the time of my visit which may not be the current menu. Treat this blog post as general inspiration for the best Sunday lunch in Derbyshire and check with the restaurant directly if you are interested in the finer details of the exact current offering. Updated July 2023.
Best Sunday lunch in Derby
The Dining Room 121 Derby
The Dining Room is a firm favourite with Derby foodies, and is a great option for a Sunday roast in Derbyshire. It’s a bijou bistro located on Friar Gate in Derby city centre. The Sunday lunch menu runs from midday to 4pm. Priced at one course for £16.95, two courses for £20.95 and three for £24.95.
On the day we dined the mains were a choice of roasts, catch of the day (today a delicious sounding tuna dish) or a vegan cashew and apricot falafel served with cauliflower tabbouleh and red pepper coulis. The latter two were gluten free, with gluten free options available on the roasts.
The roasts were a choice of Derbyshire beef striploin, Derbyshire lamb rump or corn fed chicken supreme. Each roast is served with roast potatoes, roast root vegetables, seasonal vegetables, cauliflower cheese, stuffing ball, pig in blanket, Yorkshire pudding and pan gravy.
Both my friend and I opted for the roast chicken. The meat was beautifully succulent with a crispy skin. The roast potatoes were some of the best I’ve had anywhere, perfectly seasoned with crispy exteriors and the fluffiest inners. I liked how a generous serving of gravy came in a little jug so one could add it to taste.
The Dining Room serve immaculate veg. On the day we dined the ‘roast root vegetables’ consisted of roast beetroot, parsnip and carrot whilst the green veg was perfectly steamed cauliflower and broccoli. These were both served on the plate. We were impressed enough with the plate, but our server returned with steaming bowls of the most incredible braised red cabbage and creamy cauliflower cheese.
Based on the overall quality, sheer generosity and range of food, I’d suggest this is the best Sunday lunch in Derby. If we were splitting hairs, the Yorkshire pudding wasn’t the best I’ve had but everything else was spot on.
The Palfrey, Milford
The Palfrey has recently moved into a gorgeous old building in Milford. It’s just over fifteen minute drive from Derby city centre, but totally worth it, particularly if you’re looking for a great Sunday roast in Derbyshire.
All the roasts at The Palfrey come accompanied by herb roast potatoes, roast root vegetables, kale, tenderstem broccoli, a pig in blanket (yes, they’re for life at The Palfrey – not just for Christmas!), a sage and onion stuffing bon-bon, a huge homemade Yorkshire pudding and gravy.
The roast potatoes had beautifully crisp exteriors and were fluffy on the inside. The green vegetables were perfectly al dente. The stuffing bon-bon was utterly delicious. Overall a wonderful plate of food.
The dessert menu is equally was tempting. I’ve had probably the best sticky toffee pudding of my life here (and trust me, I’ve had a few). Beautifully dense, moist sponge, a rich sauce and the tastiest muscovado sugar ice cream.
Priced at £24.95 for two courses and £32.95 for three courses.
Best Sunday lunch Derbyshire
The Tickled Trout, Barlow
Regular readers will know that The Tickled Trout is one of my all time favourite places to eat, so it’s no wonder they’ve been included in this edit of my all time favourite places for the best Sunday lunch in Derbyshire.
Unlike most places featured here, The Trout offers a truly a la carte menu on a Sunday. Starters start at £7.50, and main courses start at £16.50.
The roasts are incredible here. High quality, locally sourced meat, cooked with skill and served with all the trimmings. Roast dinners come with mashed and herbed potatoes, a homemade Yorkshire pudding and delicious glazed vegetables. There’s also always a catch of the day option.
Desserts are priced from £6.50 and are always excellent.
Sunday lunch Peak District
The Maynard, Grindleford
[AD] The Maynard is a gorgeous boutique country hotel, beautifully situated near Padley Gorge and the Longshaw Estate. It’s a delightful place to unwind after a bike or hike – cosy bar in winter and glorious gardens in the summer. A real plus is that The Maynard’s Sunday roast menu is served alongside the regular main menu, so there’s lots of choice if the whole party isn’t wanting a roast dinner. There are good gluten free options too.
The Sunday roast meat is locally sourced, from New Close Farm in Over Haddon, less than nine miles away, where animals are raised and nurtured through traditional farming values. The roasts on the current menu are a beef sirloin, pork loin, rump of lamb or cornfed chicken supreme. All the roasts are served with duck fat herb roasted potatoes, braised red cabbage, maple-glazed root vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and “proper gravy”. Cauliflower cheese is served separately. There’s also a vegetarian root vegetable Wellington served with all the trimmings and vegetarian gravy. This is also vegan without the cauliflower cheese. Prices range from £13.95 for the vegetarian option to £18.95 for beef. Children’s portions are available at half price.
In addition to the delicious food, there’s a good wine list and service strikes the perfect balance of professional yet really warm and friendly.
The same team also run The George in Hathersage so I’d also recommend there and expect pretty much the same delicious menu.
Red Lion at the Peak Edge Hotel
[AD] I was recently invited to review the Sunday lunch offering at the Red Lion at the Peak Edge. This is one of the most expensive Sunday lunch offerings but it is incredibly nice – and definitely one to have on your list for a special occasion.
We were particularly impressed with the fabulously cosy bar/lounge areas (the cocktail I had was divine) and the quality of the meat. Much of the produce comes from the owner’s farm, where livestock are free to roam on the 250 acre estate. The meat is generously portioned and well cooked. The sticky toffee pudding is also incredible. Read my full review.
Sunday roast, South Derbyshire
The Dragon at Willington
The Dragon Willington is a charming 150 year old pub in South Derbyshire with a brilliant beer garden and private domes. Sunday lunch menu is served from midday until 8pm. Two courses for £22.95 or three for £27.95. All the roasts are served with cauliflower cheese, honey and carraway glazed carrots and seasonal greens. Amazing desserts. Current options include treacle tart, a dark chocolate torte served with raspberry mousse, and lemon cheesecake.
Details: The Dragon Willington, DE65 6BP, 01283 704795. Dog friendly in the bar area. Car park.
The Dragon is part of the Bespoke Inns pub group, a small local chain. Other pubs in the chain include The Boot at Repton, Harpurs in Melbourne (where the vibe is very similar to that at The Dragon) and newly opened Binary Bar and Restaurant in Mickleover on the outskirts of Derby.
Sunday lunch pubs in Derbyshire
For more of a ‘proper pub’ feel try The Scotsmans Pack, Hathersage and The Barley Mow in Bonsall. Whilst I haven’t visited either on a Sunday (yet!) I did sample their festive menus last year and both provided a really good roast dinner in a traditional pub environment. The Holly Bush in Makeney is also excellent. Read my guide to Derbyshire’s cosiest pubs.
Next on my list for a Sunday roast in Derbyshire
Places that I really like but have not yet tried the Sunday offering:
The Bluebell at South Wingfield
The Bulls Head in Holymoorside
The Pattenmakers Arms, Duffield
Ice & Slice, Swadlincote, South Derbyshire
Duncombe Arms
The Bulls Head, Wilson
Places that are continually recommended to be by others but I haven’t been to (yet!):
Rafters at Riverside House – I keep hearing how good the Sunday lunch at Rafters is. To my knowledge it’s the only place in the Peak District or indeed Derbyshire as a whole that serves wagyu beef.
The Star at Cotton
The Cock Inn at Muggington
Old Hall Inn, Chinley
Oakhill Hotel, Cromford
The Coopers Arms – I have been here but not for over a decade. Note this is a carvery which I am not generally a fan of. However, if that’s your thing, this is the place to go – or Bourne’s at Denby Pottery Village.
Three Horseshoes, Clay Cross
The Merchant’s Yard
6 replies on “Best Places for a Sunday Roast in Derbyshire”
The Devonshire Arms – Middle Handley
The dog in at pentrich
Devonshire arms Baslow
The Elmtree at Elmton
The Harrington Arms in Thulston. On Elvaston Castle’s door step if you want to make a day out, out of it
The Dog at Pentrich… best Sunday dinner I’ve had in a long time!