Sunday is the one day of the week when you might want to put your feet up instead of slaving over a hot stove and basting a chicken. You might think no one can cook a roast dinner like you (or your mum) but once in a while why not let someone else do the cooking - and the washing up.
It it has to be said some of the roasts we've had out have been sadly underwhelming and a shadow of what we can cook at home, with tough meat, undercooked roasties and veg that's not just al dente, it's almost raw.
However, there are some strong contenders out there if you want to leave the hard work to the professionals. It's a good idea to book - in fact at some of the most popular pubs and restaurants it's essential - if you want to guarantee a table.
Read more: The top 10 best cafes for a fry up in Nottingham
Here's our pick of some of Nottinghamshire's finest, some picked for quality and others for price but, as one review puts it, "all the taste without the faff".
The Victoria
The redbrick Victorian pub next to the railway line is a bit of a legend when it comes to Sunday lunch. Beef and lamb are always on the menu, priced £15. Chicken and pork, both £14, alternate each week. There's always a veggie roast too, £13.
Diners can tuck into their roast in the dining area, the bar or outside in the undercover garden, decorated with chandeliers and bunting. With up to 14 real ales and an extensive wine list it's worth leaving the car at home and taking the tram, bus or train especially if you're planning on sticking around for the live music that's sometimes on in the afternoons. With steps leading from the railway platform directly into the pub garden it couldn't be handier.
You say: "Delicious moist supreme of chicken, fluffy Yorkshire, really tasty stuffing and gravy and no soggy vegetables. I rarely say I’ll come back as most Sunday roasts are disappointing in one way or another. This one ticked every box. Excellent, hot, fresh, tasty. You must come and try it!"
Address: 85 Dovecote Lane, Beeston NG9 1JG
Website: vichotelbeeston.co.uk
The Rancliffe Arms
Forget your Corn Flakes or bacon sandwich for Sunday breakfast because you need to arrive with a big appetite. It's not the cheapest at £17.50 a head but those who've had a carvery here say it's well worth it and has one of the best selections they've ever seen. If you want to make it a family affair it's £9.50 for children (aged three to ten).
Booking is highly advised if you want to guarantee a seat on Sundays at the characterful 16th century coaching inn. Diners can choose from roast turkey, loin of pork, topside of beef or baked ham with a marmalade and cinnamon rub, with a colourful array of vegetables such as parsnips, spiced red cabbage and carrots, and of course, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings.
For vegetarians there's rustic pastry tartlets, while vegans and coeliacs can get stuck into butternut squash, sweet potato and coriander falafel and ratatouille. It may be a step too far for some to go for a starter and dessert but the option is there, with soup or a warm duck salad to begin, and to wrap it up crowd-pleasing sticky toffee pudding, cheesecake or Bakewell pudding.
The pub also offers a takeaway service for anyone wanting to eat in the comfort of their own home. If you miss your chance on Sunday, you're in luck since the carvery is also served on Wednesdays, priced £16.50.
You say: "Roast beef is always really nice and there's a great selection of veg, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, etc. They also do a spicy red cabbage which I really like. I always say it's not the cheapest, but then again for Sunday lunch, do you want good, or, cheap? I don't think you can go out and have both."
Address: 139 Loughborough Road, Bunny NG11 6QT
Website: rancliffearms.co.uk
The Railway
The award-winning village pub has an excellent reputation for its food, drink and all round hospitality. Sundays are no exception when attention turns to roasts (there's other mains besides but come on, it's got to be a roast).
The rump of beef is cooked to perfection. For those who like it not well done, not rare, but nicely pink in the middle it's an all-round winner. Other meats are available - roast chicken and pork belly and a veggie option of savoury bread pudding.
All are served with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and plenty of delicious rich gravy. A nice little extra touch is the slow roasted onion. Prices range from £13.50 to £17.
The assortment of puddings includes light options as lemon panna cotta and strawberries with meringue but if you want to go all out, be warned, the signature toffee pudding with muscovado caramel sauce and ice cream will send you into a food coma.
If getting over to Lowdham is a trek, the good news is the same menu at the same prices is also served at the Secret Pub Company's other two pubs, Nottinghamshire Pub of the Year, The Radcliffe in Radcliffe-on-Trent, and The Plough in Normanton-on-the-Wolds.
You say: "Three of us went for and absolutely incredible Sunday lunch. Starters were brilliant, perfect Sunday lunch pork belly top notch and followed up outside in the sun with a coffee and amazing sticky toffee pudding."
Address: Station Road, Lowdham, NG14 7DU
Website: railwaylowdham.co.uk
Griffin Inn
What was once a flagging Greene King pub has gone up a notch (or several) after a £1.5m makeover in 2019 created contemporary, stylish surroundings. A traditional village pub, the Griffin wows customers with its food and earlier this year was awarded an AA Rosette for culinary excellence.
A three-course Sunday dinner can be preceded with 'the hair of the dog', either a Bloody Mary or Bucks Fizz. After starters such as prawn cocktail or baked camembert comes the main event, which reviews describe as superb and excellent.
When we say they use locally sourced produce, it doesn't get much more local than the beef, from Harkers, just down the road at Clipston-on-the Wolds. The options vary but there could be braised shoulder of lamb and pork belly, all served with roasties, glazed parsnip, carrots, seasonal greens, cauliflower cheese, buttery mash and Yorkshire pudding. Fish and vegetarian alternatives are also on the menu.
You say: "We had Sunday lunch and it s outstanding. It's not your average Sunday lunch, extremely tasty and tender meat with equally delicious accompaniments. Service was great. Basically, book in and enjoy."
Address: Main Road, Plumtree, NG12 5NB
Website: griffinplumtree.co.uk
Six
For fine dining with a view, Six at Trent Bridge takes some beating, overlooking the home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.
If you're happy to splash the cash (it is pricey) the elevated restaurant serves a first class menu with options such as roast beef rump cap, horseradish gel and Yorkshire pudding; roast pork belly with burnt apple and Packington chicken breast, bread sauce, truffle and tarragon.
Diners can begin with starters of salmon with pickled cucumber, dill emulsion, chicken liver pate or roasted beetroot salad and goat's cheese ice cream. Finish with desserts of parsnip mousse, dark chocolate cremeux and poached rhubarb with black pepper meringue. The price is £36 for two courses and £42 for three.
You say: "Lovely Sunday dinner, great service and atmosphere."
Address: Radcliffe Road, Trent Bridge, West Bridgford, NG2 6AG
Website: restaurantsix.co.uk
Roasts2Go
Not everyone can get out to a pub or restaurant so Roasts2Go will bring a Sunday dinner to your door. Choices include a family platter for two adults and two children with topside of beef, locally farmed turkey and roast pork loin, or all three, served with beef dripping roasties, creamy mash, seasonal vegetables, cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire Pudding, pigs in blankets, stuffing and gravy - all for £33.
Large and standard plates are available (£13.50 and £9.95), along with children's portions (£7.50), and even Yorkshire pudding wraps (£8.50). Gluten-free versions and a homemade nut roast for vegans complete the line-up. There's no need to miss out on dessert with an array including home-made Baileys' bread and butter pudding, chocolate fudge cake and American vanilla cheesecake.
The business covers a wide area including Arnold, Clifton, Mapperley, Ruddington, Sneinton, St Ann's, The Meadows, Carlton, and Burton Joyce.
You say: "Thank you so much for our fabulous Sunday dinner. It was absolutely delicious, as always. The meat was so melt-in-the-mouth tender and dad was very happy with his well-done beef. The veg was really fresh and it was lovely to have gluten free gravy and Yorkshire puds. So nice to have an option to customise the order. All the taste without the faff!"
Website: roasts2go.co.uk
Riverside Farm
If it's cheap and cheerful you're after you can't go wrong at Riverside Farm. Whether you're a small eater or have a huge appetite they've got it covered, with not just a large carvery but the ultimate with a mega-sized plate with three, that's right, three Yorkshire puddings, three pigs in blankets, roast spuds, vegetables and all the trimmings.
Weekend prices vary from £7.79 to £12.79 and it's even cheaper on weekdays. If you're too full for dessert - and the portions are big - don't worry, you can take it away with you. Part of the Farmhouse Inns group there's also Holly Tree Farm, near Strelley, and King's Mill Farm, Mansfield.
You say: "I thoroughly enjoyed the carvery experience, the food was hot, the meats well cooked and all at a very competitive price. The establishment is clean, well laid out and there was plenty of room. The staff were welcoming and attentive. Riverside Farm did a great job and we will definitely dine there again."
Address: Tottle Road, Nottingham NG2 1RT
Website: farmhouseinns.co.uk
