Whether it's a traditional spread with all the trimmings or a modern twist on the classic, we all love a good roast dinner. And there's nowhere better than Oxford to get your fix of Sunday feasting, as there are endless pubs and restaurants preparing these hearty meals each week.
Wondering where to find them? From traditional boozers with affordable plates to quirky bistros offering a three-course deal, these are the very best places for Sunday lunch in Oxford.
Best Roast Dinners In Oxford
1. The Crown
- Address: 59A Cornmarket Street, OX1 3HB
- Price: from £18
- Best for: traditional pub vibes
Full of rustic charm, The Crown is a traditional boozer on Cornmarket Street. It flaunts beamed ceilings and dark wooden furniture, as well as a spacious outdoor terrace if you fancy lunching in the sun. Sip a pint of cask ale or a refreshing gin and tonic, before indulging in their sumptuous roasts.
They offer beef, chicken and either a vegan or vegetarian nut roast, loaded up with glazed parsnips, thyme-roasted carrots and fluffy Yorkshire puddings. You can add on pigs in blankets or cauliflower cheese, and the sticky toffee pudding is a must to finish your meal.
This classic pub serves roasts for less than £20 and traditional British puddings.
2. Victors
- Address: 304 The Westgate, Queen Street, OX1 1PG
- Price: from £18.50
- Best for: rooftop roasts
One of the prettiest venues in the whole city, Victors is a rooftop bar and restaurant that overlooks Christ Church Cathedral. The stunning spot is filled with wisteria, and there's an outdoor terrace for even better views. Every Sunday, they host live music from 2pm, to be enjoyed alongside your roast - with both full-sized and kids portions available.
Their choices are dry-aged beef sirloin, focaccia and rosemary-stuffed pork belly, half roast chicken or a courgette and cashew bake - or you can opt for at trio of meats at £26. Each dish comes with roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, mashed potato and seasonal vegetables, drizzled in a red wine jus. There are all sorts of sides to add on too, from truffle mac and cheese to pigs in blankets.
The roasts are just as good as the views at Victors.
3. The Perch
- Address: Binsey Lane, Binsey, OX2 0NG
- Price: from £19.95
- Best for: a country lunch
A charming pub in Binsey, The Perch brings a slice of the countryside to your Sunday lunch experience. As well as boasting a huge, leafy beer garden, this old-school boozer features rustic wooden interiors and exposed brickwork, making for a traditional dining destination.
They're keeping things local with legs of Oxfordshire lamb, slow-roasted pork belly and British grass-fed rump of beef, or for plant-based diners there's a butternut squash Wellington. Their garlic and rosemary roast potatoes are not to be missed, alongside Yorkshire puddings, roasted vegetables and a red wine gravy.
Chomp down on perfectly seasoned roasts in the countryside at The Perch.
4. Magdalen Arms
- Address: 243 Iffley Road, OX4 1SJ
- Price: from £22
- Best for: dining with dogs
A cool gastropub on the outskirts of the city centre, the Magdalen Arms is a very popular choice for roast dinner in Oxford. Their cosy interiors are always full on Sundays, and they've got a number of outdoor tables if you fancy an alfresco meal. They're dog-friendly too, so you can bring the entire family along.
Their short but sweet roast menu consists of either Gloucester old spot pork or roast Hereford rump of beef, served with all the trimmings. Or for something a little different, they offer a three-person slow-cooked lamb shoulder, accompanied by roast potatoes and Greek salad.
When you visit, you'll see why the Magdalen Arms Sunday roast is so popular.
5. Red Lion
- Address: 14 Gloucester Street, OX1 2BN
- Price: from £17.95
- Best for: a trio of meats
Offering up an affordable Sunday dinner, The Red Lion can be found on Gloucester Street in the city centre. This refined boozer features comfy booth seating and dark walls, with a high-end but affordable food menu alongside a wide selection of wine, beer and spirits.
They serve hand-carved roasts every Sunday, with many options costing £20 or less. From a vegetarian fig and dolcelatte roast to beef sirloin or even a trio of meats, there are countless dishes to try, each one boasting roasted potatoes, sautéed greens, roasted root vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and bottomless gravy.
The Red Lion are pouring bottomless gravy on their stellar roasts.
6. The Chester Arms
- Address: 19 Chester Street, OX4 1SN
- Price: from £19
- Best for: sharing roasts
A friendly pub just east of the city centre, The Chester Arms is an independent venue run by two friends. In the ten years that they've been open, their Sunday lunches have gained quite a reputation for themselves, starting from only £19 per portion. The bar area is simple and welcoming, while the spacious outdoor terrace is ideal for soaking up the sun. Did we mention that they're dog-friendly too?
From nut roast to overnight slow-roasted pork belly and succulent cuts of beef, there's something for everyone here. More of a chicken fan? Then try out their whole roasted chicken for two to three people, served with cauliflower cheese, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and vegetables. For kids or anyone less hungry, they also offer half portions at 50% of the price.
Whether you're inside the rustic pub or out in the sun, these roasts are not to be missed.
7. Plough Inn
- Address: 38 Cornmarket Street, OX1 3HA
- Price: from £16
- Best for: affordable meals in the city centre
If you're after a cheap Sunday roast in Oxford city centre, then the Plough Inn could be just the place for you. This is a vibrant, colourful pub, deked out in bright red furnishings and an array of bold paintings lining the dark walls. Their food is just as appealing, with roasts starting from as little as £16.
Devour beef sirloin with horseradish cream, roasted chicken in bread sauce or a mushroom and cashew nut Wellington, laying on a bed of celeriac purée, hispi cabbage, roasted carrots and parsnips - as well as roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings, of course. Afterwards, it has to be the Eton mess sundae.
Promising affordable but sizeable roasts, The Plough Inn is a city centre gem.
8. Pierre Victoire
- Address: 9 Little Clarendon Street, OX1 2HP
- Price: £28.50 for three courses
- Best for: a three-course roast
Putting a French twist on the British classic, Pierre Victoire is a city centre restaurant that's whipping up some of the most unique roasts in the city. This independent French bistro is beloved by locals, having won the inaugural Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards by public vote - alongside other accolades.
Their Sunday dinners come in the form of a three-course, fixed-price menu, coming in at £28.50 per person. Start with chicken liver pate or baked snails, before moving on to the main event, with each juicy cut of meat served alongside all the trimmings. And for dessert? We recommend the chocolate mousse, infused with orange liqueur.
Spice things up with a French twist on the iconic roast dinner.
9. Browns Brasserie & Bar
- Address: 5-11 Woodstock Road, OX2 6HA
- Price: from £19.95
- Best for: a relaxed but classy restaurant
Looking for a great Oxford Sunday roast? Classy but reasonably priced, Browns Brasserie & Bar is an elegant restaurant on Woodstock Road. This is a relaxed space to enjoy roasts from as little as £19.95 per person, washed down with one of their many premium wines, cocktails or Champagnes.
Each plate is piled up with roast potatoes, vegetables and seasonal greens, with a choice of beef, pork belly, chicken or a root vegetable roast. In the mood for something to share? They also offer a trio of meats or a 16oz Chateaubriand for two, with cauliflower cheese served on the side. Don't miss out on dessert either - our favourite is the Belgian chocolate brownie.
Share a giant cut of chateaubriand at Browns Brasserie & Bar.
10. The Marsh Harrier
- Address: 40 Marsh Road, OX4 2HH
- Price: from £15
- Best for: a cheap but great quality roast
One of our most affordable picks, The Marsh Harrier promises roasts from only £15, or £11 for a kids' portion. This is a haven for beer lovers in the Cowley area, just south east of the city centre, and they've also got one of the very best beer gardens in the area.
You're not short of choices here, as their Sunday menu ranges from free-range pork loin to British leg of lamb, stuffed aubergine or a nut roast. Each of these comes with a homemade Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and mixed vegetables, drenched in a rich pan gravy.
Sip cocktails while tucking into these piled-high roasts at The Marsh Harrier.
Looking for something a little earlier in the day? Then check out our picks for bottomless brunch in Oxford.
