Wondering what a cornish pub sunday roast really involves? You’ll get local meat, crisp roasties and a vegetarian choice, usually served from noon to mid-afternoon. Book ahead and you’ll be fine.
This guide sits within our wider look at cornish pubs, from harbour locals to country inns.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Typical Roseland Sunday roast hours | Noon to 3-4pm |
| The Barley Sheaf, Gorran: Sunday lunch | Noon to 3pm |
| The Falcon Hotel, Bude: large roast | £16 |
| The Brendon Arms, Bude: adult roast | £15.95 |
| Preston Gate Inn, Bude: adult roast | £18.50 |
| The Brendon Arms, Bude: smaller portion | £11.50 |
These figures come from the Fal River Cornwall Roseland roast guide and the Visit Bude roast dinner page. Hours and prices can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
What does a Cornish pub Sunday roast include?
A pub roast in Cornwall follows the national template: meat, roast potatoes, seasonal veg, gravy and a Yorkshire pudding. Visit Bude says many local spots use locally sourced meats and seasonal vegetables, all topped with rich gravy and a proper Yorkshire pudding.
Part of the appeal is the pub itself. One Cornwall roast roundup pairs the meal with log fires, local ales on draught and not having to do the dishes.
Sides vary from pub to pub, as these examples show:
- The Loft in St Ives serves red cabbage and cauliflower cheese with its roasts.
- The Victoria Inn in Perranuthnoe adds honey-roasted carrots and parsnips.
- The Two Clomes near Newquay offers roasties, seasonal veg and giant Yorkshires.
Britain as a whole loves the meal. The Good Food Guide published its inaugural list of 50 best Sunday roasts on 20 November 2024. It reported 18,000 public nominations and said 75% of its readers call a roast Britain’s most popular dish.
That list covers Britain, not just Cornwall, so treat it as context rather than a local ranking.
Meat, vegetarian and vegan choices
Menus change with the season, so treat these as examples rather than fixed menus:
- The Rising Sun in St Mawes serves a choice of three meats plus vegan and vegetarian options.
- The Pandora Inn at Mylor offers two meats and a vegan option, which vary throughout the year.
- The Barley Sheaf in Gorran lists vegan roasts with cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire puddings, according to the Fal River guide.
- The Victoria Inn in Perranuthnoe has a beetroot and horseradish nut roast that the same roundup calls a firm favourite.
- The Cornish Arms in St Merryn lists Cornish beef, chicken or pork with all the trimmings.
The vegetarian dish at some pubs can vary from week to week, so check the pub’s own menu before you travel.
Local sourcing is a common selling point. The Waymarker in Falmouth uses homebred beef and lamb from neighbouring farmland, and adds a “Faddle”, its own version of pigs-in-blankets, as a holiday-let blog describes it.
Carvery or plated roast
Some pubs plate the roast in the kitchen, while others run a carvery. Three examples:
- The Pandora Inn runs a first come first served Sunday carvery and recommends being the early bird.
- The Norway Inn in Perranarworthal lets you choose a regular, large or vegetable carvery, per the same roundup.
- The Old School Bar & Kitchen in Mount Hawke serves a carvery lunch on Sundays.
For something dressier, the Fal River guide says The Nare Hotel in Veryan-in-Roseland offers tableside service with beef carved by the chef. It also says the dress code is slightly formal.
The Gurnard’s Head in Zennor sells its Sunday lunch as two or three courses, so the roast can become a longer afternoon.
Booking and timing
The Fal River guide says Sunday roasts typically run noon to 3-4pm and advises booking ahead, especially in peak season. At The Barley Sheaf in Gorran, Sunday lunch is noon to 3pm.
Some pubs serve later. The Cornish Arms near Padstow lists Sunday food from 12pm to 8pm, while the Bush Inn in Bude serves 12-4pm.
Check the season as well. The Cornish Arms says its roasts are served throughout the winter, and its own page states they are available until Sunday 16 May 2027, as listed on the pub’s page.
A simple routine helps:
- Confirm the pub serves roasts on your date, and for the season you’re visiting.
- Book where the pub asks for it. The Fal River guide says booking ahead is essential at The Rising Sun in St Mawes, and recommended at The Standard Inn in Gerrans.
- Arrive early where seating is first come first served, as at the Pandora Inn.
Visit Bude also says booking ahead is always recommended, especially during busy holiday periods.
Roast prices and portion sizes
Roundups rarely show prices, but the Visit Bude page does. It gives a snapshot of one town, and several pubs list a smaller portion too:
- The Falcon Hotel: large £16, smaller portion £13.
- The Brendon Arms: adult £15.95, smaller portion £11.50.
- Preston Gate Inn: adult £18.50, smaller portion £11.
- Break Bar: adult £18.50, smaller portion £10.95.
- Crooklets Beach Cafe: adult £13.95, smaller portion £10.95.
On that page, adult roasts run from £13.95 to £18.50. That is one coastal town, not a Cornwall-wide average, and prices can change.
Pub settings, walks and dogs
The setting is half the experience, and Cornish pubs vary widely:
- The Rising Sun in St Mawes is perched on the harbour.
- The Pandora Inn at Mylor can be reached by car or boat, according to the same roundup.
- The Two Clomes near Newquay has a roaring fire in winter and a sun-drenched beer garden in summer, per the same source.
- The Standard Inn in Gerrans offers roaring open fires in winter.
Many roast pubs sit near a walk. The Gurnard’s Head in Zennor is close to Zennor Head, which the roundup calls a perfect chance for a Sunday walk with a pub lunch.
The Victoria Inn is a short walk from the beach and South West Coast Path. The Forever Cornwall list places The Peterville Inn in St Agnes about 10 minutes’ walk from Trevaunance Cove.
On the Roseland, the Fal River guide suggests combining lunch with a trip on the King Harry Ferry and a coastal walk.
Dogs are often welcome, but check first. The Fal River guide says most venues are dog-friendly, and The Cornish Arms welcomes dogs on leads in the pub and beer garden.
Travelling with children? Our guide to family friendly pubs in cornwall is a good next step. For pubs beyond the roast, see our shortlist of the best pubs in cornwall.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Sunday roast served in Cornwall?
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The Fal River guide says roasts typically run noon to 3-4pm on the Roseland. Some pubs serve later, such as The Cornish Arms, which lists Sunday food from 12pm to 8pm. Always check the individual pub.
Do I need to book a Sunday roast in Cornwall?
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It is wise to. The Fal River guide says booking ahead is essential at The Rising Sun in St Mawes. Visit Bude recommends booking ahead during busy holiday periods.
Can vegetarians and vegans eat a pub roast in Cornwall?
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Often, yes. The Barley Sheaf in Gorran lists vegan roasts per the Fal River guide, and the Victoria Inn has a nut roast per this roundup. Vegetarian dishes can vary, so check the menu.
How much does a pub Sunday roast cost?
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On the Visit Bude page, adult roasts run from £13.95 to £18.50. Prices differ by pub and can change, so check with the pub before you go.
