lifestyle

Ditch The Car This Winter And Enjoy The Cumbrian Perfect Sunday Roast Near You

Photo by Lisa Baker on Unsplash

During these chilly winter months there aren't many things better than heading out for a hearty Sunday lunch, preferably beside an open fire and with something tasty to wash it down.

And few places in the country offer more places to do just that than Cumbria.

So, with the festivities behind us and a long January stretching out ahead, why not treat yourself and let someone else do the cooking. Here are a selection of 10 of the best pubs and restaurants where you can tuck into your favourite roast. Better still, you can get to them by Stagecoach buses.

The Old Bank Carlisle Photo: ©Good Food Awards

The Old Bank, Carlisle
Bus service: Market Hall Bus stop: All services to Carlisle City Centre
"Pub classics spun on their heed" proclaims this city centre restaurant with a four and a half star Tripadvisor rating. The Sunday menu offers two courses for £23.50 with veggie options available. It's no less than “the best place to eat in Carlisle”, according to one enthusiastic diner who added: “The menu is fantastic, the food is incredible (puddings are insane) and the cocktails are the best.”

The Vagabond Whitehaven Photo:© Vagabond Facebook

The Vagabond, Whitehaven
Bus service: 1, 2, 3 & 30
Bus stop: Lowther Street / Strand Street
A traditional pub on the west coast promising quality food at affordable prices using the freshest local produce. Food is served up to 9.30pm on Sundays and ranges beyond the typical roasts to include chicken parmigiana, Moroccan vegetable tagine and a curry of the day. “This is a fabulous little pub. Rightfully so, their food is fresh, quality ingredients, home cooked recipes. Absolutely delicious,” said a recent Tripadvisor review.

The Bistro at the Distillery Photo:©The Bistro at the Distillery

Bistro at the Distillery, Dubwath
Bus service: X4
Bus stop: Lakes Distillery
The second top pick on Tripadvisor out of 11 restaurants in the Bassenthwaite area, the Bistro in a former Victorian cattle parlour is the perfect spot for some Sunday lunch, either before or after a tour of the adjoining Lakes Distillery. Its regularly changing menu offers two courses for £27, three for £32.

The Old Stamp House Photo:©The Old Stamp House

Old Stamp House, Ambleside
Bus service: 505, 516, 555 & 599
Bus stop: Kelsick Road, Ambleside
This Michelin-starred restaurant is steeped in the history of the Lake District. Housed in the former office of William Wordsworth, who was the Westmorland Distributor of Stamps for a time, its food combines the traditional with the innovative. Lunches are a tasting menu designed as a journey around Cumbria.

The Bitter End, Cockermouth
Bus service: X4/X5
Bus stop: Kirkbank, Main Street
A traditional free house on the edge of the Lakes, dog and walker-friendly, and ideal for a Sunday roast. Rated four and a half out of five on Tripadvisor with one diner commenting, “Lovely Sunday lunch. Brie starter was amazing (best we've ever had). Roast beef dinners were great too with lovely meat.”

Thin White Duke Carlisle
Photo:©Thin White Duke Carlisle

The Thin White Duke, Carlisle
Bus service: All services to Carlisle City Centre
Bus stop: Devonshire Street / Lowther Street / Carlisle Bus Station
A gastro pub bang in the centre of the city, the Duke is the place for burgers, wraps and Thai curries plus, on Sundays only, roast beef, lamb or chicken. Says one weekly regular: “What really makes this restaurant stand out is the amazing staff. So very welcoming, friendly and accommodating.”

The Travellers Rest Grasmere.
Photo:©The Travellers Rest Grasmere facebook

The Traveller's Rest, Grasmere
Bus service: 555
Bus stop: Winterseeds, Dunmail Raise
A 16th-century coaching inn on the outskirts of one of the Lakes' best known villages, with the promise of roaring log fires in winter, real ales and a choice of pork, chicken or beef for your Sunday roast.

The Red Lion, Hawkshead
Bus service: 505
Bus stop: Hawkshead Tourist Information Centre Like many Lakes pubs, this began life as a coaching inn dating back to the 15th century which makes it the oldest pub in Hawkshead. It's also the best for Sunday lunch, according to one five-star review on Tripadvisor. Tuck into gammon, pheasant burger or vegetable tagine to mention just three dishes.

The Board & Elbow
Bus Service: X5, 104 & 508
Bus Stop: Penrith Bus Station / Railway Station
A warm and welcoming dog-friendly pub, nestled near the centre of this vibrant market town. Whether taking refuge from the weather, or looking for a place to hunker down for a cosy meal, this offers it all – with the steak and ale pie proclaimed by many on Tripadvisor to be the “best pub meal” they’d ever had.

Ye Olde Fleece Inn, Kendal
Bus Service: X6, 40, 505, 508, 516, 555, 599 & 755 Bus Stop: Kendal Bus Station
Tuck into a traditional Sunday roast in front of a roaring log fire, at Kendal’s oldest surviving inn, which was recorded as being built in 1654. It has been renovated to 21st century standards, while retaining the traditional features and homely atmosphere that comes with its fascinating history. Indulge in seasonal produce sourced from local suppliers, transformed into familiar pub classics.

Plan your bus journey - and your next Sunday roast - by using the Stagecoach route planner: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/plan-a-journey