The Best Sunday Roasts in Brighton and Hove
Fire-cooked beef in the Lanes, a vegan pork belly in North Laine and white tablecloths on the seafront: Brighton's best Sunday roasts.
By Only Brighton Editorial
The best Sunday roast in Brighton is at Embers in the Lanes, which won Best Sunday Roast at the BRAVO awards for the second year running in 2026. Close behind are Cyan at The Grand on the seafront, The Bell Tower in Kemptown, the plant-based roast at Earth and Stars in North Laine, Carne on Church Road in Hove and The Signalman by London Road station. For a steak-house roast, The Coal Shed on North Street does a 35-day aged rump. Times and prices below were checked in October 2026; book for anything after 1pm, because the whole city has the same idea.
Embers, Meeting House Lane
Embers, at 42 Meeting House Lane (BN1 1HB), cooks its roast over a wood fire in an open kitchen, and it shows. Embers serves sirloin of beef, smoked half chicken and a duo of pork, each with crispy roast potatoes, seasonal veg, a Yorkshire, cauliflower cheese puree and a jug of gravy, plus vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. There is also a sharing feast for the table. Roasts run from 12.30pm to 7pm, and booking is recommended. The menu changes with the seasons, so check before you set your heart on anything.
Cyan at The Grand, Kings Road
Second place went to Cyan, the restaurant inside The Grand at 97 to 99 Kings Road. This is the traditional roast with all the trimmings in a properly smart room overlooking the sea: one for birthdays, visiting grandparents and anyone you are trying to impress. Have a cocktail in the Victoria Bar first; it won Best Cocktails in the same awards.
The Bell Tower, Arundel Road
The Bell Tower, on Arundel Road at the far end of Kemptown, came third. It uses locally sourced ingredients and does a three-meat roast for the properly hungry, and it has a big beer garden for the rare Sunday when it is warm enough to sit outside.
Earth and Stars, Windsor Street
The best plant-based roast in the city is at Earth and Stars, at 46 Windsor Street in North Laine, which came fifth overall. The star is a plant-based pork belly with rice paper crackling, served with seasonal sides. Even committed meat eaters tend to go quiet when it arrives. The pub also won the 2026 BRAVO award for plant-based food.
Carne, Church Road, Hove
Carne, on Church Road in Hove, came sixth: roast beef, lamb or chicken with crisp potatoes, Yorkshires and gravy, and there is a heated garden if the weather is being kind. It also places well for cocktails, so a long Sunday lunch here can drift quite easily into the evening.
The Signalman, Ditchling Rise
The Signalman, at 76 Ditchling Rise by London Road station, was voted the best pub in Brighton in 2026 and its roast came seventh. Big Sam's Kitchen does roast beef, pork belly with crackling, cheesy leeks and Yorkshires, and there are two pub gardens.
Kindling, East Street
Kindling came eighth with a 500g dry-aged sirloin cooked over charcoal, duck fat potatoes, Yorkshires and red wine gravy. It also won Best Lunch at the 2026 BRAVOs, so the kitchen clearly knows what it is doing in daylight hours.
The Cleveland Arms, Fiveways
The Cleveland Arms, on the edge of Blakers Park, came tenth. Choose from roast beef, pork belly, chicken or a vegetarian Wellington, then take your pint out to the tables overlooking the park.
The Coal Shed, North Street
The Coal Shed, at Clarence House, 30 to 31 North Street, serves roasts from noon to 4.30pm on Sundays. Its Sunday menu lists a 35-day aged rump of beef or half roast chicken at £28, a vegan smoked Merlot mushroom at £20, and a 500g sirloin on the bone to share at £32.50 a head. Everything comes with garlic roast potatoes, seasonal veg, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. It is cashless and not dog friendly.
Out of town, if you have a car
Several of the top roasts in the 2026 BRAVO roast list are just outside the city: The Thatched Inn at Hassocks came fourth, The Hurstwood near Uckfield ninth and the Shepherd and Dog at Fulking, under the Downs, twentieth. Pair any of them with a walk on the South Downs and you have the perfect Sunday.
Sunday roast tips
Book. Seriously. The good places fill up by Thursday. If you leave it late, aim for an early sitting at noon or a late one after 4pm, when tables turn over. And if you are vegetarian or vegan, Brighton is about the best city in the country for a roast that is not an afterthought: Earth and Stars, Embers and The Coal Shed all take the meat-free plate seriously.
