There’s just something extra special about that Sunday feeling. Things are on a go slow with a deeply restful lie in before a spot of breakfast, a leisurely cup of steaming coffee in hand. Follow that with a bracing stroll or a morning on the beach swimming, and you’ll easily work up an appetite for one of the nation’s favourite meals - the Sunday roast.
Whether you're bonkers for roast beef, partial to a spot of pork crackling, crazy for chicken or nuts for a nut roast, Sunday lunch is an institution not to be trifled with. Raised to new heights when accompanied by melt-in-the-mouth roast potatoes, light-as-air Yorkshire puds and the mountains of veg and lashings of gravy that go with it, it’s a meal that perfectly rounds off the week while setting you up for the next.
And when you’re holidaying in the beautiful county of Pembrokeshire in Wales, what better way to enjoy a roast than by seeking out the best country and coastal pubs? They have that magical combination of a warm welcome, excellent drinks on tap and from local vineyards, and beautiful views – as well as taking the pressure off of you having to cook! So whether it’s the height of summer (when you can pitch up in a sunny pub garden), or a brisk winter’s day (when you can hunker down next to an open fire), choose a pub or inn for your next Sunday lunch.
So grab your knife and fork and feast your eyes on this roundup of the best pubs for a Sunday lunch in Pembrokeshire…
The Golden Lion, Newport
East Street, Newport SA42 0SY
This dog friendly, 17th century inn lies in the small seaside town of Newport, just steps from the coastal path. The Golden Lion definitely ticks the ‘gastropub’ box with lots of places to squirrel yourself away for your Sunday lunch. In the cooler months, nestle down inside where beamed ceilings, wooden floors, and an open fire lend a cosy, welcoming vibe, while outside there’s a garden with a marquee, just right for summer.
Sundays are popular here so it’s probably good to book ahead, but once you’re in you can enjoy the likes of roasted topside of beef with homemade Yorkshire puds, butter roasted chicken served with pigs in blankets and a rich puy lentil cottage pie. All meals are perfectly paired with a great selection of local beers, ales and ciders, with a wide choice of wines and spirits to choose from too. This is a lovely stop off if you’ve spent the morning walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, stopping at pretty Aberfforest beach for a quick dip.
The Stackpole Inn, Stackpole
Jasons Corner, Stackpole, nr Pembroke SA71 5DF
The award-winning Stackpole Inn is a firm favourite with locals and visitors alike, with their Sunday roasts receiving rave reviews. It’s not surprising though, when so much care and effort is taken to ensure they use the best local producers and suppliers for Pembrokeshire meat, seafood, vegetables and dairy.
Their Sunday menu is a dream, with the likes of shoulder of Welsh lamb, stuffed Welsh pork belly and aged brisket of Pembrokeshire beef holding pride of place, with tasty veggie and vegan options available. Make sure to leave room for pudding too, with bread and butter pudding and lemon posset (to name just a few of the choices) on hand to complete your meal. Afterwards, walk off your feast by exploring the beautiful Stackpole Estate, home to the magnificent golden sandy beaches of Barafundle Bay and Broad Haven South, 200-year old lily ponds at Bosherton, and a tranquil six-acre walled garden.
Carew Inn, Carew
Carew, nr Tenby SA70 8SL
Set in the pretty village of Carew near Tenby, this traditional pub boasts stunning views over the ruins of Carew Castle and its mill pond. With warm and friendly staff and excellent local ales and beers, The Carew Inn is also really well known for its lip-smackingly good Sunday lunches.
Generous and filling, there’s plenty to choose from such as the mixed meat platter, while children’s sizes are on hand for smaller tummies. Accompanied by plentiful veggies, roast potatoes, fluffy Yorkshire puds and lashings of gravy, you won’t leave wanting! If you want to finish your meal with something sweet, there’s a great dessert menu available. Anyone for fruit crumble or sticky toffee pudding? After all of that tastiness, take a stroll around the ruined castle before heading to Upton Castle Gardens, a 35-acre historical garden with woodland.
The Brewery Inn, Cosheston
The Cross, Cosheston, Pembroke Dock SA72 4UD
A fantastic village pub in the beautiful village of Cosheston, The Brewery Inn is a relaxed, informal free house and eatery with a passion for real ales and home-cooked food. The Sunday lunches are celebrated in the area, so it’s probably a good idea to book ahead so you can enjoy the choice of slow cooked lamb, beef and roast chicken, or a mix of all three if you just can’t decide!
There are also tasty veggie, vegan and fish options available too, with rib-stickingly good puddings to follow such as spotted dick and custard or apple and rhubarb crumble with cream. If you want to work up an appetite beforehand or let things settle after you’ve eaten, a walk at nearby Cleddau Woodlands is a must.
Castle Inn, Newport
Bridge Street, Newport SA42 0TB
Dog friendly and welcoming, the Castle Inn in Newport is a traditional stone building with wood panelled bar and an open fire with plenty of room for diners, while outside there’s a garden for the summer months. Always popular, their Sunday lunches are legendary with roasted leg of pork, beef and Yorkshire pudding, roasted turkey with stuffing or a combination of all three on the menu, as well as a ‘Sunday Salad’ where you can get roasted meat with a seasonal salad and new potatoes.
There’s veggie and vegan options too, while your four-legged friend needn’t miss out – ‘The Hungry Dawg’ menu has sausage, chicken, rice and gravy especially for doggos as well as Utterly Mutterly ice cream! Afterwards, head to nearby Castell Henllys, a fascinating Iron Age village set within thirty acres of beautiful woodland and river meadows.
Nag’s Head, Abercych
Abercych SA37 0HJ
The Nag’s Head in Abercych is a fantastic family-run riverside gastro pub, just 10 miles inland from Cardigan Bay and the Preseli Hills. Famed for its incredible food, Sunday roasts are a speciality where you can choose from Welsh roast beef, turkey, pan roasted cod or parsnip and wild mushroom nut roast. There’s a great children’s menu too, while the delicious desserts (Eton mess, coffee and spiced rum tiramisu, and lemon and rhubarb posset, anyone?) are well worth saving room for.
Real ale enthusiasts will enjoy the fantastic selection to choose from, with a focus on local microbreweries such as Mantle, Bluestone and Cardigan Bay, and there’s a great selection of Tanners wines. Enjoy the pretty garden (complete with bubbling stream) with covered seating during the warmer months, while inside there’s a welcoming roaring fire beneath the eaves. Walk off satisfied stomachs at nearby Ffynone Waterfall, a gloriously leafy 325 acre woodland.
The Ferry Inn, St Dogmaels
Poppit Road, St Dogmaels SA43 3LF
An award-winning riverside pub and restaurant overlooking the tranquil River Teifi, The Ferry Inn is set in beautiful countryside and is a wonderful eatery frequented by locals and visitors alike. A favourite during the summer months for its multiple-layered waterfront terraces, there are also floor-to-ceiling glass windows inside so you don’t miss out on cooler days. The food here is excellent, using seasonal, local produce wherever they can to create contemporary Welsh cuisine.
Sunday lunches are a particular highlight, with roast pork loin, lamb shank, chicken and vegan mushroom and chestnut wellington served with all the trimmings. Afterwards, head to the Blue Flag award-winning Poppit Sands, a huge beach back by dunes, perfect for blowing away the cobwebs. It’s also the start (or the end) of the 186-mile long Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
Amroth Arms, Amroth
Amroth SA67 8NG
Situated right on the beach front at Amroth, the fantastic Amroth Arms is a welcoming pub that’s got a fantastic reputation for excellent roast dinners. Combine gorgeous views with a tasty menu, and you’re onto a winner. All the lunches come accompanied by a sausage, Yorkshire pudding and stuffing, so you know your plate is going to be full! There’s a terrace overlooking the sea, which is a must for warm days, while the open fire inside makes it a cosy setting in winter – and dogs are welcome too! Whether you’ve spent the morning on Saundersfoot beach or walking in nearby Colby Woods, a Sunday lunch here will certainly restore you.
Saint Brides Inn, Little Haven
St Brides Road, Little Haven SA62 3UN
Situated in the heart of the lovely village of Little Haven, Saint Brides Inn is a wonderfully traditional pub, famed for its excellent fresh food and warm welcome. Unusually, it also has a fresh water well tucked behind a door – see if you can find it! During winter months, the open fire offers a flickering glow while there’s a sheltered pub garden across the road (while only assistance dogs are allowed inside the pub, all are welcome in the garden).
Serving cask ales and an ever-changing menu, the Sunday lunches are particularly good here with beef, lamb and pork served with fresh seasonal veggies, but if that’s not your thing the fish and seafood is excellent here too. Head to nearby Broad Haven beach for a paddle and a spot of rock pooling, or take a stroll along the coastal path to help your lunch go down nicely.
Watermans Arms, Pembroke
2 The Green, Pembroke SA71 4NU
Don’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior to this fantastic pub, step inside the Watermans Arms in Pembroke and you’ll find a stunning spot directly on the north side of the Mill Pond and overlooking the medieval fortress of Pembroke Castle. Blessed with a gorgeous terrace from which you can watch ducks, swans, cormorants, herons and even the occasional otter (if you’re really lucky) pass by, head here for laid-back pub grub in a friendly setting.
Dig into a traditional Sunday lunch with all the trimmings (the crispy roast potatoes are a particular hit) or try any of the other options such as a ploughman’s, sink your teeth into a steak or warm yourself up with a veggie Panang curry – delicious! Little ones have their own special menu too. Afterwards, step back in time with a visit to Pembroke Castle, one of the best preserved castles in Wales.
The Shipwright Inn, Pembroke
1 Front Street, Pembroke Dock SA72 6JX
This lovely little pub is situated right on the waterfront of Pembroke Dock, overlooking the Milford Haven Estuary. Famed for its incredible Sunday carvery, a visit to The Shipwright Inn is a must if you’ve worked up an appetite. Every week there’s a selection of four different meats, lots of roasties and vegetables, and of course Yorkshire puddings and pigs in blankets.
If you’ve still got room, there’s tempting traditional puds like sticky toffee pudding and apple pie on the menu. While you eat, gaze out over the water and watch the ferries sail to and fro along the estuary. Afterwards, enjoy a gentle stroll and take a peek in the West Wales Maritime Heritage Museum, a free and fascinating working museum in Hancock’s Yard, with views down towards Hobbs Point and over to Neyland.
Have we helped you work up an appetite? Start planning your foodie getaway by taking a look at our gorgeous holiday cottages in Pembrokeshire today - many of which are within walking distance to a cosy pub of their own!
