Ranked and compared
The Best Sunday Roast in Leeds for 2026
A great Leeds Sunday roast lives or dies on three things: properly cooked meat, a proper Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes done right — and the best places sell out fast. We compared the city's most-praised roasts, drawing on published reviews, a critic's blind roast test and each venue's own menus, to rank five you can actually book this Sunday. From a Michelin Guide grill restaurant to Leeds' oldest pub, here is where the roast is worth the trip.
Our top picks
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Updated
- 18 September 2026
- Last verified
- 18 September 2026
- Sources
- 10 sources
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
Written by
The top 5 Sunday Roast in Leeds for 2026
- Rank 1Ox ClubWATTB Pick— Best overallWATTB89/100From ~£17.95 pp (indicative)
- Rank 2The Cardigan Arms— Best traditional pub roastWATTB88/100From ~£17 pp (indicative)
- Rank 3Whitelock's Ale House— Best for atmosphere and Yorkshire puddingsWATTB87/100From ~£17.95 pp (indicative)
- Rank 4The Cut & Craft Leeds— Best for groups and big appetitesWATTB84/100From ~£50 for two (sharing roast, indicative)
- Rank 5The Midnight Bell— Best valueWATTB83/100From ~£12 pp (indicative)
The WATTB Score is our own research-based editorial assessment out of 100 — not a customer-review average.
The picks in depth
Ox Club
Why it won
The critics' quality benchmark: a grill-cooked roast with fine-dining credentials no pub on this list can match.
Independent Michelin Guide and Good Food Guide recognition that no pub here can match
Wood and charcoal grilling adds char and depth beyond a standard pub kitchen
A smoked-celeriac veggie option so mixed groups can book together
Trade-off: Smaller restaurant setting means booking ahead genuinely matters
The Cardigan Arms
Why we recommend it
An award-winning heritage pub serving a proper roast with real ales — the best traditional-pub choice in Leeds.
National CAMRA award-winning restored Victorian pub with real character
Genuine vegetarian roasts (goats'-cheese Wellington, beetroot nut roast)
Lower indicative price than the restaurant picks
Trade-off: Roughly two miles from the city centre, so needs a bus or taxi
Whitelock's Ale House
Why we recommend it
Leeds' oldest pub, unbeatable on atmosphere — and home to a Yorkshire pudding a critic scored a perfect 10/10.
Leeds' oldest pub with unbeatable historic atmosphere and a central location
A Yorkshire pudding scored a perfect 10/10 in a critic's blind test
Long Sunday service to 8pm, later than most pubs here
Trade-off: A classic no-frills pub roast, not a refined or chef-led plate
The Cut & Craft Leeds
Why we recommend it
A three-meat sharing board and the easiest online booking of the five — built for groups, not solo diners.
Sharing roast of beef, half chicken and pork belly, purpose-built for groups
Central Victoria Quarter location with the easiest online booking of the five
Polished restaurant setting with steakhouse-grade sourcing
Trade-off: Sharing format and price suit pairs or groups, not solo diners
The Midnight Bell
Why we recommend it
Named-butcher roasts and a real veggie option at the keenest prices, a short walk from the station.
Broad price ladder from about £12 — the best value here
Named Yorkshire Dales Meat Co. sourcing in a relaxed gastropub
A genuine nut roast with vegetarian gravy, plus Leeds Brewery beers
Trade-off: A modern brewery gastropub, not fine dining or grill-cooked
Map of Leeds
How we ranked this list
We ranked these roasts by comparing published critic reviews (including Confidentials' blind roast test), Michelin Guide and Good Food Guide listings, CAMRA recognition, and each venue's official menus and service times, combined with aggregated public feedback and our own editorial assessment. Prices and service windows are indicative and guide-sourced, so check with the venue before booking; we have not tasted or visited these venues ourselves.
Prices and availability last checked September 2026; these change, so confirm current details with the provider before buying.
Read our full ranking methodWhy you can trust WATTB
Independent & unbiased
We rank on merit. Commercial links never change which picks make a guide or where they rank.
In-depth research
Official information, specifications and aggregated expert and user reviews — compared, not guessed.
Clear pros & cons
Every pick gets its real advantages and at least one honest trade-off, so you can weigh it.
Transparent sourcing
We show how we rank and the sources behind each guide, and re-check them as things change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Sunday roast in Leeds?
For sheer quality, Ox Club on The Headrow takes our top spot: it's the only pick with independent Michelin Guide and Good Food Guide recognition, and it cooks Yorkshire produce over a solid-fuel wood and charcoal grill for a depth most pub kitchens can't match. If you'd rather a traditional pub, the Cardigan Arms is our best heritage-pub roast, while Whitelock's — Leeds' oldest pub — is the atmosphere pick and had its Yorkshire pudding scored a perfect 10/10 in a critic's blind test.
How much does a Sunday roast cost in Leeds?
Prices are indicative and worth checking before booking, but expect roughly £17–£23 for a roast at the pub and restaurant picks: Ox Club around £17.95–£22.50, Whitelock's about £17.95–£22.95 and the Cardigan Arms around £17 per person. The Midnight Bell is the cheapest entry point, spanning about £12–£22, while the Cut & Craft's Sunday Sharing Roast for two is indicatively £50.
Do you need to book a Sunday roast in Leeds, and what time do they stop serving?
Yes — Leeds roasts commonly sell out or run 'until sold out', so book ahead and aim for an earlier sitting. Service windows vary: the Cardigan Arms serves until 5pm and Ox Club to around 5:30pm, while Whitelock's runs to 8pm and the Midnight Bell to around 7pm. The Cut & Craft has the easiest online booking of the five.
Which Sunday roast in Leeds is best for vegetarians or large groups?
For meat-free diners, the Cardigan Arms stands out with a goats'-cheese Wellington and a ruby beetroot nut roast, while Whitelock's, the Midnight Bell (nut roast with vegetarian gravy) and Ox Club (a smoked-celeriac plate) all offer a genuine meat-free roast. For big groups and appetites, the Cut & Craft's Sunday Sharing Roast piles beef, half a roast chicken and crispy pork belly onto one board for two.
Sources & further reading
10The information and claims in this guide draw on the references below. We check these when a guide is published or updated.
- Official informationPrimary source
Homepage — Ox Club (opens in a new tab) — Ox Club
Supports: Ox Club self-description as a contemporary British solid-fuel grill restaurant using Yorkshire produce
- Official informationPrimary source
Formerly closed Leeds pub wins top CAMRA award (opens in a new tab) — CAMRA
Supports: Cardigan Arms winning the CAMRA Joe Goodwin Award and its restoration by Kirkstall Brewery
- Official informationPrimary source
The Cardigan Arms (opens in a new tab) — The Cardigan Arms
Supports: Sunday roasts served until 5pm (Sample Sunday Menu) and pub location
- Official informationPrimary source
Whitelock's Ale House, Leeds Est.1715 (opens in a new tab) — Whitelock's Ale House
Supports: Oldest pub in Leeds (est. 1715) and its Sunday roast menu
- Official informationPrimary source
The Cut & Craft Leeds Sunday Lunch Menu (PDF) (opens in a new tab) — The Cut & Craft
Supports: Sunday Sharing Roast (beef, half chicken, pork belly) and £50-for-two indicative price
- Customer & expert reviewsPrimary source
Ox Club – Leeds — a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant (opens in a new tab) — MICHELIN Guide
Supports: Ox Club's inclusion in the Michelin Guide and its US-imported solid-fuel grill
- Customer & expert reviewsPrimary source
Review of Ox Club, Leeds, West Yorkshire (opens in a new tab) — The Good Food Guide
Supports: Ox Club's Good Food Guide listing and quality credentials
- Customer & expert reviewsPrimary source
In search of Leeds' best Sunday lunch (opens in a new tab) — Confidentials
Supports: Blind roast scores including Whitelock's Yorkshire pudding 10/10 and pink Pickering's topside
- Related analysisPrimary source
The Best Sunday Lunch in Leeds (opens in a new tab) — Leeds-List
Supports: Venue shortlist with roast options, indicative prices, service times and locations for Ox Club, Whitelock's, Cardigan Arms and Midnight Bell
- Related analysis
Sunday Lunch Leeds | 10 Seriously Good Sunday Roasts in Leeds (opens in a new tab) — Yorkshire Food Guide
Supports: Corroborating shortlist including Midnight Bell, Whitelock's and roast descriptions
Related guides
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