Few things beat a proper Sunday roast — tender meat, crispy roast potatoes, seasonal veg, a towering Yorkshire pudding and a generous pour of gravy. Eastbourne does them well, from characterful gastropubs and traditional locals to hearty all-you-can-pile carveries. Here’s our guide to where to find the best Sunday lunch in town.
The best gastropub roasts
For a proper Sunday lunch done well, Bibendum is a firm local favourite. This gastropub opposite the Town Hall serves generous, freshly cooked roasts — your choice of meat with roasted garlic potatoes, honey-roasted root vegetables, seasonal veg, a homemade Yorkshire pudding and rich gravy, with extra sides available and vegan and vegetarian options too. Prices typically start from around £12.50, and the Yorkshire puddings are the stuff of local legend.
Down on the seafront, the Crown & Anchor pairs its Sunday roast with panoramic Channel views. This handsomely refurbished seaside pub offers grass-fed roast beef, crispy pork belly and slow-roasted lamb shank, plus a homemade nut roast for vegetarians and vegans, served from midday. For a more refined take, Cru does an excellent roast menu with several meat options (and a “bit of everything” plate) alongside a superb wine list, while The Perch is known for a cracking sharing roast with all the trimmings and The Dolphin on South Street is another reliable spot for Sunday lunch.
Local tip: the best gastropub roasts sell out fast, especially on the terrace when the weather’s kind. Book ahead and, where you can, ask about the day’s meat options — many places offer a different choice each week.
Traditional pubs
If you prefer your roast in an unfussy, proper-pub setting, Eastbourne has plenty of choice. The Marine has been serving locals and visitors for over 40 years and its famous roasts, available from midday well into the evening, are so popular that arriving early is genuinely wise. Up in leafy Meads, both The Pilot Inn and The Ship Inn are well regarded — the Ship’s huge platefuls of topside beef and belly pork with crackling and apple sauce win regular praise. Over in the historic Old Town, the Prince Albert is a long-standing local tip for a good-value carvery-style roast. For more on the town’s pubs, see our guide to the best pubs in Eastbourne.
Carveries for hearty helpings
When you want to pile your plate as high as you like, a carvery is the answer. Toby Carvery on Willingdon Drove is the go-to for a big, keenly priced British carvery, with slow-roasted meats, freshly prepared veg, vegetarian and vegan dishes and a children’s menu — a solid, family-friendly all-rounder. For a roast with a sea view, the Artisan Restaurant at The View Hotel is well known for its Sunday carvery lunch overlooking the seafront, and several other seafront hotels lay on carvery-style Sunday lunches too. These tend to offer the best value for bigger appetites and larger groups.
Tips for a great Sunday roast
A few pointers to make the most of Sunday lunch in Eastbourne: book ahead wherever possible, as the best spots fill up quickly; arrive early at the walk-in favourites, since popular roasts do sell out; and check in advance if you have vegetarians, vegans or dietary needs in your group, as most places cater for them but it’s worth confirming. Prices vary quite a bit — expect roughly £12–£20 a head depending on the venue and whether it’s a plated roast or an all-you-can-eat carvery. As ever with the local food scene, menus, prices and serving times change from time to time, so a quick check before you set off never hurts.
Sunday roast in Eastbourne: FAQs
Where is the best Sunday roast in Eastbourne?
Bibendum, opposite the Town Hall, is a consistent local favourite for a gastropub roast, while the seafront Crown & Anchor is hard to beat for a roast with a view. For hearty value, Toby Carvery and the seafront hotel carveries are popular choices.
How much is a Sunday roast in Eastbourne?
Prices vary by venue but typically range from around £12 to £20 a head. Plated gastropub roasts sit at the lower to middle of that range, while all-you-can-eat carveries and hotel Sunday lunches can be at the higher end. Always check current prices.
Do I need to book a Sunday roast in Eastbourne?
It’s strongly recommended. The best roasts are very popular and often sell out, especially in good weather and around major events. Booking ahead — or arriving early at walk-in pubs — is the safest way to avoid disappointment.
Are there vegetarian and vegan roast options?
Yes. Many Eastbourne pubs and carveries offer a homemade nut roast or other vegetarian and vegan mains alongside the traditional meat roasts. It’s worth confirming when you book if you have specific dietary requirements.
Still hungry? Discover the best pubs in Eastbourne and the best restaurants in Eastbourne.