A Great British Menu star’s country pub has scooped the crown as the UK’s best Sunday Roast
The Sunday roast is a British institution, with everyone across the country having a personal favourite they’re willing to defend at all costs, but now a definitive answer has been given to find Britain’s best roast dinner. Being crowned by The Good Food Guide, The Abbey Inn has been named as the guide’s top pick for a Sunday Lunch.
The 19th-century pub owned and run by three-time Great British Menu winner Tommy Banks, is nestled deep into the north Yorkshire countryside sitting in the quaint village of Byland. Having only opened just over a year ago, the classic country pub has won over many diners for its use of rare-breed meet from Banks’ very own family farm – particularly wowing the judges.
A spokesman for the guide said: “Indeed, it was the superb quality of the produce and the skill with which it was cooked – the pork sliced thinly but still frilled with an edge of crisp crackling, the beef cooked pink and cut thickly, the densely textured meat full of the hefty flavour of a life well lived – that made the award so richly deserved.”
Not only has the Yorkshireman scooped acclaim at The Abbey, but also at his restaurants The Black Swan and Roots which managed to scoop an illustrious Michelin star. The judges described the The Swan as having “all the hallmarks of a characterful country pub” with the chefs described as working in total harmony with the gardeners, and an array of preservation techniques are used to ensure their ingredients last.”
Banks also shot to fame on the BBC’s Great British Menu winning the fish course round in both 2016 and 2017 before being invited back to become one of the show’s expert judges in 2019. In response to the Good Food Guide award Banks said: “At this time of year there’s nothing better than going to the pub for a roast dinner, it’s a big part of our culture and something I always look forward to. We’ve worked hard to ensure that each component of our Sunday dinner shines.
“The Yorkshires, the potatoes, the meat, the gravy, it’s all so important – everyone can make a good roast at home but it’s hard to make absolutely everything just right. The Best Sunday Roast Award is a testament to the hard work of the team in doing so and we’re very happy with it.”
Chloë Hamilton, co-editor of The Good Food Guide, was also wowed after dining at the pub, adding: “Tommy Banks’ handsome pub combines a striking setting beneath Byland Abbey with the lovingly home-reared, home-grown produce that underpins every great roast.
“There’s delicacy and thoughtfulness on the plate without being too fancy. The down-to-earth deliciousness from one of Britain’s top chefs makes it a worthy winner of our inaugural ‘Best Sunday Roast’ accolade. The Abbey Inn led a strong and incredibly diverse list: each one genuinely hard to fault, accomplished in terms of quality of ingredients and execution, and warm, friendly service.”
