The Yorkie Test: Six Sunday Roasts Around Camberley That Pass With Gravy

Sunday lunch is a serious business in Camberley. Not the kind of serious that needs a spreadsheet; the kind that needs a proper Yorkshire pudding, a jug of gravy and someone else doing the washing-up. We asked around, ate a few roast dinners and came back with six local spots that are worth putting shoes on for. Prices are a rough guide for a main roast in autumn 2026, so check ahead before you book — especially for bank holidays and the Christmas run-in.

The Old Forge, Frimley Green

Best for: a proper pub roast with a fire and a decent pint.

This is the one to choose when the whole family is in town and nobody wants to cook. The Old Forge does a traditional roast with crisp potatoes, a generous jug of gravy and a Yorkshire pudding that is tall enough to have its own postcode. The atmosphere is warm and slightly buzzy, with dogs welcome in the bar and a garden that is lovely in the rare winter sunshine.

Price: around £16–£20 for a main roast.

Veggie option: mushroom and ale pie, which is good enough to make the meat-eaters jealous.

Yorkshire pudding: large, crisp and unapologetic.

Booking tip: book by Thursday for a Sunday table, and ask for the snug if you want to hear each other talk.

The White Lion, Camberley

Best for: families and a mid-afternoon slot.

The White Lion feels like a proper neighbourhood pub. It is relaxed, the staff are friendly and there is enough space between tables that you do not feel like you are sharing your roast with the next family. The roast is solid and unfussy: good meat, proper gravy and vegetables that have not been boiled into submission.

Price: around £15–£19.

Veggie option: a nut roast that is moist rather than crumbly, which is not always a given.

Yorkshire pudding: good, though you may need to ask for extra gravy.

Booking tip: the early sitting is the calmest. If you have small children, go at noon and be home before the afternoon film.

The Fern & Fir, Lightwater

Best for: a quieter, café-style Sunday lunch.

This is the wildcard on the list. The Fern & Fir is light and airy, with plants everywhere and a menu that leans a little more modern than the average pub. The roast is thoughtfully put together, with seasonal veg and a gravy that tastes like it has actually seen a roasting tin. It is a good choice if you want Sunday lunch without the football crowd.

Price: around £14–£18.

Veggie option: beetroot wellington, which looks almost too neat to eat. Almost.

Yorkshire pudding: small but mighty.

Booking tip: book ahead for window tables, and check whether they are running a reduced menu on bank holiday weekends.

The Railway Bell, Blackwater

Best for: a no-fuss roast near the station.

You know the sort of place: wooden tables, a specials board and a landlord who remembers your order. The Railway Bell is not trying to win a design award. It is trying to feed you well, and it succeeds. The roast is generous, the potatoes are properly crisp and the gravy arrives in a jug rather than a thimble.

Price: around £13–£17.

Veggie option: a vegetarian roast with all the trimmings, including a decent Yorkshire.

Yorkshire pudding: crisp and reliable.

Booking tip: walk-ins are often possible, but book if there are more than four of you. The station car park is handy if you are coming from further afield.

The Heatherside Arms, Heatherside

Best for: a neighbourhood pub atmosphere and a proper Sunday vibe.

The Heatherside Arms feels like the kind of pub where people pop in after walking the dog and end up staying for lunch. The roast is hearty, the portions are generous and the welcome is genuinely warm. It is not flashy, but it does the basics very well.

Price: around £16–£21.

Veggie option: cauliflower cheese tart with roast potatoes and greens.

Yorkshire pudding: the star of the plate — crisp edges, soft middle.

Booking tip: book a week ahead if you want a table by the window. Sunday evenings are quieter than lunchtime.

The Clockhouse, Camberley

Best for: a smarter Sunday lunch or a special occasion.

The Clockhouse is the one to book if you are celebrating something, or if you simply want a roast with a bit more polish. The room is smart but not stuffy, the service is attentive and the roast is carefully put together. It is pricier than the others on this list, but you can taste where the money has gone.

Price: around £18–£24.

Veggie option: squash and sage wellington, with a proper vegetarian gravy.

Yorkshire pudding: polished and properly risen.

Booking tip: essential. Book at least a week ahead for Sunday lunch, and mention any dietary requirements when you book rather than when you sit down.

How to win at Sunday lunch

Book early. Sunday lunch is the busiest sitting of the week, and the best tables go first. If you are a group of six or more, ring rather than book online — it is easier to sort out deposits and dietary needs.

Ask for the snug or the corner table if you want to hear each other. Ask for extra gravy when you order, not when your plate is nearly empty. Check the veggie option before you go if that matters to you; some pubs only run one vegetarian roast and it can sell out.

And tip well. Sunday lunch is a lot of work, and the people serving it are often the same people who have been in since early morning. A proper local shortlist is not just about the food. It is about the welcome, the gravy and the feeling that you have had a Sunday worth having.