Bristol’s best pub lunches

If you’re a lover of the classic Sunday Roast (and, let’s be honest, who isn’t?), then the centrally located, yet nicely tucked away, Bank Tavern is the place to be. Here, you can tuck into your choice of roast meat (the decision is usually between velvety roast beef or mouth-wateringly juicy pork belly with crispy crackling) or their vegan option (we’ve known this to be a perfectly seasoned red lentil and mixed vegetable loaf) with all the trimmings. Still not convinced? Well, don’t just take our word for it! The Bank Tavern also won Bristol’s Best Sunday Lunch at the 2019 Observer Food Monthly Awards and was named Bristol Life’s Best Foodie Pub 2020! Roasts start at £15 and are absolutely worth every penny, whereas their selection of classic British puddings (sticky toffee anybody??) are a steal at £3.95!

Are you looking for a sophisticated menu, but can’t be bothered with the hassle of putting on your glad rags? Yes? Then The Kensington Arms, set in the quiet residential suburb of Redland but a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Whiteladies Road, is the pub for you. Winner of Bristol Life’s Best Gastropub Award in 2019, The Kensington Arms lives up to this honour with its two small, always seasonal, always locally sourced menus. If it’s simply delicious pub classics that you’re after, like a juicy cheeseburger with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, punchy jalapeños, homemade burger sauce (no, we don’t know the secret ingredient!), crunchy slaw and perfectly crisp rosemary fries, then the Kenny Classics menu is the one for you. Or, maybe you’re feeling a little adventurous? If so, give the Restaurant Menu a go with it’s melt-in-the-mouth roasted duck breast or the complex flavours of their monkfish curry. The food here is always far too good to have just one course, so two courses can be enjoyed from the Kenny Classics menu for £23, or three for £29. Two courses from the Restaurant Menu can be devoured for £28, or three for £35.

In winter, when it’s cold and windy outside and the Christmas shopping is getting you down, is there anything better than finding a cosy pub to hide out in, with log-burners and exposed brickwork? Nope. Alternatively, in summer when the heat feels oppressive and the highstreet feels like a zoo, is there anything better than stumbling across a hidden pub garden, with stunning views and ice-cold wine? Nope. Can one pub provide all this? Yes! Port of Call is a charming gem tucked away at the top of Whiteladies Road in the fashionable area of Clifton. We recommend popping in for lunch on a Tuesday or Wednesday, as they offer a homemade pizza and a pint for just £10! Throughout the rest of the week, mains rarely exceed £11. Is that value for money, or what?

If history is your thing, head over to The Punchbowl in the heart of Bristol’s Old Market area. The pub has been open with the same name and under various managers since 1872 (!) and, though some renovations have been necessary to keep the place looking fresh, the character of this Grade II listed building has been perfectly preserved. The pub’s lunch offering, served from 12pm – 3pm each day, is simple and ever changing with the seasons. However, it always centres around a small selection of fresh ciabattas and loaded burgers, and their triple cooked chips are not to be missed! Come rain or shine, this is the perfect pub to stop in at for a spot of lunch with its spacious yet cosy indoor dining area and secluded beer garden. The Punchbowl is certainly not one to break the bank, with lunches ranging in price from £5.95 to £10.95. See you there!