‘Down-to-earth deliciousness’ – North Yorkshire pub wins best Sunday roast in UK

The Abbey Inn in Byland achieved the top spot out of 50 pubs, restaurants and cafes across the UK and was praised for its “down-to-earth deliciousness”.

It’s owned by three-time Great British Menu winner Tommy Banks (and only opened just over a year ago).

The classic country pub has won many fans for the “exceptional quality” of its Sunday roasts, which often feature rare-breed meat from the Banks’ family farm.

The Good Food Guide explained: “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.”

Upon being announced as the overall winner of the Best Sunday Roasts 2024, 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.”

Have you visited The Abbey Inn for a roast? (Image: Tripadvisor) Chloë Hamilton, co-editor of The Good Food Guide, commented: “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.”

Over on Tripadvisor, The Abbey Inn has received an impressive 4/5 rating from 172 reviews.

A recent customer who had the gluten-free Sunday roast wrote: “My wife and I visited for a Sunday lunch, and I have to say it is the best gluten free Sunday lunch I have ever had.

@the.yorkshireman The most amazing views of Byland Abbey and the most amazing food at The Abbey Inn by @Tommy Banks 🙌 The restaurant is currently celebrating Pie Week until 29th March, and this Oldstead Beef and Timothy Taylor’s creation was unbelievable ❤️ The Abbey Inn, Byland Abbey 📍 #bylandabbey #northyorkmoors #northyorkshire #yorkshirefood #yorkshirefoodie #thingstodoinyorkshire #pieweek ♬ Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

“I opted for the mushroom parfait to start, the gluten free bread was delicious. I was concerned about what would be missing from the Sunday lunch, but it was all there and delicious. I opted for the lamb, and the lamb shoulder inside the GF Yorkshire pudding was incredible.

“I would also like to recommend the ‘Beneath the City’ pilsner for gluten free beer lovers, it was spectacular.”

Full list of all North East/Yorkshire winners

Elsewhere in North Yorkshire, The Owl Hawnby also featured among the UK’s Best 50 Sunday Roasts by The Good Food Guide.

The full list of all those included in Yorkshire and the North East can be found on the map below:

You can see the UK’s Best 50 Sunday Roasts for 2024 in full here.

Recommended reading:

The Good Food Guide’s search for the Best Sunday Roast, sponsored by Koffmann’s Potatoes and Tracklements, underlines the importance of championing those restaurants, pubs and cafes that are the backbone of the British dining scene.

Synonymous with tradition and family gatherings and offered everywhere from simple neighbourhood cafes to grand hotel dining rooms, it is obvious from the thousands of nominations received that a Sunday roast is, by far, Britain’s favourite meal.

This is due to 75% of Good Food Guide readers saying a roast is Britain’s most famous dish.