The Adelphi

Situated on Hunslet Road, the Adelphi is a real local pub with a late Victorian interior and a friendly, down to earth atmosphere. Sunday lunches here are served with a Yorkshire pudding, ruffled thyme-roasted potatoes and root vegetables, along with buttered savoy cabbage, leeks and peas.The roast chicken is accompanied by pigs in blankets while the mouthwatering slow cooked pork belly comes with a black pudding bon bon. A selection of all of the meats can be purchased to share amongst the whole table and there are also plenty of vegetarian and plant-based options to choose from. A review on Tripadvisor says: ‘all of the vegetables were very tasty and interesting with little gems to bring out the best of their flavour. As for the Yorkshire puddings, they were magnificently home made.’

Opens at 11am, Sunday lunches range from 12.50-15.50

Whitelock’s Ale House

Serving British classics made with locally-sourced ingredients, Whitelock’s Ale House is full of character with delightfully old-fashioned decor, including stained glass windows, original signage and many well-stocked drinks cabinets. This charming pub is located just off Briggate, making it an ideal choice for those who want to enjoy a spot of shopping before lunch. Their Sunday menu features tender beef or lamb, both of which are served pink. You can also choose pork, or a vegetarian option, and all are accompanied by a Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and generous helping of gravy. If you have some room left afterwards, there are plenty of tempting desserts to try. A reviewer on Tripadvisor writes that a visit to Whitelock’s is ‘like stepping back in time,’ describing the restaurant as ‘an absolute must-do in Leeds [with] quality ale and cracking food at good prices.’

Opens at 12pm, Sunday lunches range from £11.50-£15

The Reliance

Located on North Street, the Reliance serves a carefully-considered menu that’s rich in detail and flavour. On a Sunday, you can start with mezze style snacks or small plates, then move on to a traditional roast dinner with a choice of lamb, beef, pork or a nut roast – all served with greens, carrots, roast potatoes, gravy and a Yorkshire pudding. Alternatively, why not try something a little different with dishes such as the old spot ribeye with hispi cabbage and fermented plum, or hanger steak, rainbow chard and bordelaise sauce. There are also some wonderful vegetarian and fish options. Guardian restaurant critic Marina O’Loughlin says: ‘the Reliance is an outfit with both heart and brain engaged, exactly the sort of place I hope to find on my travels.’

Opens at 12pm, Sunday lunches range from £12-14

Meat is Dead

A vegan restaurant serving an entirely plant-based menu, Meat is Dead offers a very different Sunday lunch experience with nutritious and junk-free options that your body will thank you for. Choose from nutty carvery, aubergine steak, beet wellington or the weekly special and enjoy a drink or two, whether you prefer coffee, kombucha or cocktails. A Tripadvisor review says: ‘the Sunday ‘Nutty Carvery’ was out of this world [and] the service was excellent and friendly.’

Opens at 12pm, Sunday lunches are all £12.95

Shears Yard

With its exposed brickwork and vaulted ceiling hung with gently glowing bulbs, Shears Yard certainly offers an impressive environment to dine in. The restaurant is housed in a former rope and canvas factory and this industrial past is evidenced in its interior. The menu itself is full of surprises and their Sunday roasts are far from traditional – you’ll find the usual choices but these are presented in new ways – whether it’s slow cooked pork shoulder, leek, spinach and blue cheese crumble or roast halibut with brown shrimp and caper butter. The team behind the restaurant say they aim to create ‘visually exciting, honest dishes, inspired by both classic and more unusual flavour combinations [and] brought together by the skill of our kitchen team.’

Opens at 12pm, Sunday lunches range from £16-24

Heaney and Mill

This family-run restaurant in Headingley is the place to go to enjoy a roast dinner with friends in relaxed surroundings. Their famous Sunday lunches can be served with either dry aged roast beef, corn-fed chicken supreme, roast lamb rump or a leek and cheese wellington. All of these are accompanied by rosemary and garlic potatoes, truffled mash, cauliflower cheese gratin, seasonal greens, carrot puree and red wine gravy, as well as a Yorkshire pudding. If you fancy something to start, there are some appetising options, including crispy duck spring roll and salt and pepper squid. A reviewer for the Yorkshire Evening Post writes: ‘all too often Sunday roast is a meal pubs and restaurants knock out with little thought but here real attention is given to each of the constituent parts.’

Opens at 12pm, Sunday lunches range from £15-17

The Brunswick

Located at the edge of Leeds city centre, the Brunswick is truly a pub for ale lovers with 15 keg and cask lines and over 50 varieties of beer in the fridge. When it comes to their popular Sunday lunch, it’s advisable to book in advance as tables fill up quickly. Choose from topside of beef, porchetta, chicken supreme or a nut roast, all served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, maple syrup glazed carrots, green beans, gravy and a mini Bloody Mary. A Google review describes the Brunswick as a ‘quirky little place with a nice atmosphere and good quality drinks.’

Opens at 12pm, Sunday lunches range from £13-£17

The Midnight Bell

Boasting old and contemporary features, including exposed brickwork and oak beams, the Midnight Bell is an attractive gastro pub located in Holbeck’s Urban Village. The pub’s tasty Sunday lunches are made with meat from the Yorkshire Dales Meat Company. You can choose from beef topside, pork belly with crackling or roast chicken breast, with a black bean and vegetable loaf as the meat-free option. All are served with roast potatoes, braised spiced red cabbage, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and red wine gravy. You can even dine outside here in what has been described as ‘Leeds’ best beer garden.’

Opens at 12pm, Sunday lunches range from £14.95-£16.50

Images: Heaney and Mill, Shears Yard, The Reliance, The Brunswick, The Midnight Bell