I eat a roast dinner every two weeks, so I consider myself a connoisseur. But when my friend invited me down to the best pub roast in Bristol, I had one verdict.
05:08, 26 Oct 2025Updated 15:07, 26 Oct 2025
Outside the Famous Royal Navy Volunteer in King Street, Bristol
There’s nothing better than indulging in a hearty roast dinner on a Sunday afternoon, complete with juicy meat, flavourful gravy, and crispy, fluffy potatoes. The only thing that can make this experience greater is not having to sweat over your stove for hours, cooking it yourself. That’s why the beautiful creation of a pub roast dinner is a favourite among many.
I’m a Londoner who eats a roast dinner at least every two weeks at a minimum, but I rarely head to a pub or restaurant to enjoy the meal. That was, until last week. The South West of England is like a second home to me, with many of my friends living in different cities within the region, but for our quarterly meet-up, we headed to Bristol for a much-needed catch-up over some pints and a delicious meal.
As it was a Sunday, my friend, who is a local, decided to take us to a pub that Bristol Live readers had named the best roast dinner in 2024. The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer on King Street is one of Bristol’s historic pubs, built in 1673, and is recognised for its “nostalgic and refined” roast dinner.
The moment we walked in, I soaked in the beautiful Grade II* listed building, which had a Tudor-esque feel, with dark wooden floors, low light, and old-fashioned tables and chairs. We then approached the long bar that had a long list of 36 beers and ciders.
I ate a £20 pub roast dinner in Bristol – this is my verdict
According to the pub’s official website, “No two visits to The Volley are the same. With a constantly evolving beer list, once a beer goes, it is gone.” Luckily for me, I do not have a ‘go-to-beer.’ I can really stomach any of them as long as they are made into a shandy. The friendly bar staff member helped a rather clueless me with ease and poured me a lovely pint of their recommended beer.
The menu
After our drinks were collected, we headed to our pre-booked table and gazed at the rather impressive menu. For its Sunday menu, The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer offers starters, sharers, mains, sides, and dessert. For starters, foodies can enjoy duck croquettes (£8.00), smoked haddock fishcake (£6.80) and halloumi fries (£6.80).
Mains include the Volley Triple, which features 32-day-aged topside of beef, overnight roasted pork belly, and slow-roasted shoulder of lamb (£20.00). Visitors can also choose individual roasts, including 32-day-aged topside of beef (£17.50), overnight roasted pork belly (£16.50), slow-roasted shoulder of lamb (£17.00), or the marinated roast quarter of chicken (£16.50).
There are also vegetarian options, such as the walnut and beetroot nut roast (£15.50) and the sweet potato and mushroom Wellington (£15.50). The pub said: “All roasts are served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal greens, carrot and parsnip purée, roasted seasonal roots and gravy.”
Sides include cauliflower cheese with crispy leeks (£5.00), roast potatoes (£3.00), pigs in blankets (£3.00), Yorkshire pudding (£2.00), seasonal vegetables (£3.00), sage and onion stuffing (£2.00), and extra gravy (£2.00). For dessert, you can enjoy chocolate and caramel fondant (£6.50), sticky toffee pudding (£6.50), the summer semifreddo (£6.50) or a selection of ice cream (£1.50 per scoop).
3 words could sum up this roast dinner
Each of us decided on different mains, but I went for a classic roast chicken. We then ordered a side of cauliflower cheese, stuffing, halloumi fries and pigs in blankets.
My verdict
To sum it up in three words: It was decent.
This pub roast wasn’t really anything special, but I did enjoy it. The chicken was tender and juicy but lacked some flavour. The Yorkshire was huge but a bit too overcooked for me, and the same goes for the stuffing.
I wished they offered more gravy without you having to pay extra, as it was truly tasty, but the friendly waitress offered us free sauces such as mint, apple and cranberry. The vegetables were nicely cooked, and the roast potatoes were delicious. I was also happy with the portion size, and the presentation was 10/10.
However, as my bill was £19.50, I don’t think I would go back for their roast but would definitely revisit for the beer selection and maybe try a cheeky dessert. This might ruffle some feathers, but I truly think Tobey Carvery offered much better food and is at a cheaper price.
For a Sunday roast at Toby Carvery, it would cost you £16.29 (and that’s London prices!), but you can enjoy a minimum of three roasted meats, freshly steamed vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and all the trimmings, including as much gravy as your heart desires.
Toby Carvery looks messy but is divineOther opinions
Bristol Live journalist Grace Burton reviewed the pub in 2024 when the poll results were released. She said: “What really sets The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer apart is the commitment to making everything in-house (except the chips), from the gravy to the desserts.
“The food, paired with the excellent service overseen by General Manager Carl, results in a Sunday roast that feels both nostalgic and refined, offering exceptional attention to detail.
“Whether you’re a local or passing through Bristol for Christmas, it’s a meal worth savouring. So, yes, Bristol Live readers who voted for this Sunday roast certainly got it right!”
The new pub winner for 2025 was announced last week. The Rose and Crown, along Two Hill, has taken the top spot. Find out more by clicking here.