The Sunday roast is our quiet religion. When it’s done well, it feels like a benediction – so deeply satisfying you want to keep it close, unspoken, a delicious little secret between you and the plate.
First Impressions
The Griffin sits in the picture-perfect village of Plumtree, just outside Nottingham, and has long been talked about for its Sunday lunch. If you’re searching for Sunday lunch in Nottingham that feels like more than just a meal, this is the kind of place people point you towards. Wood-panelled charm, generous portions promised on the menu, and a reputation that stretches well beyond the village.
The bar feels like the right place to begin a Sunday. Plush chairs, low light, polished wood – it sets the tone before you’ve even opened the menu. I like that moment: a drink in hand, time to look things over, to ease into the meal.
This visit skipped that step. We arrived a little early but were taken straight into the dining room, then left sitting for a good fifteen minutes before anyone came for a drinks order. They were busy, yes, but those small pauses in service do leave an impression, especially somewhere with The Griffin’s reputation. And perhaps I’m less forgiving these days – eating out often, you start to notice the details. What others might brush off, I tend to weigh more carefully.
Starters: Hits and Misses
We chose the following starters:
- Spiced Squash Soup – warming, silky, with a subtle curry undertone that made it far more interesting than the usual autumn bowl. A delicious start, though it came with butter so firm it resisted the knife
- Prawn Cocktail – sadly a weak spot. The prawns were clearly frozen and lacked the plump juiciness you’d hope for at this price point. Two or three larger, better-quality prawns would elevate the dish completely.
- Chicken & Smoked Ham Hock Terrine – rustic and flavourful, lifted by a bright fruit chutney.
- Mushroom Parfait with Blue Cheese Scone – the absolute highlight of the meal. Earthy, luxurious, paired with that tangy scone – sensational.
The Main Event: Sunday Roast
Between us we ordered:
- Trio of Meats (beef, pork, lamb) – at £30 per plate, it’s not the cheapest option, but the quality of the meat was undeniable. Tender, generous, and deeply satisfying.
- Roast Pork Belly – well-cooked, though overly sweet on this occasion. I’ve had it before and don’t remember it being quite so heavy-handed with the sweetness.
- Braised Shoulder of Lamb – hearty, rich, and exactly what a roast should be.
The roasts came with all the proper accompaniments: roasties, glazed carrots, buttered mash, seasonal greens, and Yorkshire puddings. Portions were plentiful – almost too generous and sides like cauliflower cheese and sausage meat stuffing balls tempted us, though at £6 each they do push the bill up.
You will have to ask for extra gravy. It was never a problem and the staff were more than obliging, but between four of us we asked for two extra helpings. I’m not sure if each roast has its own dedicated gravy – the pork, for instance is served with a jus, but whatever the system, you will require more!
Desserts & Drinks
By dessert we were almost defeated, but managed to share a Chocolate Brownie. It was everything a brownie should be: crisp edges, gooey centre, and just the right amount of sweetness. A bottle of Malbec (£34) accompanied the meal beautifully and felt fairly priced for the quality.
If I have one critique here, it’s that the dessert menu hasn’t changed much in a year. A rotating special or two would add a touch of excitement to the menu.
Atmosphere & Service
The Griffin Inn remains a beautiful setting for Sunday lunch in Nottingham. The dining room has a quiet elegance, though I couldn’t help but wish for a little background music to soften the hush between tables. Service was warm once it got going, though the initial delay in ordering drinks did take away from the welcome.
Value for Money
For four people, with starters, mains, a shared dessert, and a bottle of wine, the bill came in at £210. Not a cheap Sunday lunch – but not unreasonable either given the portion sizes and overall quality of what you pay for a bog standard Sunday lunch in a Miller and Carter.
Final Thoughts on Sunday Lunch in Nottingham
The Griffin at Plumtree remains one of the better Sunday lunches in Nottingham. While not perfect – the prawn cocktail needs a rethink, and the pork was too sweet this time, the highlights more than held their own. That mushroom parfait with blue cheese scone alone could bring me back, sensational! It’s great to see plant powered plates holding a real spotlight on the menu.
Generous portions, a cosy village setting, and roasts that feel like an occasion make this a place worth visiting. For me, it scores a 7.75 out of 10 – solid, enjoyable, and with just a few tweaks it could reclaim its spot as one of my favourite Sunday lunches in Nottingham.
Not flawless, but a Sunday lunch worth seeking out if you’re in Nottingham looking for a great Sunday Lunch.
Until next time. If you enjoyed this review, you might also like my other restaurant reviews – I’m hoping to visit more places around Nottingham and beyond where good food is always worth talking about.
And if you’d rather see things in real life, you’ll find me over on my TikTok channel.
