In order to avoid extortionate childcare costs, I would work long shifts every Saturday and Sunday and one of the biggest things I hated about this was missing out on Sunday lunch.
This post was first published in 2016 and has been regularly updated over the years. Please always check with venues direct for up to date menus, pricing and facilities before booking as some of the information in this post may have changed.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Plough on the Hill nr Berwick
The Plough on the Hill is a beautiful pub just off the A1 before Berwick. It is child friendly (with an outdoor play area for kids) and serves the best local produce. I highly recommend their Sunday sharing board and make sure you leave room for their beautiful desserts. The pub also welcomes dogs. Find out more here.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - Walworth Castle, Darlington
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| Sunday Lunch at Walworth Castle - Review here |
Dining in a Castle doesn't need to break the bank. Sunday lunch at Walworth Castle is just £10.95 and includes a jug of proper homemade gravy.
The setting is grand, service perfect and children are more than welcome. The food is delicious too.
There's plenty to see and do in the castle grounds including a birds of prey centre, play park, nature trail and dungeon tours.
The setting is grand, service perfect and children are more than welcome. The food is delicious too.
There's plenty to see and do in the castle grounds including a birds of prey centre, play park, nature trail and dungeon tours.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Coach House, Otterburn
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| The Coach House, Otterburn - Review here |
The setting is gorgeous and although slightly more formal, children are made to feel more than welcome here. The food is absolutely divine and the service is friendly.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The cook House, Ouseburn
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| Sunday Lunch at The Cook House, Ouseburn - Review here |
Sunday lunches are made for sharing at the Cook House. We enjoyed a whole chicken with a couple of sides during our visit which was shared between the 5 of us. Lovely family atmosphere and local tasty food but a little pricey.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - Wylam Brewery, Newcastle
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| Wylam Brewery - Review here |
The food is absolutely top-notch and obviously, there's a decent selection of beers on offer too. The dining room is in a large open space so it's quite loud so although this won't be a quiet and relaxing lunch, it's perfect if you're dining with noisy kids as no one will bat an eyelid!
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Woodsmans Arms, Whickham
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| The Woodsmans Arms - Review here |
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Sun Inn, Morpeth
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| The Sun Inn, Morpeth - Review here |
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Badger, Ponteland
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| The Badger, Ponteland - Review here |
The Badger is a busy, family pub near the airport and one I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for a decent pub Sunday lunch with kids.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - William de Percy, Otterburn
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| William de Percy, Otterburn - review here |
The inn is also a creperie if you'd like to treat yourself to pancakes for dessert and the children's menu is really good too.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - Whitworth Hall, Durham
Whitworth Hall, Durham - review here
Whitworth Hall in Durham is a formal setting with linen tablecloths in a traditional setting. There is no children's menu as such but little ones can order half portions from the main menu.
Sunday lunch for grown-ups is £14.95 for 2 courses which is fantastic value and the food is all superb. Service was a little slow on the day of our visit. Make sure you leave time to feed the deer in the hall's gardens.
Sunday lunch for grown-ups is £14.95 for 2 courses which is fantastic value and the food is all superb. Service was a little slow on the day of our visit. Make sure you leave time to feed the deer in the hall's gardens.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - Liberty Brown, Sunderland
Liberty Brown, Sunderland - review here
We were pleasantly surprised with Liberty Brown. The food was tasty (although I'd skip the soup) and I love how there are usually lots of activities/character visits/face painting to keep the kids entertained at no additional cost.
Sunday lunch is priced at around £10 for adults and there are usually lots of options and £7.95 for kids which is fantastic as this covers 3 courses, a drink and bambinocino.
Sunday lunch is priced at around £10 for adults and there are usually lots of options and £7.95 for kids which is fantastic as this covers 3 courses, a drink and bambinocino.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Fox Hole, Piercebridge
The Fox Hole, Piercebridge - review here
Sunday lunches are served as huge sharing platters at The Fox Hole and priced at £18.95 for 2 courses (kids are half price).
This way of sharing lunch is fab for families as you can pick and choose what you'd like. We opted for all the meat when we visited.
This was served with jugs of homemade gravy and plenty of veg. I often recommend the Fox Hole as my favourite Sunday lunch in the North East.
This way of sharing lunch is fab for families as you can pick and choose what you'd like. We opted for all the meat when we visited.
This was served with jugs of homemade gravy and plenty of veg. I often recommend the Fox Hole as my favourite Sunday lunch in the North East.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Cook and Barker, Northumberland
The Cook and Barker, Northumberland - review here
The Cook and Barker is a beautiful inn located in the quaint village of Newton by the Moor near Felton in Northumberland. It's everything you'd expect from a country pub and more.
Sunday lunch is priced at £17.95 for 3 courses (discounted for children) and I like how everything is brought out in dishes to your table.
It feels as if you could be sitting around your mum's kitchen table when you dine here. Everything is homemade and yummy.
Sunday lunch is priced at £17.95 for 3 courses (discounted for children) and I like how everything is brought out in dishes to your table.
It feels as if you could be sitting around your mum's kitchen table when you dine here. Everything is homemade and yummy.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Botanist, Newcastle
The Botanist, Newcastle - review here
A lot of people are a bit snobby when it comes to the Botanist and their Sunday lunches but I think they offer fantastic value for money.
You won't get a more magical setting in the city centre and there is often live music to add to the atmosphere. Sunday roasts start at £11.95 for grown-ups and are just £6.95 for kids including a special seaside ice cream dessert.
The roast beef is served nice and pink, the veg and yorkshires have always been perfectly cooked for us and the kids adore visiting here. Oh there's a very good cocktail menu to work your way too.
You won't get a more magical setting in the city centre and there is often live music to add to the atmosphere. Sunday roasts start at £11.95 for grown-ups and are just £6.95 for kids including a special seaside ice cream dessert.
The roast beef is served nice and pink, the veg and yorkshires have always been perfectly cooked for us and the kids adore visiting here. Oh there's a very good cocktail menu to work your way too.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - Jesmond Dene House
Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond - review here
Dining at Jesmond Dene House offers a real sense of occasion. The elegant dining room is beautiful and although it may feel fancy, children are welcomed with open arms.
Sunday lunch at Jesmond Dene House is honestly an absolute steal at £22 for 2 courses (children's meals are priced at £9.50 for 2 courses). The food served here is some of the best the North East has to offer.
A word of warning though, watch out for all the extras - extra side dishes, bottled water for the table, service charge.......it can all add up and if you're on a budget it's something to be mindful of.
Sunday lunch at Jesmond Dene House is honestly an absolute steal at £22 for 2 courses (children's meals are priced at £9.50 for 2 courses). The food served here is some of the best the North East has to offer.
A word of warning though, watch out for all the extras - extra side dishes, bottled water for the table, service charge.......it can all add up and if you're on a budget it's something to be mindful of.
The Best Sunday Lunches in North East England - The Broad Chare, Newcastle
The Broad Chare Newcastle - review here
Although we didn't dine with kids on this occasion, there were plenty of families in the restaurant during our visit and I would certainly return with our three.
Expect high-quality meat, homemade yorkshires and roasties, a decent wine and beer list plus very good service.
The only thing I would improve on is the gravy which is always on the watery side! The pub is warm and welcoming with a good atmosphere.
Obviously I can't make it to every single place in the North East (although I would love it if I could) so I've asked my readers to share their favourites.
If you have a photo or recommendation to share, please email sam@northeastfamilyfun.co.uk for inclusion.
Expect high-quality meat, homemade yorkshires and roasties, a decent wine and beer list plus very good service.
The only thing I would improve on is the gravy which is always on the watery side! The pub is warm and welcoming with a good atmosphere.
Reader Recommendations
Obviously I can't make it to every single place in the North East (although I would love it if I could) so I've asked my readers to share their favourites.
If you have a photo or recommendation to share, please email sam@northeastfamilyfun.co.uk for inclusion.
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| Chloe recommends the Lord Crewe Arms - review here |
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| Claire recommends The Joiner's Arms, Newton-by-the-Sea |
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| Donna recommends Seahouses Golf Club |
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| Rachel recommends Dobson & Parnell in Newcastle - review here |
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| Debbie recommends The Smeltery, Middlesbrough - review here |
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| Debbie recommends The Stables, Beamish - review here |
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| Helena recommends The Salutation, Tynemouth (credit Babyfoote) |
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| Gemma recommends The Laundrette - review here |
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| Gemma recommends Revolution in Newcastle - review here |
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| Proper Scrumptious recommends The Vane Arms in Thorpe Thewles - review here |
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| Highlighting the North East recommends The Northumberland Arms, Felton - Review here |
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| Go Eat Do recommends the Riverview Brasserie, Sunderland - review here |
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| Tasha recommends Wynyard Hall - review here |
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| Chloe recommends The Earl of Pitt Street, Newcastle - review here |
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| Chloe recommends The Blackbird, Ponteland - review here |
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| Abbie recommends The Bonded Warehouse, Sunderland |
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| Katie Jane Online recommends Babucho - review here |
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| Katie Jane Online recommends The Townhouse, Durham - review here |
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| Katie Jane Online recommends Seaham Hall - review here |
Let me know if you have a favourite place to visit for Sunday Lunch in the North East.
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Ohh! I really fancy a roast dinner now! I like the look of the The Fox Hole one. What a great idea x
ReplyDeleteCrikey!!!! There are so many places on here im so excited to try them all..its amazing how many places i didnt know considering i live in the north east!!! Thank god for blogger haha
ReplyDeleteApparently there's a misconception by some people in the USA that the Yorkshire pudding is a fluffy dessert.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such an amazing collection of Sunday Roast photographs before! Looking forward to trying every single one .. and OMG I AM NOW SO HUNGRY!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDavantis at Tynemouth station do the best Sunday dinner I've ever had at a restaurant, I would hugely recommend them
ReplyDeleteSweetharts at Blackhill near Consett is awesome for Sunday lunch.
ReplyDeleteOh man this is making me so hungry right now haha! They all look so delicious! This is making me want to try them all :p I had no idea that Liberty Browns and The Botanist did Sunday dinner either, definitely keeping that in mind ;)
ReplyDeletewww.violetdaffodils.com
xx