Discover seven places for Sunday roasts in Christchurch, Dorset, from traditional country pubs and relaxed neighbourhood favourites to restaurants overlooking Christchurch Quay and Mudeford Harbour. Our guide compares current serving times, vegetarian choices, waterside locations, dog policies and booking advice, helping us find the right Sunday lunch in Christchurch, Highcliffe, Burton, Winkton and Bransgore.
14th September 2026
A good Sunday roast should feel like the easiest meal of the week. Someone else takes care of the cooking, the roast potatoes arrive properly crisp and nobody has to face the washing-up afterwards.
Christchurch gives us plenty of ways to enjoy that ritual. We can settle into a village pub after a country walk, eat beside Christchurch Quay or turn Sunday lunch into a more polished occasion overlooking Mudeford Harbour.
Few Christchurch restaurants can match The Boathouse for location. It sits directly beside Christchurch Quay, overlooking the river, pleasure boats and the green open space of the Quomps.
Sunday roasts are served from noon until they sell out. The exact selection can change, so it is better to describe this as a seasonal roast offering than promise particular meats throughout the year.
Its position makes The Boathouse especially appealing for families and visitors. We can explore Christchurch Priory and the castle ruins, walk around the Quay and then settle down for lunch without moving the car.
Live acoustic music begins from 4pm on Sundays, giving later visits a more social atmosphere. Dogs are welcome on the veranda and in the outside areas but not inside the main restaurant.
Best for: Sunday lunch overlooking Christchurch Quay
Sunday roast: From 12 noon until sold out
Vegetarian diners: Confirm the current Sunday roast or meat-free main when booking
Dogs: Veranda and outdoor areas only
Booking advice: Advance booking is strongly recommended; request an outside or veranda table if bringing a dog
Address: Quay Road, Christchurch, BH23 1BU
Ship in Distress provides a more traditional neighbourhood-pub alternative in Stanpit.
The current Sunday menu offers roast beef, chicken, pork and a trio of meats. Roasts come with sea-salt roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and gravy, with Yorkshire puddings, stuffing and pigs in blankets accompanying selected choices.
Vegetarian and vegan diners are not restricted to side dishes. The Sunday menu includes a vegan mushroom bourguignon pie served with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy. Cauliflower cheese and additional roast potatoes can also be ordered separately.
The pub is only a short distance from Stanpit Marsh and Christchurch Harbour, making it a useful choice after a waterside walk. Dogs are welcomed, although we recommend mentioning them when booking so the team can allocate an appropriate table.
Best for: A relaxed, traditional roast in Stanpit
Sunday roast: Served from noon; ask for the current finishing time
Vegetarian diners: Vegan mushroom bourguignon pie with roast trimmings
Dogs: Dog-friendly; request a suitable table
Booking advice: Reserve ahead for lunchtime, particularly for a larger group
Address: 66 Stanpit, Christchurch, BH23 3NA
The Oaks is one of the strongest choices for a generous Sunday lunch in Highcliffe.
Every roast comes with seasonal vegetables and bottomless Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and gravy. That unlimited-trimmings format makes it particularly appealing when the accompaniments matter every bit as much as the main event.
A dedicated vegetarian roast is available and comes with cauliflower cheese, seasonal roast vegetables, Savoy cabbage and the same bottomless trimmings. Half portions of selected roasts are offered for children.
The Sunday menu is served from 11.30am until 8pm, providing considerably more flexibility than venues that finish after lunch. Dogs are warmly welcomed, and there is even a separate dog menu featuring treats inspired by a roast dinner.
The pub has its own parking, but visitors must register their vehicle after arriving to avoid receiving a parking charge.
Best for: Bottomless roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy
Sunday roast: 11.30am–8pm
Vegetarian diners: A dedicated vegetarian roast is available
Dogs: Welcome, with a separate dog menu
Booking advice: Book online for peak lunchtime and early-evening tables
Address: 189 Lymington Road, Highcliffe, Christchurch, BH23 5EA
The Bear of Burton combines the comfort of a country pub with the more polished feel of a boutique hotel.
Its bright dining spaces, comfortable corners and garden make it suitable for celebrations, family gatherings and longer Sunday lunches. The kitchen focuses on seasonal British food, with the precise roast selection changing throughout the year.
A vegetarian roast is normally available, but it is worth confirming the day’s option when reserving. This is particularly important for late bookings, as individual roast choices can sell out during a busy service.
Sunday food is served from noon until 7.30pm after breakfast finishes. Dogs are welcomed at the pub, making The Bear useful for anyone combining lunch with a walk around Burton or the nearby countryside.
Best for: A smart country-pub Sunday lunch
Sunday roast: 12 noon–7.30pm
Vegetarian diners: Vegetarian roast available; confirm the current dish
Dogs: Dog-friendly
Booking advice: Reserve in advance and book an earlier table for the widest roast selection
Address: 15–17 Salisbury Road, Burton, Christchurch, BH23 7JG
The Fisherman’s Haunt sits beside the River Avon in Winkton, close to the edge of the New Forest.
Its country setting gives us the opportunity to build Sunday lunch into a longer day out. We can take a woodland or riverside walk before retreating to a traditional pub with real fires during colder weather.
The pub publishes a separate Sunday menu alongside its seasonal main menu. Roast choices and vegetarian dishes can change, so check the current menu rather than relying on a fixed list from an older review.
Food is served until 7pm on Sundays, although roasts can sell out earlier. Dogs are welcomed, but anyone requiring a dog-friendly dining table should include this in the reservation.
Best for: A country walk followed by a traditional roast
Sunday roast: Available during Sunday service; food served until 7pm
Vegetarian diners: Check the current Sunday menu when booking
Dogs: Welcome; request a dog-friendly table
Booking advice: Book ahead and choose an earlier sitting if the roast is the main reason for visiting
Address: Salisbury Road, Winkton, Christchurch, BH23 7AS
The Three Tuns in Bransgore is a destination for diners who want their roast served in a characterful country pub.
The kitchen creates seasonal menus around fresh produce, with daily specials adding further variety. Its Sunday menu generally combines traditional roast meats with more creative starters and desserts than we might expect from an ordinary pub lunch.
A vegetarian dish is available, but the exact option can change with the menu. Contacting the restaurant in advance is sensible for vegan diners or anyone with specific dietary requirements.
The restaurant serves food from noon until 8pm on Sundays. Bransgore’s New Forest-edge location makes The Three Tuns particularly suitable for a leisurely lunch after exploring the surrounding countryside.
Best for: Seasonal cooking in a New Forest-edge village
Sunday roast: 12 noon-8pm
Vegetarian diners: Vegetarian option available; check the current menu
Dogs: Confirm the dining-area policy when reserving
Booking advice: Booking is advised by the restaurant, especially for Sunday lunch
Address: Ringwood Road, Bransgore, Christchurch, BH23 8JH
Upper Deck provides the most polished waterside setting in this guide.
Located at Christchurch Harbour Hotel, the restaurant looks over the harbour towards Mudeford. Its heated terrace has a retractable roof, allowing diners to enjoy the view in considerably more than perfect summer weather.
Sunday lunch is served from noon until 3.45pm. The seasonal offering includes Sunday roasts alongside seafood and other dishes, making Upper Deck useful when not everyone at the table wants the same type of meal.
Vegetarian dishes are available, although the precise roast and meat-free choices should be checked on the current menu. The hotel does not generally accept pet dogs in its restaurants, so contact the venue if visiting with an assistance dog or if the policy is essential to the booking.
Best for: A special Sunday lunch overlooking Christchurch Harbour
Sunday roast: Sunday lunch served 12 noon–3.45pm
Vegetarian diners: Vegetarian dishes available; check the current Sunday selection
Dogs: Contact the hotel directly; assistance dogs can be arranged
Booking advice: Advance booking is strongly recommended, particularly for harbour-facing or terrace tables
Address: Christchurch Harbour Hotel, 95 Mudeford, Christchurch, BH23 3NT
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