The Harcourt Arms, Stanton Harcourt

With roast season in full swing, I set out to find Oxfordshire’s best Sunday roast, gathering tips and suggestions from locals. A few recommended staying home to make my own, and I get that—there’s often nothing quite like a home-cooked roast.

But then, I had a Sunday roast at The Harcourt Arms in Stanton Harcourt, and it was nothing short of exceptional.

After having enjoyed a midweek meal here, we decided to return for a special occasion and settled in with a few snacks before the main event. Here’s what we ordered:

Hispi cabbage with parmesan and pangrattato (£24)
Half chicken with bread sauce (£24)
Pork belly with crackling and apple sauce (£24)
Beef rump cap with horseradish cream (£26)

The standout was the crackling on the pork, perfectly crispy without being overly fatty, and the beef, sliced thinly and cooked just right. The apple sauce was clearly homemade, with a unique earthy green hue and natural sweetness. My only wish? The sauces had been served on the side, especially the horseradish, which was a bit overpowering.

Each roast came with roast potatoes, seasonal greens, cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire pudding, and rich gravy. Every element of this meal was perfection, from the tender meats to the well-prepared sides. The wait time was on the longer side, but the food arrived piping hot—a rarity with roast dinners—and everything tasted freshly made. Even the Yorkshire pudding was spot-on: not too crispy, not underdone, just right.

For dessert, I tried the Sticky Toffee Tiramisu (£9) —a stunning blend of sponge, cream, and toffee sauce. It was decadent yet balanced, a must-try.

The experience did come at a cost, with the bill working out to about £50 per person, excluding alcohol, but we felt it was worth it.

We savoured a long, leisurely lunch in a relaxed setting with no rush to leave, which added to the appeal. The only area where they fell short was the service; a single server handled most of the shift, resulting in a slightly impersonal experience, though it may have been due to staffing challenges.

In all, The Harcourt Arms’ roast is the best I’ve had this season—a real treat, and well worth the visit if you’re after an exceptional Sunday lunch.