A Guide to British Pub Grub

By Vanessa Teo
Published: July 17, 2024
London British Pub Grub

Excited to try some British bites? You've come to the right place! We've crafted the ultimate pub grub guide to fuel your UK adventures.

Nothing says Great Britain like sharing a meal in a pub - the locals' living room. You'll find value, casual atmosphere and hearty classic dishes, all washed down with top drinks. A pub visit is a must for any trip to these Isles.

To help you find the best bites, we've researched pubs across the country and their specialties. This guide highlights traditional British staples, from fish and chips to ploughman's lunches. Whether you're after a light lunch or a full evening out, follow our recommendations and you'll leave satisfied.

Don't forget to check the specials board! You’ll most likely find interesting ‘twists’ on pub favourites like special pies, curry, burgers or even sausages of the week!

London pub

Dine out in a relaxed environment

If you’re looking for a cosy atmosphere and home-cooked food, look no further than a pub.

Casual dining is very popular in the UK and you often won’t need to book. Depending on the size and type of pub) you can sit in the bar area or a separate section for dining. Best of all, pub grub offers value for money and large portions!

If you want to experience a London pub crawl, we've got some great recommendations. Read to the bottom for our list of fantastic pubs you need to put on your to-visit list.

Fun for all the family

Most pubs offer family-friendly opportunities to enjoy a meal out in a relaxed atmosphere (although we recommend you double-check first). When it comes to pub grub, there’s usually something for everyone.

And if there isn’t a specific kids' menu, you can ask for smaller portion sizes or share some side dishes. A lot of pubs have beer gardens which are lovely in the summer months – even better if there’s some play equipment for the kids.

Enjoy some great draught beer

Draught beer, bitter, or ale are what pubs are famous for, and traditional British beers are seeing a revival. It’s hard to beat the quality and choice of beer in other eateries, so if you’re in a pub why not try a beef and ale pie? Or a delicious beer-battered cod, with chunky chips?

Beers in pub

What’s on the menu?

Traditional British pub dishes haven’t changed much over the years, although you can now find the addition of non-traditional favourites inspired by cooking from all over the world.

Check the menu before you choose your pub – you may be in for a surprise. Some, for example, serve Thai food only.

Here are some traditional British pub grub faves:

Typical main meals in London pubs

Sunday Roast

Usually served at lunchtime, the roast is usually chicken, beef, lamb or pork, though vegetarian alternatives are often available. Served with roast potatoes, a mix of fresh vegetables and gravy. And don’t forget the trimmings!

Roast beef isn’t complete without Yorkshire pudding (a baked batter pudding, best filled with gravy), mustard and horseradish sauce. Pork is delicious with apple sauce; roast lamb and mint sauce belong together.

Don’t worry too much if it’s not a Sunday – many pubs offer roasts throughout the week.

Sunday roast

Steak and Kidney Pie

A savoury pie with a pastry lid, filled with a mixture of diced beef and kidney, fried onion and brown gravy. Not for the faint-hearted, it’s a great winter warmer and delicious with a side order of vegetables.

Steak and kidney pie

Bangers and Mash

A British staple named for its mashed potatoes and sausages, but the gravy is just as important. The type of sausages used varies, but a curly Cumberland is a popular choice.

Filling and comforting, it's exactly what you want from British pub grub.

Bangers and mash

Toad in the Hole

Not as strange as it sounds and certainly has nothing to do with toads. This is another sausage dish, but this time the sausages are baked in Yorkshire pudding batter. It’s served with loads of gravy and fresh vegetables.

Toad in the hole

Fisherman’s Pie

Not in the mood for meat? Fisherman’s pie is classic pub grub. The pie is made with smoked whitefish in a white or cheddar cheese sauce, baked in the oven and topped with mashed potato. It can also contain prawns and hard-boiled eggs and traditionally comes served with garden peas.

Fisherman's pie

Fish and Chips

No trip to the UK is complete without fish and chips, and the best thing about ordering this dish in a pub is that the batter will often have been made with some of the pub’s delicious draught beer. Try it with some tartare sauce and mushy peas.

Fish and chips

Ploughman’s Lunch

A traditional lunch brought out to the fields by ploughmen, this cold plate of cheese, pickle and crusty bread is simple yet delicious. You might also have some apples, boiled eggs, ham or pickled onions on the side.

As its name suggests, you eat a Ploughman's at lunchtime.

Ploughman's lunch

Vegetarian and vegan eats

Hello there, veggies and vegans. You have nothing to worry about. When in London, you'll find that most pubs have a great selection of vegetarian dishes, including vegetarian nut roasts with onion gravy, battered tofu & chips, as well as pies and pasta dishes. You can often customise dishes and order them without the meat element, too - don't be afraid to ask as pubs will usually do their best to accommodate dietary requirements.

Vegetarian roast

What's for dessert?

Treacle sponge pudding

Are you still hungry? That's fair enough. Try this typical British dessert – steamed sponge, with treacle on top and usually served with hot custard or ice cream.

Treacle sponge

Knickerbocker Glory

Finally, here’s one for the kids. A 'knickerbocker glory' is a colourfully layered cream, ice cream and fruit sundae served in a tall glass. A long spoon is essential if you want to get to the bottom!

Knickerbocker glory

Here's the list of our top pubs in London

  1. The Prospect of Whitby - Wapping, Tower Hill
  2. The Royal Oak - Bloomsbury
  3. The Harp - Chandos Place, Covent Garden
  4. The Duke of Edinburgh - Cromwell Road, South Kensington
  5. Trafalgar Tavern - Park Lane, St. James's
  6. The Mayflower - Rotherhithe
  7. The Lamb and Flag - Covent Garden
  8. The Ten Bells - Commercial Street, Spitalfields
  9. The George - Great Portland St. - Great Portland Street, Marylebone
  10. The Blue Posts - Rupert Street, Soho

And here are our favourites outside of London

  1. The Tan Hill Inn - Tan Hill, Swaledale, North Yorkshire
  2. The Salutation Inn - Ham, Gloucestershire
  3. The Dolphin Inn - Porlock Weir, Somerset
  4. The George & Dragon - Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
  5. The Bell Inn - Westhay, Glastonbury, Somerset
Pub in London

If you’re looking for good food and friendly service in a relaxed atmosphere, you can’t go wrong with a British pub - they're perfect for refuelling after a day of sightseeing.

Of course, the menu will vary from place to place (from gastro-pubs to carveries and independent locals to national chains), but you’ll often find staple pub grub favourites to suit every appetite and occasion.

Don't forget to check out a guided London pub tour while you are at it!

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Vanessa Teo
London Travel Expert

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Tourist on Westminster Bridge by Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
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Stuart Bak
Group of friends drinking pints of beer in a London pub.
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Stuart Bak
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