Ah the good ol' Sunday Roast. Everyone has their own variations don't they? A ritual for some, for a low-maintenance one-pot dish kinda girl like me, well, I prefer it when someone else does the cooking. Working out where to go in Stockport for a roast dinner was pretty much the first thing I did when I moved here, and here are seven reccomendations for a roast done right:

The seven best Sunday roasts (in no particular order) around Stockport:

The Arden Arms: Stockport Town Centre
The Midway: Stockport Town Centre
Feed General Store: Heaton Chapel
The Joshua Bradley : Woodley
Norfolk Arms: Marple Bridge
Crown and Conspirator: Bramhall
The Red Lion: Cheadle

1. Arden Arms

23 Millgate, Stockport, SK1 2LX

One of Stockport's most-loved and most-historic pubs, the Arden Arms is a Grade II listed coaching inn sitting on the edge of the old Market Place. It's been pulling pints for over 200 years and is one of CAMRA's most consistently listed venues, but the menu is every bit as much of a draw as the cask ales, particularly as it happens to be one of the only places in Stockport centre that offer a Sunday Roast.

Thankfully, they serve up a corker. The menu can change regularly with different meats on rotation, and they were only serving beef when I went along. Happy to report it was cooked beautifully, alongside crispy roasts, delicious red cabbage, and lashings of rich gravy.

Parking: Directly opposite a massive (paid) car park. So that’s handy.

Dog friendly: Yes, the Arden welcomes dogs and has a large beer garden out back.

2. The Midway

263 Newbridge Lane, Stockport, SK1 2NX

I’m still classing this as the town centre, as it’s just a 15-minute walk away or a short drive from the Peel centre. The Midway has been racking up accolades for years, including the Stockport Pub Guide's Best Sunday Lunch award, and crowned Stockport's Perfect Pub by Pure Radio listeners, so that’s a good sign isn’t it?

The roasts here are generous and have a real hearty, home-cooked feel about them. I love that you get mash AND roast potatoes, it feels like an extra treat. With a good selection of wines, starters and desserts alongside the main meal. The Midway is a contemporary pub and dining room with a relaxed feel, staff and service are very friendly indeed and there’s a good-sized grassy beer garden for the summer months if you fancy going al fresco.

Parking: Small car park on site and on-street parking

Dog friendly: Yes, they allow dogs inside and have a decent grassy beer garden too.

3. Feed General Store

393 Manchester Road, Heaton Chapel, SK4 5BY

Not a pub, but Feed is a proudly independent deli-café on Manchester Road has all the right ingredients for a cracking roast and so thoroughly deserves a place on this list. You’ll need to book in advance for this one as it’s very popular with a reputation that stands up.

Feed champions local suppliers and seasonal ingredients, and I had a beautifully seasoned roast chicken, they also had a notable vegetarian offering, and the Bloody Mary also gets a shout out (not enough places in Stockport pouring Bloody Mary’s in my opinion!).

Smashed all my expectations, and the sticky toffee pudding was a highlight, my go-to when it’s a 3 course meal.

Roast dinners are served every Sunday from 12pm. Book ahead it fills up fast and runs out faster.

Parking: Street parking on Manchester Road. No dedicated car park.

Dog friendly: Yes, dogs are welcome.

To Note: The main dining room was upstairs, so would suggest requesting a table downstairs on booking if anyone in your party has access issues.

4. The Joshua Bradley

Hyde Road, Woodley, Stockport, SK6 1RJ

Set inside a beautifully restored Victorian mansion house with landscaped gardens, the Joshua Bradley is one of those pubs that genuinely earns the "stunning setting" line. The orangery restaurant area is spectacular, and the Sunday roast offering is serious business.

The sharing Sunday platter includes 12-hour roast beef, crispy belly pork, roast chicken, turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, mash, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and a bottomless jug of real gravy. Reviewers consistently praise the roast dinners as divine — huge Yorkshire puddings, braised red cabbage, proper gravy — and the staff as friendly and attentive throughout. It's a Hydes pub with the menus and standards to match.

Parking: Plenty of parking on site.

Dog friendly: Worth checking directly when booking — the grounds and beer garden make it well set up for dogs.

5. Norfolk Arms

2 Town Street, Marple Bridge, SK6 5DS

A proper independent pub sitting in the middle of Marple Bridge village, the Norfolk Arms dates back to 1792 and wears its history well. It's known for a cracking selection of rotating real ales, a warm and unpretentious atmosphere, and a roast dinner that keeps its regulars firmly loyal.

Reviewers describe generous portions, friendly and attentive staff, and one memorable verdict: "if there's a better Sunday roast out there, I've yet to find it." The pub is cosy and comfortably furnished with a real fire, good-value food and five locally-sourced cask ales usually on tap. Upstairs is quieter if you're eating with the family and worth bearing in mind on a busy Sunday.

Parking: Not at the pub, but two small car parks on both sides towards the station and a very short walk away.

Dog friendly: Yes, plenty of four-legged regulars in attendance.

6. Crown and Conspirator

26 Bramhall Lane South, Bramhall, SK7 1AF

Now I’ve not personally been here yet, and will update as soon as I do but many of my friends have recommended The Crown and Conspirator in Bramhall village so I’ve good authority there’s an excellent Sunday roast to be had here. It holds a Google rating of 4.5, and reviewers call the Sunday dinner outstanding, with recommendations for the sharing lamb or chicken.

Visitors consistently describe a proper unrushed Sunday lunch with excellent food quality, fantastic atmosphere and attentive staff. There's often a live singer on Sunday afternoons too. I’ll report back ASAP, but feel free to comment below if you have already been along.

Parking: Paid parking in the shopping precinct opposite.

Dog friendly: Dogs welcome in the outdoor seating area

7. The Red Lion

83 Stockport Road, Cheadle, SK8 2AJ

Cheadle's go-to for a proper Sunday, and one that's been quietly winning people over since a recent refurb and change of ownership breathed fresh life into it. The Sunday offering includes roasts of beef topside, slow-roasted pork shoulder or braised lamb henry, served with roasties, giant Yorkies, seasonal vegetables, sharing cauliflower cheese and individual gravy per meat. It's the kind of detail that shows someone in the kitchen actually cares.

Reviewers consistently praise the food as outstanding, the staff as friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere as warm and relaxed. The large beer garden (called The Bay) makes it a year-round favourite.

Parking: Car park on site.

Dog friendly: Yes,dog-friendly, with a large outdoor beer garden.

Always worth booking ahead for Sunday lunch as these places fill up fast, especially in summer and around bank holidays. Most take reservations online or by phone

The Stockport Sunday Seven: Where to Find a Cracking Roast Dinner