The roast dinner has been a staple meal in the British diet since as far back as 1485 – with King Henry VII allegedly a proud meat and gravy guzzler.
But now, the humble dish has become a much pricier commodity, with Gen Z Brits now opting to spend their Sunday’s tucking into luxury lunches with steak fillet, bone marrow gravy and lobster tail trimmings.
Gone are the days when a classic serving of meat and two veg could be found in nearly any British pub for under £20.
Young people are now paying upwards of £70 for Yorkshire puddings, mash and all the usual (and the less usual) trimmings.
One TikToker, who’s account is called @eatingwithtod, is famed on TikTok for discovering some of London’s tastiest eats.
One of the most expensive on the list is one acclaimed venue – The Lanesborough Grill (pictured) in London – that charges a whopping £75 for what they describe as a ‘sensational’ three course meal
In one video revealing his ‘top’ roasts, he shares four London eateries, each serving up their own version of luxurious roast dinners.
In the video, the food vlogger suggests three different dinner offerings in the capital, each respectively costing £58, £54, and the cheapest, a £25 meal.
One of the most expensive on the list is one acclaimed venue – The Lanesborough Grill in London – that charges a whopping £75 for what they describe as a ‘sensational’ three course meal.
The eye-watering lunch boasts premium cuts of meat such as Roast Sirloin of Hereford Beef, Roast Salt Marsh Lamb, Dover Sole and Beef Wellington.
Included in the premium price is a starter and a pudding, both which come made using prime ingredients.
Twists on the classics include one Caramelised brioche pudding, burnt orange purée, buttermilk ice cream, and another, Lemon tart, candied citrus fruit, Earl Grey meringue.
Among those pricier Sunday grubs is Ned’s Feast at Millie’s Lounge, which serves an all-you-can-eat lunch every week.
The posh venue not only serves up roast cuts of meat, but offers customers lobster tail to have alongside their gravy and mash.
Among those pricier Sunday grubs is Ned’s Feast at Millie’s Lounge, which serves an all-you-can-eat lunch every week
Another popular venues is The Dorchester, with dozens of videos showing keen customers tucking into their popular £65 roasts (pictured)
Another London venue watering eyes more than mouths, is No. Fifty Cheyne in Chelsea – the restaurant charge a whopping £35.50 for roast chicken, which is usually a budget ingredient
The ‘feast’ costs a whopping £100 per person, and treats customers to unlimited piles of roast, trimmings, lobster and even oysters.
The venue has racked up dozens of admirers with TikTokers across the globe travelling to the capital to tuck into the luxury lobster roast dinner.
Co owner and Chef Director of The Duke of Greenwich, Dan Blucert isn’t surprised by the hefty prices for London roast dinners.
He said: ‘People are willing to pay more for quality, whether it be fashion, furniture or food, so it’s not surprising to see a more premium offering enter the market.’
His own pub now offers ‘premium sharing roasts with prime cuts’ which never fail to draw in customers.
‘When we buy a whole lamb, we will sell the racks for £70 for the whole rack for 2 or 3 to share and they always sell out,’ he said.
Hosting and events expert and founder of her own company, Lavinia Stewart-Brown said: ‘Food experiences as a whole have definitely levelled up in the last few years—the options in terms of restaurants and cuisines are endless.
‘However, the roast has had a real facelift in the last few years – in what is a crowded food and restaurant market, people have had to make fun and interesting changes to stand out.’
One pub, Lore of the Land on Conway Street, has it’s cheapest option – a vegetarian meal of Crispy Chickpea Pasnisse, Soused Leak, Walnut Pesto, Pickled Radicchio, Whipped Vegan Feta – priced at £23 – meanwhile the chicken costs £54
Even budget options aren’t ridiculously cheap. Ganley’s Irish Bar in Morden markets itself as a budget friendly eatery, serving up carvery’s from a counter
Another popular venues is The Dorchester, with dozens of videos showing keen customers tucking into their popular £65 roasts.
The eatery serves three different kinds of meals, including a roasted Grass-Fed English Beef Sirloin, 22 Day Aged Grass-Fed Beef Wellington and the Vegetarian Wellington, Mushrooms, Spinach, Carrots.
Each item on the menu is set at the same price, selling for £65 along with the usual trimmings.
Another London venue watering eyes more than mouths, is No. Fifty Cheyne in Chelsea. The west London restaurant charge a whopping £35.50 for roast chicken, which is usually a budget ingredient.
The menu even includes a 100-Day Aged Rib of Belted Galloway Beef with smoked bone marrow, which will set you back £58 for one portion.
And it’s not just posh diners in the city’s upper crust charging extortionately for their Sunday grub.
One pub, Lore of the Land on Conway Street, has it’s cheapest option – a vegetarian meal of Crispy Chickpea Pasnisse, Soused Leak, Walnut Pesto, Pickled Radicchio, Whipped Vegan Feta – priced at £23.
The pub, which is price rated with only two pound signs on Google, serves cuts of roast beef, chicken, or lamb, with some which will set you back well over £30.
A 90-Day Old Whole Saxon Chicken, served with the usual trimmings, cooked in beef dripping, will cost £54.
Even budget options aren’t ridiculously cheap. Ganley’s Irish Bar in Morden markets itself as a budget friendly eatery, serving up carvery’s from a counter.
Piles of potatoes, steamed vegetables and slabs of meat are all served from one counter which customers collect themselves. Despite the budget friendly atmosphere and service, a plates worth of Gangley’s carvery is priced at £18.95.
