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The Sunday roast, a cherished British tradition, has sparked many debates over which pub serves the best. However, The Good Food Guide has now crowned The Abbey Inn as the top spot for a Sunday Lunch in Britain.
This 19th-century pub, located in the picturesque village of Byland in North Yorkshire, is owned and run by three-time Great British Menu winner Tommy Banks. Despite only opening just over a year ago, the classic country pub has impressed diners with its use of rare-breed meat from Banks’ own family farm.
A spokesperson for the guide praised the quality of the produce and the skill behind the lunch, stating: “Indeed, it was the superb quality of the produce and the skill with which it was cooked – the pork sliced thinly but still frilled with an edge of crisp crackling, the beef cooked pink and cut thickly, the densely textured meat full of the hefty flavour of a life well lived – that made the award so richly deserved.”
In addition to his success at The Abbey, Banks has also earned acclaim at his restaurants The Black Swan and Roots, both of which have been awarded a prestigious Michelin star.
The judges described The Swan as having “all the hallmarks of a characterful country pub”, with chefs working in perfect harmony with gardeners and using a variety of preservation techniques to ensure their ingredients last.
Tommy Banks, has made several apperances on the BBC’s Great British Menu, not only clinching the fish course title in 2016 and 2017 but was also promoted to the role of one of the show’s expert judges two years later in 2019.
Following his latest triumph with the Good Food Guide award, Banks expressed his delight: “At this time of year there’s nothing better than going to the pub for a roast dinner, it’s a big part of our culture and something I always look forward to. We’ve worked hard to ensure that each component of our Sunday dinner shines.”
He continued, praising his team’s efforts: “The Yorkshires, the potatoes, the meat, the gravy, it’s all so important – everyone can make a good roast at home but it’s hard to make absolutely everything just right.
“The Best Sunday Roast Award is a testament to the hard work of the team in doing so and we’re very happy with it.”
Chloë Hamilton, co-editor of The Good Food Guide, was equally impressed during her visit to Banks’ establishment, remarking: “Tommy Banks’ handsome pub combines a striking setting beneath Byland Abbey with the lovingly home-reared, home-grown produce that underpins every great roast.”
She added, “There’s delicacy and thoughtfulness on the plate without being too fancy. The down-to-earth deliciousness from one of Britain’s top chefs makes it a worthy winner of our inaugural ‘Best Sunday Roast’ accolade.
“The Abbey Inn led a strong and incredibly diverse list: each one genuinely hard to fault, accomplished in terms of quality of ingredients and execution, and warm, friendly service.”
