Hidden in the Essex countryside near Great Waltham, Galvin Green Man is serving one of the best Sunday roasts in Essex.
Set within a historic building dating back to 1341, the award-winning British pub and restaurant combines centuries-old character with the polish expected from the Galvin name. Recognised by the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand, Galvin Green Man is the kind of country pub where excellent food remains at the heart of everything, without losing the warmth that makes a great Sunday lunch so special.
Sunday Lunch at Galvin Green Man
Arrive on a glorious Sunday and the popularity of Galvin Green Man is immediately apparent. The car park is filled to the seams with Range Rovers, while couples, friends and families spill into the sprawling restaurant and sun-soaked garden.
There is a charming family atmosphere to the entire place. Drinks are enjoyed outside beneath the Essex sunshine while inside, table after table settles in for a long Sunday lunch.
Despite just how busy the restaurant becomes, the service is remarkably attentive. Staff navigate a packed dining room with warmth and efficiency, maintaining an easy familiarity with diners that adds to the relaxed atmosphere.
It feels less like a restaurant attempting to manufacture the perfect country Sunday and more like a genuinely beloved local pub that happens to serve exceptionally good food.
One of the Best Sunday Roasts in Essex
Sunday lunch begins with Maldon sea salt and rosemary focaccia served while browsing the menu, before a choice of seasonal starters.
The roasted peach and burrata salad brings together pistachio dukkah and mint dressing for something fresh and summery, while more traditional options include Suffolk white chicken and pork terrine with celeriac remoulade and toasted sourdough. Andalusian gazpacho with pickled cucumber and local saffron offers another lighter beginning.
But Sunday at Galvin Green Man is really about the roast.
There is roast sirloin of Dedham Vale beef, Suffolk chicken with pork, sage and onion stuffing, and Dingley Dell pork loin complete with crackling. Those unable to choose can opt for the duo of chicken and beef.
Each arrives with the essentials: gloriously crisp duck-fat roast potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, Hispi cabbage and a towering Yorkshire pudding.
It is everything a proper British Sunday roast should be — generous, comforting and deeply satisfying, but executed with the quality of ingredients and precision that elevate it beyond standard pub fare.
Don’t Skip the Cauliflower Cheese
The Sunday sides make an already substantial lunch even more tempting. Extra duck-fat roast potatoes are joined by tenderstem broccoli, fine beans, pork, sage and onion stuffing and additional Yorkshire puddings. The essential order, however, is cauliflower cheese.
Rich, bubbling and unapologetically comforting, it is exactly the kind of side dish that belongs in the centre of a Sunday table, ready to be shared, although you may quickly regret agreeing to share it.
For those resisting the roast, alternatives include pan-fried fillet of sea bass with crushed potatoes, pea purée and tomato and caper sauce, a deluxe beef burger and broad bean and pea risotto.
Save Room for Dessert
Sticky toffee pudding arrives with butterscotch sauce and crème Chantilly, while Essex strawberry Eton Mess celebrates local produce with Tonka bean meringue. Dark chocolate mousse with cherry sorbet offers something richer, and a selection of farmhouse cheeses provides a suitably leisurely conclusion.
A Proper Essex Sunday
Galvin Green Man understands that the best Sunday lunch isn’t simply about perfectly roasted meat or crisp potatoes. It is about gathering around a table, ordering far too many sides and allowing lunch to stretch lazily into the afternoon.
For anyone searching for the best Sunday roast in Essex, Galvin Green Man deserves to be firmly at the top of the list.
£44 for two courses or £48 for three.
@galvingreenman | galvinrestaurants.com/galvin-green-man
Main Rd, Howe Street, Great Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 1BG
