FOR EASTER LUNCH

Rally the troops for a seasonal feast this Easter. From rural Somerset finds to Cornish coastal gems, we've handpicked five of the South West's best pubs for a seriously good Easter lunch

1The Barrington Boar, Ilminster

Sunday roast is a ritual at this contemporary dining pub in rural Somerset.

While some chefs see Sunday service as the final hurdle before a day off, for The Barrington Boar's chef‑owner Alasdair Clifford it's a highlight of the working week. Just like the polished dishes he turns out Monday to Saturday, Sunday roasts are meticulously planned to showcase the best seasonal ingredients.

This Easter, Alasdair plans to feature lamb, wild garlic and rhubarb on the menu. Indulgent trimmings such as beef‑dripping roasties, cloud‑skimming yorkshires, glazed carrots and creamy cauliflower cheese are a year‑round tradition that will also feature.

thebarringtonboar.co.uk

2

The Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock

Sunday lunchers will be dizzy with the choice of dishes on offer at The Three Horseshoes this Easter. A lengthy list of slow roasted, ethically reared meats – including Dorset lamb, Jurassic Coast pork, local chicken and Fossil Farm beef sirloin – is guaranteed to make any meat lover swoon.

A tempting pumpkin and cranberry nut roast caters to veggie and vegan visitors, and there's also the option of ditching the roast altogether in favour of the à la carte menu. Fish fans may be swayed by the likes of pan‑fried hake with minted green beans and peas, new potatoes and beurre blanc sauce, or the Indonesian seafood curry swimming with sea bream, tiger prawns and clams.

threehorseshoesburtonbradstock.co.uk

3

The Queen's Arms, near Sherborne

Gather the gang for an extended Easter celebration at this family‑run pub with rooms. Located in rolling countryside on the Dorset/Somerset border, it's perfectly positioned for a long morning walk to rouse the appetite for Sunday lunch (necessary if you've indulged in a sumptuous supper in the restaurant the night before).

Slow‑roasted leg of lamb will be the star of the Easter menu this year, and served with mint salsa verde, duck‑fat potatoes, honey‑roasted root veg, cauliflower cheese and locally grown spring greens. Rounding off a long and lazy lunch with dessert is non‑negotiable – choose from the likes of pistachio cake with white chocolate and mascarpone ganache and raspberry sorbet, and cinnamon parfait with poached pear, blackberries and honeycomb.

thequeensarms.com

4 Emily Scott Food, Newquay

Keen foodies will know this contemporary seafood restaurant overlooking Watergate Bay is not a pub. However, on Sundays it goes by its alter ego: Mimi's Sunday Table. Named after chef founder Emily Scott (Mimi to close friends and family), the Sunday service is less tasting‑menu‑for‑two and more gathering friends and family round the table to share good food, wine and conversation.

The rustic three‑course line‑up is inspired by Emily's time cooking in France, so don't expect a traditional British Sunday lunch. Dishes such as mussels with leeks, cider and clotted cream, and Cornish duck with white beans, garlic and rosemary are served family style, with everyone encouraged to dig in and share. A vegetarian menu is available on request.

emilyscottfood.com

5 The Cornish Arms, Tavistock

Recently achieving number 12 in the Estrella Top 50 Gastropubs awards, The Cornish Arms has a stellar reputation for elevated pub dining. Sunday lunch is particularly popular, thanks to an irresistibly indulgent bill including the likes of roast saddleback pork with maple‑smoked belly, apple sauce and crackling.

Don't let the enticing mains encourage you to skip starters; seasonal small plates such as pheasant scotch egg with blue cheese and beer‑pickled onion, and raviolo of game ragu with aged parmesan, roasted shallot purée, bone marrow and parsley sauce are not to be missed.

thecornisharmstavistock.co.uk