There’s a lot riding on a Sunday roast. Get it right and it’s the best meal of the week. Get it wrong and nobody forgets.
Our old guide ranked six pubs. This time we started again: we pulled every pub and restaurant around Waterlooville on Google, and only kept the ones where diners actually talk about the roast. To make the list, a place needs at least five Google reviews that mention its roast, Sunday roast or carvery. That left eighteen, from town-centre bars to country pubs in Catherington, Chalton, Finchdean and Hambledon.
Then we ranked them on live Google ratings and review counts, checked each kitchen’s food hygiene rating, and noted Sunday opening hours where the pub lists them. Every number is correct at the time of writing (25 September 2026).
How we ranked them: highest Google star rating first, with ties broken by number of reviews. There’s a best carvery section after the rankings.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
300 Catherington Ln, Catherington, Portsmouth, Waterlooville PO8 0TD
Get directionsThe Farmer Inn in Catherington was number one last time and it still is: 4.6 from 663 reviews. That’s the joint-highest rating on this list, and it’s ahead on review count. Roasts come up in 21 reviews, and it’s a proper country pub (17) with a big draw: the garden, mentioned in 35 reviews.
It’s very dog friendly, with water bowls and even dog treats mentioned. There’s also live music and comedy nights.
Sunday hours: 12–10pm. Food hygiene rating 5 (February 2025). Phone 023 9259 3280.
What reviewers say
“Great service and food once again at the Farmer Inn.” (a Google reviewer, July 2026)
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
73 London Rd, Portsmouth, Waterlooville PO7 7EX
Get directionsThe highest-rated roast in Waterlooville town itself: Number 73 on London Road scores 4.6 from 464 reviews, and “Sunday roast” is mentioned in 37 of them. It’s a bar as well as a kitchen, and cocktails come up in 53 reviews. There’s tapas during the week and live music too. Welcoming staff get 19 mentions.
Good to know: it’s right on London Road, so there’s no country drive. Food hygiene rating 5 (April 2025). Phone 023 9226 1618.
What reviewers say
“We visited for a Sunday roast and it really was absolutely delicious.” (a Google reviewer)
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
Hyden Farm Ln, Hambledon, Waterlooville PO8 0UB
Get directionsWith 1,309 reviews and 4.5 stars, the Bat & Ball near Hambledon is one of the most-reviewed pubs in the area. Sunday roast is mentioned in 60 reviews. It’s famous for something else too: cricket comes up 95 times. It sits opposite Broadhalfpenny Down, known as the home of cricket, and there’s cricket memorabilia inside.
Reviewers also love the countryside location and stunning views (16 and 5), the outdoor seating and the triple-cooked chips.
Good to know: Food hygiene rating 5 (February 2025). Phone 023 9263 2692.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
The George Inn, Finchdean
the village roast with a garden
Finchdean, Waterlooville PO8 0AU
Get directionsIn Finchdean village, the George Inn scores 4.5 from 736 reviews, and Sunday roast is mentioned in 48 of them. Reviewers call out the roast potatoes and pigs in blankets. The garden is the other headline (69 mentions), as is the village setting (20).
It also has a famous resident: “pub dog” comes up in 38 reviews.
Good to know: Food hygiene rating 5 (March 2025). Phone 023 9200 4930.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
45-47 London Rd, Cowplain, Waterlooville PO8 8DH
Get directionsOn London Road in Cowplain, Koop+Kraft scores 4.5 from 482 reviews, with Sunday roast mentioned in 39. Steak (16) and burgers (12) are its other big dishes. It’s a popular place for birthday celebrations (15), and there’s live music.
Sunday hours: 12–8pm. Food hygiene rating 5 (October 2024). Phone 023 9225 5100.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
The Vine Inn, Hambledon
the village carvery with an open fire
West St, Hambledon, Waterlooville PO7 4RW
Get directionsIn Hambledon village, the Vine Inn scores 4.5 from 252 reviews. It does a carvery (7 reviews) and roasts (4). Reviewers mention large portions (8), the open fire (7) and a proper village pub feel (17).
Sunday hours: 12–10pm. Phone 023 9263 2799. We couldn’t find its hygiene rating on the FSA register.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
The Red Lion, Chalton
Opening hours, contact details and more →the most-talked-about roast in the area
Chalton, Waterlooville PO8 0BG
Get directionsIf you judge a roast by how often people rave about it, the Red Lion in Chalton wins outright: “Sunday roast” is mentioned in 85 reviews, more than at any other pub we found, and roast beef gets its own 16 mentions. It scores 4.4 from 1,261 reviews.
It’s an old country pub (19) with a big garden (58), countryside views and outdoor seating. It’s also known for pies (36 mentions), and it holds beer festivals.
Good to know: Food hygiene rating 4 (“good”, December 2025). Phone 023 9259 2246.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
Apless Ln, Worlds End, Hambledon, Waterlooville PO7 4QX
Get directionsThe Chairmakers at Worlds End is the carvery pub: it’s mentioned in 102 reviews, far more than anywhere else, and Sunday roast gets another 52. It scores 4.4 from 1,233 reviews. Pork belly (20) and roast potatoes (10) are the standouts, and there’s a nut roast for vegetarians (3).
It has a countryside location (12) and plenty of outdoor seating (15).
Sunday hours: 12–6pm. Food hygiene rating 4 (“good”, March 2025). Phone 023 9226 5235.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
Fox Hounds, 160 Stakes Hill Rd, Waterlooville PO7 7BS
Get directionsThe Fox & Hounds on Stakes Hill Road scores 4.4 from 256 reviews. Sunday roast gets mentioned, but the real theme is families: there’s a children’s area (7), it’s dog friendly (6), and there’s a beer garden, pool and darts.
Sunday hours: 12–11pm. Food hygiene rating 5 (December 2025). Phone 07908 551170.
What reviewers say
“Having a roasty with good friends — drinking, having lunch at The Fox & Hounds.” (a Google reviewer, July 2026)
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
269 Lovedean Ln, Waterlooville PO8 9RX
Get directionsWith 1,266 reviews, the Bird in Hand on Lovedean Lane is one of the busiest pubs around, and Sunday roast is mentioned in 66 of them. It scores 4.3. Portion sizes come up 17 times. The ploughman’s, camembert and steak and Guinness pie are other favourites, and there’s a big garden (49).
Sunday hours: 12–9pm. Food hygiene rating 5 (February 2026). Phone 023 9238 6147.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
The Heroes, 125 London Rd, Waterlooville PO7 7DZ
Get directionsThe Heroes on London Road scores 4.3 from 527 reviews, and Sunday roast gets 10 mentions. It’s mostly known as a live music venue (9) and a “proper” old pub with a friendly crowd.
Good to know: it’s in the town centre. Phone 023 9225 3068.
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
Southwick Rd, Denmead, Waterlooville PO7 6LB
Get directionsJust outside Denmead on Southwick Road, the Harvest Home scores 4.3 from 462 reviews, with Sunday roast mentioned in 19. Reviewers emphasise home-cooked food (9) and welcoming staff (14). It’s a proper local pub (17) that also runs curry nights.
Sunday hours: 12–6pm. Food hygiene rating 5 (August 2023). Phone 023 9225 5086.
What reviewers say
“Our meals were very nice and good value for money.” (a Google reviewer)
Photo: from the business’s Google Maps listing
179 London Rd, Waterlooville PO7 7RL
Get directionsThe Woodpecker on London Road has 1,578 reviews, more than any other pub on this list, and holds 4.2. Sunday roast is mentioned in 36 of them, and roast potatoes in 8. “Polite staff” comes up 64 times, and there’s a mixed grill, gammon, a pub quiz and live music.
Good to know: Food hygiene rating 5 (April 2026). Phone 023 9225 1012.
What reviewers say
“The Beef Rib Sunday Roast was amazing!!!” (a Google reviewer)
The verdict
For the best Sunday roast around Waterlooville on the numbers, book The Farmer Inn in Catherington. In town, go to Number 73 on London Road. For the roast people rave about most, it’s the Red Lion in Chalton (85 reviews mention it). For a carvery, The Chairmakers. With a dog or a big group, go for a country pub with a garden: The Farmer Inn, the George Inn or the Bird in Hand.
Book ahead. The popular country pubs fill up on Sundays.
Best carvery near Waterlooville
The Chairmakers, Worlds End: carvery mentioned in 102 reviews.
The White Hart, Hambledon Road, Denmead: ★ 4.1 from 1,338 reviews, with carvery mentioned in 63 and portion size in 63. It has a big garden with a bouncy castle, and a vegan menu (5 reviews). Food hygiene rating 5.
The Hampshire Rose, London Road, Widley: ★ 3.9 from 350 reviews, with carvery mentioned in 9.
The Vine Inn, Hambledon: carvery mentioned in 7 reviews.
Also on the list
These scored slightly lower but still have plenty of roast fans:
Plough & Barleycorn, Tempest Avenue: ★ 4.2 from 686 reviews. Sunday roast is mentioned in 10, and “family friendly” in 27.
The Ship & Bell, Horndean: ★ 4.2 from 581 reviews. Sunday roast is mentioned in 21, plus generous portions. Open until 11pm on Sundays.
The Rising Sun Inn, Clanfield: ★ 4.2 from 557 reviews. Sunday roast is mentioned in 19, a friendly landlord in 13, and it’s dog friendly.
How we ranked them (in full)
1. Which places: pubs and restaurants on Google Maps with a Waterlooville-area postcode (PO7 and PO8) where at least five Google reviews mention a roast, Sunday roast or carvery.
2. Order: Google star rating, highest first, with ties broken by review count.
3. Hygiene: each kitchen’s current rating on the Food Standards Agency register, with its inspection date.
4. “Mentioned in X reviews”: these counts come from the review topics Google shows on each listing. We haven’t picked or edited them.
5. We don’t quote prices, because they change. Check with the pub.
6. Nobody paid to be on this list, and nobody can pay to move up it.
Know a roast we’ve missed? Tell us.
