There are few better ways to spend a Sunday than wandering through a beautifully stocked garden centre, gathering seasonal produce from local artisans, and settling down for a comforting Sunday roast.

That’s exactly what I found myself doing at Weetons in Harrogate, a much-loved haunt known for its vibrant food hall, inviting café, and of course, its famous Sunday roasts.

Before we even sat down to eat, I found myself pulled into the rhythm of the place. Weetons is more than just a restaurant – it’s a destination. The food hall is filled with temptation: fresh fruits, top-quality meats, and pantry staples that proudly showcase the best of Yorkshire and beyond. While waiting for our table, I happily did a bit of browsing and buying as I felt inspired for the week’s dishes.

When we finally sat down, we were welcomed with warmth and ease by the team. I went for the porchetta roast (their signature pork), while my husband chose the vegetarian squash wellington. It didn’t take long for our plates to arrive, each one a towering ode to the British Sunday roast tradition.

Now, I’ll start with what truly shone: the vegetables were standout stars. The butternut and spinach wellington was beautifully made, tasted delicious and looked stunning with the vibrant orange-coloured squash contrasting with the vegetables around it.

The broccoli was still slightly crunchy, and kissed with lemon in a way that made its greenness sing. The cauliflower cheese was cooked just right – creamy but holding its form, rather than slumping into mush as it often does.

And the carrots? A dream. Sweet, tender, and glistening, as though they knew they were the main event on my plate. They were exactly how well roasted carrots should be. As someone who loves her meat and fish, veggies are something I eat because they are good for me, but in this instance I ate them because I loved how delicious they were.

But as with many roasts, the balance is delicate. The roast potatoes, while well seasoned, could have done with a bit more fluff inside and crunch on the outside. The pork, flavourful as it was, had dry parts that relied heavily on the gravy to make it right.

And that’s where the gravy story begins.

It was already poured over the plate, but most of it pooled inside the massive Yorkshire pudding, which felt more like a gravy trap than a treat, given that Yorkshire pudding is usually the last element that I would eat.

I struggled to get enough gravy to enjoy with the rest of my meal. When I asked for just a little extra, I imagined a small individual-sized 1.5oz jug arriving at the table – just enough to rescue the dry bits of pork. Instead, a gravy boat large enough to serve a full table was placed before me.

I couldn’t help but feel it was wasteful. Three-quarters of that boat would head straight to the kitchen sink. And to add insult to over-saucing, I later saw I’d been charged for the extra portion without warning. I was more disappointed by the principle than the pennies, as it would have been helpful to have been told beforehand.

Even more surprising was that the vegetarian wellington came so drenched in gravy that the bottom part of the pastry had lost its crispness and the plate still held a pool long after everything on the plate was eaten. I found myself wishing I’d just taken a spoonful from my husband’s plate instead.

Thankfully, dessert came to save the day.

We had the warm chocolate fudge cake and the pecan tart, both served with bourbon ice cream and dried raspberries. The chocolate was soft, gooey, and rich without being too much; and the ice cream cut through it with a lovely chill. The pecan tart was beautifully nutty, caramel-sticky and crisp, the kind of thing that makes you close your eyes and sigh after every bite.

My Final Thoughts

Weetons is worth the visit, whether you come for the roast, the shopping, or simply the ambiance of a Sunday well spent, especially on a sunny day. The vegetables were lovingly prepared, the service friendly, and the desserts divine. But there’s room for improvement in how the roast is plated, especially with the Yorkshire pudding and the delivery (and cost) of gravy.

In case you are wondering, the gravy was delicious and I never joke with my sauce, as in most cases, the sauce is what makes or breaks the dish.

Would I go again? Yes. But next time, I’ll ask for my gravy on the side so I can drizzle it on the elements that I really want to enjoy.

The cost for two people, including a pot of green tea, an elderflower lemonade and a 750ml bottle of sparkling Yorkshire water, came to £61.