Spencer Arms Sunday Roast: Good food, great atmosphere, actually available

As the cold settles in and darkness arrives earlier each day, there’s something uniquely comforting about the British Sunday lunch tradition. It’s more than just a meal, it’s a ritual that brings families together, a reason to linger over the table, and an excuse to gather when winter makes us want to retreat indoors. The sight of a proper roast, with all its trimmings piled high and steam rising from Yorkshire puddings, feels like a small act of defiance against the grey skies outside.

Every pub knows this, which is why Sunday roasts have become their bread and butter – quite literally the thing that gets people through the doors when the temperature drops. But not all Sunday lunches are created equal, and with so many options across Putney, we’ve decided to embark on a mission: reviewing them one by one, so you know where to spend your Sunday afternoon.

Why we started with The Spencer Arms

We’ll be honest, The Spencer Arms wasn’t our first choice. It was our only choice. Having failed to plan ahead (a common affliction), we discovered that Putney’s most popular Sunday lunch spots were fully booked until 4pm or later. Some required reservations a week in advance. So we rang around, and The Spencer Arms had space.

But here’s the thing: that’s actually a point in their favour. If you’re not the type to plan your Sundays with military precision, if spontaneity is more your style, The Spencer Arms is there for you. And when we arrived, it wasn’t empty by any means – just two tables remained, one of which bore our reserved sign.

The setting

Located right by Putney Common, The Spencer Arms is everything a proper pub should be when it’s full: warm, cosy, buzzing with life. On the day we visited, it was a delightful mix of humanity; birthday parties, families with young children, older couples, friends catching up, even a few dogs settling in by their owners’ feet. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly without tipping into chaos, which on a Sunday can sometimes feel like a fine line.

Being beside the common gives it that classic British pub charm, and on a freezing day, stepping inside feels like coming home.

The experience

The menu offered the usual suspects: beef, lamb, chicken, pork, or a mixed roast for the indecisive. There were alternatives too: sea bass for those who don’t do red meat. The kids’ menu covered the basics.

Our server was attentive without hovering, helpful without being intrusive. The kind of service that makes you feel looked after rather than processed.

The food

The beef roast arrived looking like something from a gastropub photo shoot, impeccably presented with an enormous Yorkshire pudding perched on top like a crown, vegetables artfully arranged, everything positioned with care. It looked genuinely appetising.

And it tasted as good as it looked. The beef was tender and cooked properly, the roast potatoes had that crucial combination of crunchy exterior and fluffy interior, and the Yorkshire pudding delivered on taste. It was, simply put, a good roast. Not transcendent, not the stuff of legend, but solidly, reliably good. Exactly what you want on a Sunday afternoon.

The desserts deserves special mention. The brownie was properly gooey and rich, the kind that makes you close your eyes on the first bite. The poached pear was excellent – light enough that you don’t regret it after a full roast, sophisticated enough to feel like a proper finish.

The damage

For a family of four, including drinks and desserts, expect to pay around £120. It’s not cheap, but it’s Putney prices. You know what you’re getting into.

The Spencer Arms is located at 237 Lower Richmond Road, SW15 1HJ, right by Putney Common.