I visited a Staffordshire pub famed for Sunday lunch, enormous Yorkshire puddings and plenty of tasty meat

Across the country and across the generations, families have settled down on a Sunday to enjoy a roast dinner, with a selection of vegetables, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and, of course, a roasted meat, with chicken, beef, pork and lamb all popular options.

The different flavours and textures that come with it are ones which have become major selling points for pubs which pride themselves on food, with the Sunday lunchtime trade becoming a lifeline for many pubs.

Car parks at these pubs will become full on a Sunday, with people coming to enjoy a nice meal or carvery, cooked with care by the chefs and served by staff providing a warm welcome.

One pub which has prided itself on good food and a warm welcome is the Chetwynd Arms in Upper Longdon, which has become as a place for a good pint, a foodie’s paradise and a community hub for those living in the nearby village.

The Chetwynd Arms is surrounded on all sides by Cannock Chase Forest, while also being sited close to a caravan and camping site and the Beau Desert Golf Club.

Sitting in the beer garden, customers can look out over the chase and take in the stunning views, while also marvelling at the large cream white pub, while the interior is full of wooden beams, comfortable seats and more than a few unusual objects on the wall.

It was a pub I was keen to visit and see what the Sunday roast was like, so I made the trip over, taking a scenic drive through the Staffordshire countryside into Cannock Chase Forest and down a winding road into the pretty village of Upper Longdon.

After passing row after row of nice looking houses, the Chetwynd Arms looms into view, with a traditional coaching light outside the front door as a reminder of the past.

Inside, the pub is a welcoming environment, with a big bar full of different drinks, plus a fridge full of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a welcoming sight on a hot day.

I had previously featured the pub in the Express & Star’s Love Your Local feature and finally got to meet landlords Nicola and Gary Thomas in person for the first time.

They’ve been there for a long time and were pleased to meet me as well, with Nicola giving me a guided tour of the pub, including the large marquee outside, a perfect venue for occasions such as weddings.

Being a foodie pub, she also showed me the BBQ area, with an enormous barbeque and smoker which they use for brisket, pulled pork and a range of other smoked meats, and the area where dogs can be fed and watered (the pub is set near Cannock Chase, so is a perfect stopping point for walkers).

Having taken in my fill of the pub and what it had to offer, I took my Guinness 0.0 (driving duties meant not being able to enjoy the real ales on offer) and was led to my seat by Lewis, one of the staff working hard on a Sunday to cater for a lot of full tables.

I was given a menu and immediately got lost in the treats on offer, from starters including Buffalo cauliflower wings, brie wedges and prawn cocktail.

On the main meals list, there’s a braised lamb shank that will set you back £28, but looks enormous, the pie of the day (steak and ale), several vegan options and a number of very tasty sounding steaks.

However, I was there for the Sunday roast and it sounded like a real treat, with £19.95 giving you beef, turkey and honey glazed gammon, plus a plethora of extras including mashed potato, beef dripping roast potatoes, honey glazed carrot and parsnip, cauliflower cheese, pig in blanket, seasonal greens and a Yorkshire pudding.

I ordered the cauliflower wings as a starter and the Sunday roast for main, leaving space in reserve for any dessert, and took in my surroundings.

Around me, families were enjoying each other’s company, chatting happily and also making sure the children at the table were kept happy, with a few songs from one table permeating the air.

It was a nice ambience and set me up nicely for my starter, with several very nicely brown and spiced cauliflower wings arriving, set on a bed of salad and with a pot of red and shiny sauce at the end.

From the first bite, I knew I’d made the right choice, with the crispy coating a nice mix of flavour and the cauliflower nice and soft, mixing really well with the honey sriracha sauce to provide a wonderful and also very light meal. I would have been happy with just that, in all fairness.

However, the main event was then brought to the table and, my word, was it big.

The Yorkshire pudding was enormous, coming in at the size of a small baby’s head, and then there was the meat, with lots of soft turkey and beef (I have forgone the gammon as not a massive fan) sitting next to it.

The vegetables were a remarkable mix as well, with a large portion of cauliflower cheese, soft and succulent carrots and parsnips, crispy and tangy roast potatoes, a pig in a blanket that was a delight, soft greens and really soft and creamy mashed potato (I am not a fan of mash, but this was a level above).

It was a meal full of flavour, textures and rich tastes and was just delicious from start to finish, although it did leave me feeling so full, I couldn’t even face the thought of a dessert (not necessarily a bad thing, to be honest).

All the way through, Lewis and the rest of the staff were friendly and would check on how things were, all without being too “touchy-feely” or overly smothering, something which made the meal even better as I felt I was left along to enjoy my meal.

The Chetwynd Arms is clearly doing something right with its kitchen and its food service, with great food, strong flavours and a warm feeling all being part of my experience of my visit and, for the price, the Sunday lunch is well worth a go.

Just make sure you arrive with an empty stomach and a big appetite.