Although Sunday roasts are traditionally consumed as a final feast of the week, many cheap and cheerful pub owners have began serving them up each day - catering to those who have a mid-week hankering for meat, veg and gravy.
We recently tried out a Greene King in Washington known as Wearside Farm - which plays host to a carvery throughout the week as well as reserving the standard Sunday spot for the luxury, while other boozers up and down the country also serve up roast dinners regardless of the day or time.
One of whom is the Brewers Fayre franchise, which has recently launched a summer menu boasting a number of pub-grub classics for punters to pick from to accompany budget beers while their youngsters make the most of the soft play area.
Read more: We tried a Sunday carvery at a local Greene King pub - here's what we made of it
And while the service is notoriously speedy in the Wessington, a well-known Sunderland based branch of the chain, it beckons the question - does the standard and quality of food take a hit like it does in most fast food establishments?
I visited the Wessington earlier this week to find out first-hand for myself.
I was pleasantly surprised as I drove into the car-park of the Wessington last Saturday a little before midday - to see that the establishment itself was relatively busy. Although it doesn't start serving food until noon, it was definitely a good sign that the car park was full of eager customers in need of a feed.
As I walked through the double doors, however, I was left wondering where all of the vehicle owners from outside had disappeared to. Strangely, the number of cars in the carpark itself didn't quite reflect the lack of custom in the pub, with maybe around four or five tables seated in total.
Never the less, I was greeted with a wholesome and hearty smile by the staff as I walked in and carefully selected my seat for the afternoon. There's a tonne of natural lighting in the building itself, with huge wrap-around windows running across the whole site providing a bright and cheerful atmosphere.
After sitting down at table 27 - I flicked through the menu to locate this 'Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner' I had heard so much about since the launch of the new menu. £8.99 gets you a grilled chicken breast, with peas, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and stuffing - which sounds pleasurable enough. I also vouched for a blackcurrant and soda to wash my meal down with which was an extra £1.
Alike Wetherspoons, Greene King, Sizzling Pubs, and Stonegate who are all similar - it's a walk up to the bar and order kind of set up, which I know many disapprove of, however, it's not that much of a bother for me.
Placing my order at around 11.50am, I was given notice by the ever so friendly barmaid, Nicola, that the cooks wouldn't begin preparations until 12 noon. She also asked me if I had any allergens and offered me a free loyalty card and voucher for 25% off my next purchase should I choose to return.
After paying contactless, I returned to my table and took in the atmosphere while waiting for my food.
It's a very clean and tidy venue the Wessington, decorated in a typical rustic vibe which allows punters to relax while sipping pints or tucking into grub. They also have a PA system throughout playing suitable songs at a good level - not so quiet that you can't hear it, but not so loud that it's a distraction.
There is adequate seating throughout in the form of tables, chairs and booths - and it's very wheelchair accessible with no stairs in sight.
My food arrived around 15 minutes after I was told the cooking would begin, and on first glance it looked like a decent little dish - full of colour and very generous portioning. The only thing that wasn't in abundance, would be the gravy.
I like my Sunday lunch to be absolutely swimming in the stuff, and the amount I received was a little less than satisfactory, only giving the plate a slight glaze. Nevertheless though, I peppered up my plate and tucked in.
The vegetables were all bang on - the skin-on boiled potatoes weren't oily or greasy like some serveries present them, the carrots were mammoth and you can tell they were hand cut to perfection, and the greenery of peas and lettuce was enough to hide in but was fragrant and very much enjoyable.
The stuffing had a subtle crunch to it, which I was a big, big fan of - and was far from sticky and goo-like. So far, so good.
However, the one lacklustre part of my meal, would have to be the chicken breast itself. The art of cooking veg is quite easy to master, but cooking meat takes very special care and attention - and you can tell what's fresh and what's frozen in an instant.
Presentation wise, it didn't look fantastic to begin with - it was very pale and looked super dry from the outside. Cutting into it was a similar affair, with no morsel of moisture in sight. Taste wise, the meat was also incredibly bland and I couldn't bring myself to manage more than a couple of mouthfuls.
What's more, Yorkshire puddings don't come inclusive with the meal itself - with no further option of purchasing one at an additional charge. This, in my eyes, is a catastrophic let down, as I for one am #TeamYorkshirePuddings, an no roast dinner is complete without one.
I'm promised by other customers that the Brewers Fayre's Sunday Carvery is a cut above that of the standard weekday chicken dinner, with puddings, unlimited roasties and three choices of meat (turkey, beef or gammon) included for the £9.99 price point. They also do a vegetarian Fake & Ale Pie filled with butternut squash and mushrooms for those who don't eat meat, which I find very admirable.
In conclusion, I would definitely return to the Brewers Fayre for their speedy and caring service in the future, as my experience on the whole was rather positive and I was made to feel very welcome, but I definitely wouldn't be trialling their chicken dinner again.
Instead, I would maybe choose to try out their giant Yorkshire pudding filled with sausage and mash, or one of their other pub grub staples - as I've heard they do a fantastic fish and chips from many of my friends.
What do you make of the food at the Brewers Fayre? Let us know.
Read next:
