UK pub has world's longest waiting list for Sunday lunch

There are few things better to do on a Sunday then head to your local and tuck into a roast dinner - but would you be willing to wait four years to get yourself a spot?

Well, that’s what you’ll have to do if you fancy going to The Bank Tavern in Bristol, because the popular spot has a staggering four-year-long waiting list to get yourself a table for one of its Sunday lunches.

But it’s worth the wait, because the pub was named the best roast in Britain in 2019, according to The Observer Food Monthly Awards.

The pub, which was refurbished during lockdown, also topped the 2018 Bristol Good Food Awards.

And it’s added another title to its name, after a new study found it was officially ‘the hardest restaurant in the world to get a reservation’.

Research carried out by UK card payment provider Dojo, looked into how long folks can be expected to wait to bag themselves a reservation.

The researchers compiled the data by looking at TikTok views for some of Google's most exclusive restaurants and then confirming their waiting times via their website or Google reviews.

SWNS/Instagram/@‌thebanktavern

And of all the places looked at, The Bank Tavern came out on top - tucked away in John Street in the city centre, the pub has just seven tables and can seat up to 40 diners.

Tables can only be reserved for an hour and 45 minutes, with staff estimating that they serve around 160 roast dinners a week.

In fact, their roasts are so popular that last year, the pub had to stop taking reservations due to the sky-high demand.

Speaking in 2020, landlord Sam Gregory said: "We don't repeat the same menu and although we always have beef we also do pork, some vegetarian options and perhaps venison or poultry.

"We change the starters and desserts weekly so the menu is never the same.

Instagram/@‌thebanktavern

"Most of it though is down to the herculean effort of our head chef and kitchen team."

A sample menu available on the pubs website shows mains including 30 day dry aged rare topside of beef, slow cooked pork belly, honey and rosemary roasted leg of lamb, and a vegetable and lentil loaf for the veggies.

All the roasts come served with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, parsnip puree, creamy leeks, braised red cabbage and seasonal vegetables - and will set you back £21.95 for two courses or £26.95 for three.