British pub food is probably taken for granted by us Brits. There’s just something about the hearty food and casual nature of dining in our pubs that has the ability to make everyone feel at home.
Sure, our pubs are great for a ‘quick bevvie,’ but loads of them are also up there with the UK’s best restaurants when it comes to top-notch food.
Some British ‘gastropubs’ are nowadays even awarded Michelin stars, and if you stick around, we’ll send you on your merry way towards our star-picks of what we consider to be some of the very best British pub grub.
But first, you’ll find below an epic list of classic British dishes that are typically found on a traditional British pub food menu.
British Pub Food Starters
Pork Scratchings
A snack or nibble to be eaten with your pre-meal drink, pork scratchings are a British pub food staple not to be missed. Pork rind, rendered to a crisp and seasoned with salt, will get the juices flowing for what’s to follow…
Scotch Eggs
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One of our favourite ever pub foods is the Scotch Egg, which just so happens to be one of many classic British delicacies.
Soup
Not many better feelings than eating a hot bowl of soup with crusty bread and butter, in front of an open pub fire on a cold winter’s day in Britain.
Prawn Cocktail
The prawn cocktail is often mocked these days, being perceived as a retro old-timer, but there’s plenty of gastropubs in London and the rest of Britain adding a modern twist to this classic starter to keep it alive.
Pate and Toast
Pate is an animal liver paste and is an ever-present British pub food. Diced livers on toast, often cooked with garlic and herbs, can also be found on many pub menus.
Potted Shrimp
Brown shrimp cooked and then set in butter, often flavoured with nutmeg, is a true British pub food delight when eaten with some quality crusty bread. Other ‘potted’ dishes can also be found, like crab or duck for example.
Whitebait
Ah, whitebait. So bloody moorish, especially with dollops of mayo and splashes of lemon juice.
Mushrooms
Breaded and deep fried mushrooms are a popular starter choice in many UK pubs, usually served with a side salad. Stuffed mushrooms are another popular choice, as are simple fried mushrooms on toast with garlic and herbs.
British Pub Food Main Courses
All Day Breakfast
The fact that the Full English Breakfast is available all day in many British pubs will never fail to blow our minds. In a good way, obvs.
Bangers and Mash
If you’re not familiar with classic British cuisine, this is sausages and mashed potatoes, served with gravy and often fried onions and vegetables. Proper British pub grub.
Toad in the hole
Another incredible sausage dish, this time cooked in Yorkshire Pudding batter. We’re as confused as anyone with the name… all we know is that toad in the hole is one of the very best traditional British dinners.
Pork Belly
Sticking with the pork theme, a really good choice of British pub food is melt-in-the-mouth pork belly, which is usually served with creamy mashed potatoes, vegetables and apple sauce. Simply sublime.
Fish and Chips
If you found us a pub in Britain that doesn’t serve Fish and Chips, we’d seriously consider emigrating. This famous British food is best served with mushy peas, salt, plenty of malt vinegar or lemon juice, plus a dollop of tartare sauce (tomato ketchup is also popular).
Many British gastropubs will have other fish dishes too, including the ‘catch of the day.’
Scampi and Chips
Scampi is a crustacean similar to lobster and crayfish, which is a popular alternative to Fish and Chips. Also best served with liberal amounts of salt, vinegar and tartare sauce.
Pie and Mash
We just love a pie with mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy in Britain, especially during a trip to a gastropub. Popular choices of pie filling are steak and kidney, steak and ale, or chicken and mushroom (but there’s loads of other possible variations).
Shepherd’s Pie
Yet another warming dish particularly good in winter, although Shepherd’s Pie is great all year round. This one consists of a minced lamb base, topped with mashed potatoes.
A similar British dish is Cottage Pie. So similar, you might not even know the difference when it comes to Shepherd’s Pie vs Cottage Pie.
Liver and Bacon
Maybe not the most popular British food in general, but liver and bacon is an amazing British pub food classic. Usually served with mashed potatoes, fried onions and vegetables.
Gammon (Ham), Egg and Chips
Ham, egg and chips is so simple but one of our favourite British pub foods. The ham should be thick cut and can be served hot or cold, with the egg being fried. A good side of chips and a juicy grilled pineapple ring tops it off nicely.
The Ploughman’s
The Ploughman’s is a great traditional British pub food for sure. Fully known as the Ploughman’s Lunch, this really is simplicity at its best. Hunks of bread, cheese and ham served with other savoury British delicacies like the Scotch egg and pork pie, makes for a proper humble and classic British meal.
Fisherman’s Pie
Also simply known as a Fish Pie, this can be a good alternative to Fish and Chips (although just not the same). Unlike a Steak and Kidney Pie, but like a Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie, the Fisherman’s Pie is topped with mashed potatoes. The filling is usually made up of smoked fish such as haddock, cod and salmon, cooked in a white wine or cheese sauce.
Lancashire Hot Pot
This regional stew (Lancashire being in north-west England) is proper traditional British pub food. Historically, diced mutton was cooked with onions to create the stew base of this comforting dish, topped with sliced potatoes. These days lamb is more often used.
Burger and Chips
You can’t go wrong with a British beef patty combined with cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato, all within a toasted brioche bun. With sides of fat chips, onion rings and coleslaw, it doesn’t get much better than that (wait, relish and a gherkin too!)
Steak and Chips
Again, simple and effective. Whether it’s rump, sirloin, ribeye or whatever, a nice juicy steak with chips, grilled mushrooms, tomatoes and peas is one of the top foods to eat at a British pub. Served with either the classic Peppercorn sauce or Diane sauce is the stuff!
Roast Dinner
You thought we’d forgotten the classic Roast!? No chance. Whether you opt for table service or a carvery, you surely can’t be disappointed by a British pub roast dinner. Your choice of roast meat (or non-meat alternative) is partnered with the ‘trimmings’ which usually includes Yorkshire Pudding, stuffing, pigs in blankets, roasted potatoes and a selection of vegetables. All topped off with lashings of gravy.
Lasagne
Obviously not British in origin, but Lasagne found itself being a permanent British pub food menu item many years ago. Not hard to understand why really.
Curry
Britain’s love for curry means Chicken Tikka Masala is actually one of the national dishes in Britain. So, this and other varieties of curry quite often appears on many a pub menu.
Chilli con carne
Another dish with origins elsewhere in the world that we Brits have adopted into our pubs with open arms. Most popular served with either rice or a jacket potato in Britain.
British Pub Food Desserts
Ice Cream Sundae
The Ice Cream Sundae is one of the proper retro British desserts, great for both adults and children. It totally reflects the nature of pub dining: casual and fun. Scoops of ice cream are combined with sauce and toppings like chocolate pieces, nuts, cream, fruit and marshmallows.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
It’s seriously difficult to find a better dessert than Sticky Toffee Pudding! This sponge cake oozing with toffee sauce is just incredible with custard or ice cream.
Apple Crumble
Probably the most famous pub food dessert in Britain and definitely one of the best. Nice chunky apple pieces, spiced with cinnamon and covered with a crisp yet crumbly topping, and custard. Immense.
Bread and Butter Pudding
We know what you’re thinking… “bread and butter pudding sounds pretty naff!” But hold your horses, the bread and butter is smothered and soaked in delicious sweet custard before being cooked with dried fruit. Nothing naff about it.
Chocolate Something
No British pub food menu should be without a chocolate fudge cake, chocolate tart, or chocolate something!
Cheesecake
We’re not sure we can claim that us Brits invented the cheesecake, but we sure do love ’em! Some form of cheesecake is usually found on a typical British pub food menu.
Cheese Board
Finally, the cheese board. A great alternative to a sweet dessert to end your British pub food experience. A good cheese board will give you a variety of cheeses to try, usually along with crackers, chutney and fruit.
So there you go. An epic list of traditional (or at least, somewhat typical) British pub food dishes.
We know exactly what you’re thinking… now you just need to find a place to eat some…
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