its_all_gravy411

30/08/2026

24/08/2026

This is what ‘emotionally available’ looks like. 😂

16/08/2026

This week's roast took me to The Queen Victoria in Maldon. We managed to get a very last-minute booking and were greeted by genuinely lovely staff and great service.

I went for the roast pork with all the trimmings — tasty pork, fresh vegetables, roasties, stuffing, a good Yorkshire pudding and, importantly, plenty of gravy. 🙌

It was a really generous, proper pub roast, exactly what you want on a Sunday.

And this is a good one if you fancy turning your roast into a little day out.

After lunch, head down to Hythe Quay and have a wander along the waterfront, where you'll find Maldon's historic Thames sailing barges. You can even get out on the water, with different boat trips and sailing experiences running from the quay, including shorter cruises and trips aboard the traditional barges. ⛵

There's also Promenade Park nearby if you fancy walking off approximately 4% of the roast afterwards.🤣🤣

So the Sunday itinerary is basically:

📍 The Queen Victoria, Maldon

A lovely last-minute find, great service from the staff and a very satisfying Sunday roast.

🍽️3.5/5

08/07/2026

The Butchers Arms, Dunmow 🍽️

This was such a last-minute stop on the way to the airport, and honestly, I’m so glad we went. It’s also recently been crowned Essex’s most loved pub, which makes a lot of sense after visiting. The meat was generous, and the stuffing was a proper chunky slice. It felt like a really classic pub roast: no fuss, just a big comforting plate of food.

The staff were lovely too, and the owner was so friendly. He was even ready to introduce us to the goats out back! 🐐

We also had sticky toffee pudding with custard and chocolate brownie with ice cream for dessert, because obviously!!

If you wanted to make more of a day out of it, Pleshey Castle ruins are only around a 15-20 minute drive away. You can’t actually go into the ruins themselves, but you can still see the historic earthworks from nearby and learn about the castle’s history in the village. It’s one of Essex’s old motte-and-bailey castle sites, dating back to around the Norman period.

For a very random airport-route stop, this was a really good find. Proper local pub feel, lovely people and a very decent roast.

Venue: The Butchers Arms
Location: Dunmow
Address: North End, Dunmow
Postcode: CM6 3PQ
County: Essex
Nearby: Pleshey Castle ruins, Great Dunmow town centre, countryside walks

05/07/2026

One of the things I've learnt since starting It's All Gravy is that everyone has an opinion on a roast dinner.

Some people are all about the meat. Some judge a roast entirely on the potatoes. And some people seem to take Yorkshire puddings very seriously.

For me, it's all about variety. I love a roast that gives you a bit of everything – different vegetables, great potatoes, a Yorkshire pudding, plenty of gravy and a plate that feels like a proper Sunday treat.

Now that Instagram allows photo comments, I thought it would be fun to see what everyone else is eating.

🍽️ So show me your best roast.

Whether it's from your favourite pub, a hidden gem you've discovered, your local carvery, or one you've cooked yourself...

📸 Pop a photo in the comments
📍 Tell me where it was (or who cooked it!)
🍽️ Give it a score out of 5 plates
❤️ Tell me the best thing on the plate

I'm always looking for new places to add to my list, so consider this research for future adventures.

Now let's see those roasts...

26/06/2026

With the summer holidays around the corner, I've been thinking about where to actually go that doesn't involve standing in full sun all day, feeling like I'm melting.

Turns out historic houses, walled gardens, woodland walks and old estates with big trees are perfect for this - you still get a proper day out, just without the whole slowly-cooking-alive situation.

Places like Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, Leeds Castle in Kent, Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, and Long Melford Hall in Suffolk have all been lifesavers when the weather's been like this.

I've put together a few categories of places that have saved me during hot weather. There's also a map on my website with roast dinner spots and locations if you fancy combining your Sunday adventure with lunch. 💜🏰🌳☀️



What about you - where do you go when it's like this?

24/06/2026

With summer holidays approaching and the current heatwave showing no signs of stopping, I've been thinking about the places I visit when the weather's this good.

I get asked fairly often how I manage to visit so many historic houses, castles and gardens without spending a fortune.

The answer is memberships.

I have National Trust, English Heritage and RHS memberships, and they've given me access to some great places over the years.

Whether you need somewhere to take the family during school holidays, want a weekend trip, or just want to make use of this weather, they can work out quite good value.

Most people don't realise how quickly they pay for themselves, particularly for families.

I've included the current prices and some money-saving tips in the carousel.

Do you have any of these memberships?

And if not, where do you like to go on a sunny day?

💜🏰🌺

18/05/2026

Sunday roast at The Coach & Horses in Bishop’s Stortford after a walk around Little Hadham👣🍽️

Went for the British pork belly roast (£18.50) — really tasty overall. The pork was soft, the gravy was good, and the roast potatoes had a nice crisp to them too. Yorkshire pudding was definitely on the larger side as well.

They also had sirloin beef (£21), lamb shoulder (£19.50), half-roasted chicken (£19) and a seeded sweet potato & chestnut loaf (£17) on the roast menu, so a good mix of options.

Only thing I’d say is I would’ve liked a bit more of a mix of veg on the plate, especially because what was there was really nice.

Staff were lovely and the whole place had that cosy pub feel where you end up staying longer than planned.

Finished with the Millionaire’s Chocolate Pot for dessert which was smooth chocolate ganache, dulce de leche toffee sauce, shortbread and mini toffee pieces with ice cream on top… rich in the best way and disappeared very quickly 😌

A really nice Sunday afternoon all round.