British pub food is probably taken for granted by us Brits. There’s just something unique about the hearty food and casual vibes 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. The very best British pub grub is nowadays awarded with Michelin Stars.

Here you’ll find an epic list of traditional UK dishes that would typically be found on a classic British pub food menu. Y’know, 1990s styleee. 

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

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 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. 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 British pub food dessert 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 somewhat typical) British pub food dishes.

British Food Fest