"the perfect excuse to settle in for a long, leisurely afternoon"

There are some Sundays when cooking a roast, tackling the washing up afterwards and arguing over who's peeling the potatoes just isn't the vibe.

That's where The Ivy Spinningfields comes in. They've recently relaunched their Sunday Roast offering and, having seen what's on the menu, the RoM team were more than happy to leave the hard work to them. After all, if you're going to treat yourself at the end of the week, you may as well do it properly.

Unlike many roast offerings across the city, this isn't a dedicated Sunday menu. Instead, it's a special addition to The Ivy's extensive à la carte offering, available one day a week. And if you're going to earn a place on a menu this established, it had better be good. Thankfully, The Ivy Brasserie has made sure its Sunday Roast is the star of the show.  

Beautifully cooked roast beef arrives alongside crispy roast potatoes, a giant fluffy Yorkshire pudding, honey and thyme glazed carrots, green beans and broccoli, all finished with a rich rosemary red wine sauce. To a Mancunian roast purist, sauce on a Sunday dinner may feel close to sacrilege, but when it's this rich and flavourful, all is quickly forgiven.

It's everything you want from a traditional Sunday lunch: comforting, generous and packed with the classic flavours that have made the roast dinner one of Britain's greatest culinary institutions. In fact, it was so satisfying that on this occasion we skipped starters altogether and got straight to the main event.

Anyone who reads our writeups regularly will know that our editor casts her baker's eye over the dessert menu the moment she sits down. In honour of that unwavering dedication to pudding, our desserts were chosen before we'd even finished the mains.

The Ivy's Sticky Toffee Pudding was the obvious first choice. This Sunday classic combines sweet dates with a luxurious salted caramel sauce, topped with clotted cream and finished with a dusting of gold flakes for a touch of indulgence. It's a classic for a reason, and one that The Ivy executes exceptionally well.

For those looking for something a little lighter, with a side of theatre, the Apple Tart Fine is the way to go. Thin slices of apple are perfectly arranged on a crisp pastry base and served with Madagascan vanilla ice cream. The dessert arrives at the table before a generous measure of Calvados is flambéed tableside, setting the whole dish alight and ensuring a memorable finish to the meal.

Sunday lunch has never been just about the food. It's about slowing down, catching up with friends and family, making the most of the final hours of the weekend and, perhaps most importantly, letting someone else do the washing up. The Ivy Spinningfields has always understood that balance between sophistication and comfort, and its Sunday Roast offers the perfect excuse to settle in for a long, leisurely afternoon.

Our advice? Arrive hungry, order dessert, and don't make any plans for afterwards.

** Our experience was gratefully comped **