As part of my journey to find the ultimate Sunday roast in Cambridgeshire, I decided to pop into a pub that currently sits atop of Higgsy’s roast dinner ranking – The Dog & Castle.

This was a pub I had previously never heard of, tucked away in a part of the county I rarely visit (between Ramsey and Huntingdon), so I was genuinely looking forward to exploring what it had to offer.

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Fenland setting

Woodwalton is a beautiful fenland village featuring a lovely communal green at its centre. Chickens casually roam free, completely unbothered by the almost non-existent traffic. The pub itself sits proudly in the middle, overlooking this scenic landscape. Parking is ample at the back, complete with a children’s play area. We even had the pleasure of meeting a delightful goat named Peaches enjoying the grass in the beer garden.

More than just an old English pub

Stepping inside, we were immediately welcomed by the warm atmosphere of a traditional pub rich with individual character. Board games and books were stacked alongside a fireplace, and a beautiful cat came to greet us. Everywhere we looked, there was a conversational detail along with a genuinely friendly smile from the staff. This is the idealistic Sunday afternoon experience.

The menu here is deliberately small and concise, focusing primarily on their acclaimed roast dinners. This is priced at £21, with the option to add additional options on top for an extra fiver.

• Wagyu Topside (beef)

• Black Treacle Gammon

•  Butter Basted Turkey

• Duo of Pork

• Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder (£5 surcharge)

• 48 hour Wagyu Brisket (£5 surcharge)

They have also thoughtfully catered for all diners, with a ‘no meat carvery’ option and a vegan shepherd’s pie.

The Wine

After ten minutes of fussing over the resident cat, we finally decided to order a bottle of the house red. This French wine was cheap and cheerful but it offered a surprisingly intense flavour with hints of dark fruit and pepper. While not overly smooth or refined, it worked exceptionally well alongside a hearty Sunday roast. Wine connoisseurs might want to go further down the menu.

Lamb

We opted for the slow-cooked lamb shoulder, which came with a magnificent spread: ‘Wagyu and goose fat’ roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, a Yorkshire pudding, buttered carrots, Savoy cabbage, peas, mashed swede, maple and thyme roast parsnips, and stuffing… phew!

​My first thought was the sheer generosity of the portion size for a set price. Many establishments now serve a small selection of vegetables and then encourage you to purchase more, but not here. If you order a roast, you get a proper, full roast!

Ok, so the lamb was not particularly pink but it was still incredibly juicy and tender with a lovely flavour. Each slice was thick and of a decent size – and that’s what truly matters.

The gravy is served in what appears to be an old horseradish sauce pot. This not only looked great but the shape meant that it didn’t take up much space on the plate (and could even be put to one side after pouring). The gravy itself was plentiful with a depth of flavour and richness that didn’t stand out but it truly worked. This balanced approach meant the gravy didn’t drown out the flavour of everything else on the plate but instead complimented it.

The mash was absolutely incredible, with a thick, creamy texture that really impressed me. In complete contrast, the roast potatoes had a lovely thick, crispy skin, making the entire dish versatile for fans of both roasted and mashed textures.

Why not both, eh?

We ordered a side of cauliflower cheese, which was absolutely epic. Served on a hot plate, it was easily enough for two people and achieved a great balance of melted cheese and slightly crunchy cauliflower. I highly recommend it!

Overall, this was the closest pub roast dinner I have had to my own home cooking in a long time. The portions were ample, the food wasn’t pretentious, and it was all served in a warm, friendly atmosphere that feels like a true home-from-home. With many restaurants and pubs continually looking to reinvent the wheel and go up market, these humble roasts can be hard to find, so if this is your sort of thing, then the Dog & Castle will be worth seeking out.

A Pizza Surprise!

I had caught wind of a stone-baked pizza menu from their social media page. The pictures looked incredible, so I decided to trust my eyes and give it a go. I ordered the Meat Feast, which came with the usual suspects: pepperoni, sausage, and ham.

Visually, the pizza was even more beautiful than the photographs. The deep colours of the meat toppings made them look fresh and appealing. The crust was thin but felt a little thicker than usual, likely due to the fresh, hand-stretched process. This not only made the pizza taste fresh but resulted in crispy edges with a satisfyingly fluffy centre – the “best of both worlds” for a perfect base.

I don’t often expect top-quality pizza in a pub (though it isn’t unheard of, as proven by Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza). This is likely down to the food snob in me, insisting everything be “authentic” for its own sake. However, this pizza was utterly superb and will be quickly added to my Cambridgeshire Pizza League Table. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

Kids menu

A kids menu is available. While there isn’t too much to write about with a kids meal, the food was a decent size and tasted great. The sausage used in my son’s sausage and mash was notably good quality, which was appreciated, as we all know that to keep costs low, a children’s menu can often feature sub-standard ingredients.

Dessert

We made the foolish mistake of letting my two-year-old son pick his dessert. This absolute monstrosity was a concoction of numerous different sweets atop two generous scoops of ice cream (one vanilla, one chocolate). It was more than just a dish of sugar and E numbers; it was an overstimulation of the senses with its vibrant colours and textures. It made me feel sick just looking at it, but that was clearly the intention. My son absolutely loved it, and this mountain-sized tribute to diabetes gave my wife and me a glorious ten to fifteen minutes of solid silence to enjoy the last glass of wine from our bottle!

Well played, team 🤣

The whole(some) package

If you’re searching for that authentic Old English pub experience, look no further than The Dog & Castle. The roast dinners are not gimmicky, pretentious, or overly gourmet; they are wholesome, home cooking at its finest. The pub is beautiful, quirky, and filled with friendly animals, offering a warm and cosy experience you won’t soon forget.

Thanks for reading!