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With winter pretty much here, I was suddenly in the mood for a Sunday roast in a warm and cosy historic pub, so I was delighted to be invited over to The Three Horseshoes in Stapleford to put their roast dinner to the test.

I was particularly excited for this one as I also caught wind that the pub also does Greek food. We do not have nearly enough Greek food in the area but I’ll admit, I was initially a bit sceptical as to whether a pub doing two distinct menus could actually pull it off. But seeing as they boast numerous awards, including ‘Rural Pub of the Year’ in the Good Food Awards and regular spots in ‘The Good Beer Guide’ – I had high hopes that standard are high.

The pub itself is your textbook historic pub, perfectly suited for that classic Sunday roast. There is a bar area with a string of great beers and ales available and a charming dining room that is traditional and comfortable. Free parking is located at the back, making it easy to visit from far out (so if you like the food in this review, just hop in your car and GO!).

The Roast

Starting with the Sunday roast, I went for the roasted sirloin of beef, priced at £20.95. It comes served in a giant rectangle Yorkshire pudding with the beef soaking in a pool of thick onion and thyme gravy in the middle. The beef itself was wonderfully soft with a nice pinking colour in the middle, though if I had to be picky, I like a bit of fat on my beef, and there was just a little too much of it this time round.

That said, everything else on the plate was an absolute triumph. The seasonal vegetables were great, those cheesy leeks were an absolute dream, and their roast potatoes? Utterly perfect – fluffy in the middle with that satisfying crispy skin that you spend half your life looking for in lesser pubs. It is safe to say this roast dinner will definitely be making a very respectable entry into my Cambridge roast dinner league table.

The Greek Menu

As previously said above, I have always had a mistrust of places that spread themselves too thinly but the Three Horseshoes did well here.

The starter sharing meze was sensational, piled high with dips and salads served with chargrilled pitta bread. That little starter bowl of roasted aubergine dip (melitzanosalata) was a revelation and easily one of the standout dishes of my visit this afternoon. Even my teenage son who doesn’t generally like aubergine commented on how delicious it was. The hummus, olives and beetroot were also excellent and the pita came out warm and soft. I couldn’t fault a thing!

The slow-braised beef meatballs were worth ordering. The beef itself was nothing to shout home about but was invigorated by a bold, rich tomato and parmesan sauce that brought it to life (seriously, I couldn’t stop picking at it, even after the meatballs were gone!). The feta cheese and grilled vegetables were inoffensive and enjoyable but nothing that will blow you away. The portion was generous and it was well presented.

Today’s Champion!

The moussaka was nothing short of sensational. Layered with rich lamb ragu, tender aubergine, potatoes, and a creamy béchamel topped with kefalotiri cheese, it was hearty, comforting, and executed with real care. Pulling it apart revealed multiple layers of lamb and a puff of steam that fogged up my camera. It was as delicious as it was beautiful to look at. Gooey, cheesy, colourful, meaty, and utterly divine.

What a Find!

The service throughout was excellent, and the pub itself is the ideal cosy historic local for a Sunday session. With Cambridge having so few proper Greek food locations, finding one tucked away in Stapleford is not only a massively welcome addition, but it also turns out to be one of the strongest examples of it around.

If you fancy a cracking traditional roast with a side of authentic Mediterranean sunshine, the Three Horseshoes is well worth a trip down the road.

Thanks for reading!