Porky's smokehouse in Bebside, Northumberland, has been crowned the best place in the North East for Sunday dinner in 2026, following a public vote by ChronicleLive readers. The result was announced after more than 11,000 votes were cast in the final round, with Porky's securing 3,661 votes—a 33% share of the total—to finish ahead of The Lambton Worm in Chester-le-Street and The Turbinia in Walker.
Victory Celebrated by Owner and Staff
Josh Giacomini, who runs Porky's and also owns Davanti Classico in Tynemouth, expressed his delight at the win. He credited loyal customers for their support and acknowledged the competitive nature of the Sunday dinner scene in the region.
"We're all absolutely over the moon and it's all down to the customers who got behind us and gave us their support," Giacomini told ChronicleLive. "People in the North East love a Sunday dinner and there's a variety to choose from; everyone is doing something different and I like to think we are doing our own thing. Loads of new faces have come through the doors over the last few weeks which is great to see and I just love Sundays!"
Behind the Scenes of a Top-Rated Roast
Giacomini also praised his team's efforts, highlighting the extensive preparation involved in their Sunday roasts. He noted that the gravy is prepared a week in advance and that the dinners are served in aluminium trays, with an option for a giant Yorkshire pudding.
"The team here put in a lot of hard work every single week and the Sunday dinners particularly involve a lot of prep. Our gravy goes on for a week before service and we also switch things up a bit by serving our roasts in an aluminium tray," he said. "People can also treat themselves to having their dinner served in a giant Yorkshire Pudding and who doesn't love a Yorkshire?"
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Having led Porky's for nearly four years, Giacomini has no plans to rest on the award. He emphasised the goal of ongoing improvement and giving customers reasons to return, while believing the win is deserved recognition for the team's hard work.
"The aim is definitely just to keep getting better and giving people a reason to come back," he said. "I want to keep improving and improving when it comes to what we do but I do think we deserve the win, to recognise the hard work of everyone here."
