We tried the Sunday roast voted the best in Derbyshire by our readers

Sunday roasts are a staple of British life and about as ritualistic as we get on the tiny island we live in. For many, myself included, a perfect roast simply cannot be topped - whether it's beef, pork, lamb or chicken - and I'd be tempted to label it as the pinnacle of British cuisine.

With so many ingredients suitable to be mixed and matched on a roast, it's expected that we all have different favourites - particularly when dining out. That's why we asked our readers earlier this month to tell us their favourite place for a Sunday roast in Derbyshire - and it came in the shape of a 17th-century hall steeped in history.

Almost 400 people say The Coopers Arms in Weston-on-Trent serves the best roast in the county, so we thought we'd give it a try. It wasn't the first time I'd had the pleasure of visiting this South Derbyshire eatery. I've visited plenty of times over the years while visiting my auntie in nearby Shardlow, so I thought I'd give her another ring and tell her that her nuisance nephew was visiting once again.

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She could only avoid my calls for so long before a table was booked - and before I knew it, I found myself in the little village beneath autumnal sunshine. Upon arrival, a narrow lane took me from the heart of the village to Weston Hall, which has housed The Coopers Arms since the 1990s.

The hall sits on land formerly owned by King Henry VIII, and construction began in the 1620s, believed to have cost around £1,000. Coopers offers carveries 364 days a year - only excluding Christmas Day - and, although we are technically reviewing its Sunday roast offerings, its mid-week carvery menu is very similar to that offered on Sundays, bar (or bah) the addition of roast lamb and ham.

We entered the grand old building just 10 minutes after it opened and were pleasantly surprised by how many people were already seated and waiting for food. Within half an hour, the whole restaurant was nearly full, showing just how popular it is.

Coincidently, we were sat on the same table as usual - a small room away from the main bar area adorned with a bookshelf and an array of copper and brass trinkets, just as you would expect from any traditional country pub. A large menu provided plenty of choices, many of which were classic pub dishes.

I entertained the idea of browsing the menu, but it was useless - I knew what I came for. On that day, the two meat options for the carvery included beef and pork, so I went for the best of both worlds at a price of £19.50.

While it may seem an eye-watering sum compared to a certain large carvery brand, diners are certainly paying extra for the cosy setting and high-quality food on offer. One of the best things about a carvery is you don't have to wait. Once you've ordered, you just go to the counter and grab your food - perfect for impatient and hungry foodies like me.

The friendly chap behind the counter politely asked us what meat we wanted, followed by the classic offering of "roasties and Yorkshire pudding?". Then it was time for the exciting part.

I used to go a bit over the top as a child, but this time I went for a "little bit of everything" - which in itself turned into a bit of a gluttonous decision. The cheesy leeks were first, followed by sweet red cabbage, green cabbage, mash, stuffing, peas and carrots - as well as a splash of apple sauce.

The first thing I noticed was the bright pink slab of beef, which brought so much colour to the plate and was cooked all the way through. I often wonder how restaurants get it so perfect. My theory is that they sous vide the beef (let it cook in a water bath) before giving it a nice sear at high temperature in the oven - but I could be completely wrong.

It just fell apart in my mouth, and much could be said about the pork as well. Good crackling is underappreciated and often confused with average crackling, and the offerings at the Coopers Arms certainly earn it a place in the former category with its perfect crunch and generous seasoning.

The cheesy leeks and Yorkshire pudding were also sublimely crunchy. But the staple of any Sunday roast is the roasties - they can truly make or break a weekend.

The chefs at Coopers seem to have their roast potatoes down to a tee and they have been a highlight of the meal whenever I pay a visit - the only downside is that you don't get more. It's rare that you see a rural pub like Coopers serve carveries all year round and it's a shame more don't jump on the bandwagon.

Whether it's a drink overlooking Coopers Lake (which sits at the front of Weston Hall) after a countryside walk or a snug meal by the roaring fireplace inside, a day out at The Coopers Arms should be on the bucket list for anyone in the area who has yet to try it.

For just under £20 you can stuff your face with veggies, gravy, horseradish and stuffing all you like, all while in the heart of Derbyshire's countryside. They also have a brilliant drinks menu with a range of changing cask ales and some classics, including Peroni, Huckaback, Madri and Guinness - and many more.