To think Toby Carvery is working class ?

Isn't this just social mobility?

Your parents may have been working class and you grew up working class, but I think you are actually middle class at this point, and I've come across many proposed indicators, including that fun grid one that The Guardian did about 10 years ago, but I think it comes down to income.

There are distinct issues faced and things enjoyed by the 4 classes.

Middle face the squeeze of no help and high costs
Out of work are in absolute poverty
Working class are on UC and probably doing the best given all the help
Upper are of course independently wealthy

It used to be based on profession (blue/white collar) but this doesn't work now given the cost of living and stagnant wages and also quality of life for teachers or nurses, which are professions, but poorly paid and overworked.

I also think indicators such as what content you consume or what activities you enjoy are obsolete because the digital age has brought people into contact with things they never would have had in the past, and would have been restricted due to class. Things like theatre are a lot more accessible to all now, for instance. And you might scroll to a TikTok about Radio4 rather than grow up listening to it.

But again- none of these things are true.

read a book on the class system 😂

Toby Carvery is genuinely better than some more upmarket carveries I’ve been to where the carrots were coated in some weird sticky sauce and the meat was super dry and you paid three times as much for the honour

It is not Michelin Star and it isn't aiming to be. Depending on income (amongst other things) some people will see it as an acceptable midweek meal with the kids that is healthier than a Macdonald's some will see it as a reasonably priced Sunday lunch without the work, some will see it as a rate treat and some wouldn't touch it with a barge pole. I would take the grandkids as they can choose the veg they will eat but I wouldn't choose it for a night out with friends. Where does this put meet in this strange Toby hierarchy and does it matter 🤔🤣🤣🤣

Apparently you’re middle class if you have books in your house. Apparently liking football makes you working class. Apparently kids in 30s is middle and 20s is working (I had my first at 16 and I’m middle though lol). Then it depends if you prefer butlins or centre parks.
If you’re a millionaire but your grandpa worked in a factory you have permission to wallow in self pity about how working class you are.
and now Toby Carvery!
All kind of complicated

It certainly is a place where quantity is valued over quality, no culinary expert is going to go there and no one goes their thinking it is a five star meal out

You don't have to have an enormous plateful, you serve yourself according to how much you expect you want to eat. The amount I take is usually less than what you're served if you order from the menu at any other comparably priced pub chain and at least as well cooked. They quality of the cooking varies, some are better than others, I suppose it depends on the individual staffing.

Of course it's not five star food, it doesn't claim to be. But I'd rather have roast meat, veg and a bit of gravy than pie/sausage/steak/burger and chips any day of the week whether it's from a Beefeater or a naice independent gastropub at three times the price.

Are people aware of their "class" if not at extremes.

I'm not entirely sure where I fit.
Was brought up on a Scottish island where none of that mattered.

To answer the question in the OP, yes of course it is. I don't know how anyone thinks otherwise!

I haven't been in years. I've been twice and this was pre COVID. But I just liked it here. It was alright

What insults? I’m not the one saying toby Carvery customers are fat and rough that’s a separate poster! I actually don’t give a shit if someone’s fat or rough just don’t wallow in self pity about your grandpas occupation and we’re good.

It's definitely for people that value volume over quality.

The meat can be overcooked and dry - I normally go for the gammon to avoid this. The veg is normally OK as it is harder to screw that up, and the variety of veg on offer is good. The deserts you pay extra for are normally pretty good.

You see some pretty horrendous stuff there, but that is pretty much true of any buffet style restaurant. Kids doing the "dentists chair" under the soft drinks machine, people sneezing all over the veg etc.

It's not top quality food but there is plenty of it and it's cheap.

Some establishments are rough and could really use a paint job, others done up so there is no uniform standard as regards decor.

The staff in the ones I have been in are always friendly and ready to help.

So I suppose to try to answer the question is it working class ? Well it is definitely for poorer people/people pretending to be poor as it offers value. It certainly is a place where quantity is valued over quality, no culinary expert is going to go there and no one goes their thinking it is a five star meal out.

I would say it is working class in the same way Wetherspoons is. I will still probably turn up to it now and then though. It's not great for me but not unbearably awful either. OK enough food for the price point if you have a price point, which an increasing amount of people do these days.

I’m telling you you’re not middle class. Happy now? You don’t need to make those insults about you.

Thought not.

How’ve I made it about myself I know I ain’t the only one who finds it annoying being told you have “privilege “ for being middle class by some self pitying individual droning on about how hard their life is because of how “working class” they are. You haven’t been on here that much if you have not come across that yet

Are you going to now explain that working class people actually eat the finest food in the country?

Do you understand that that wouldn’t add anything to this thread? Did that sound like a gotcha in your head?

😀

The clientele of Toby Carvery is specifically fat, rough and enjoying eating shite food. In large portions.

Are you going to now explain that working class people actually eat the finest food in the country?

The height of sophistication used to be a Berni Inn - if you took a girl there for the standard "prawn cocktail, steak and chips, black forest gateau and a bottle of Mateus" it was tantamount to getting engaged ! 😀

No one is making you feel guilty for having a normal life - that is irrelevant to this post yes. You’ve made it about you self and some perceived injustice not related to this thread.

if you knew nothing about class before joining mumsnet that probably explains why you incorrectly think class is related to income etc.

why not just luxuriate in your own working classness and relax ? The working classes are the home of art cultural revolution pop culture and longevity. Who would want to align with Waitrose when they could align with stormzy, Stephen Graham, Tracey emin, Dave, charli xcx?! Stop being so BORING

Yeah I'd say it's something of a working class institution and I love the vibe there every time I go. It's cheap, cheerful, and friendly. I don't go there for glitz, I go there for comfort and family time with a family vibe all around.

Branding s often bound up with social class and social aspirations, though. Look at the branding of, say, Centreparcs vs Butlins, or Greggs vs Leon.

Why’s it unrelated? Title of this thread literally has the words working class in. I actually agree with your comment above this one btw mumsnet is weirdly obsessed (and despite not even knowing about this stuff before making an account I’m guilty of reading all the threads on here about it now so I guess you could say I’m a hypocrite)

Tf is middle class privilege to begin with I’m expected to feel guilty for having a normal life by someone who’s 2 or 3x richer than me because of their grandads job?

This is peak mumsnet. Working class people are fat, rough as fuck and enjoy shit food.

its a helpful attitude if you want to believe all you need to be middle class is not the above.

Perfect example of self hating brits

It absolutely is working class. The food is shite too.

The place is rough as fuck.

Fat people love it too, obviously.

Do you have middle class privilege though? Have you ever taken the time to think about you rather than focusing on others?

why are they triggering you so much? You chose to talk about this on an unrelated thread so it clearly is.