Page 3 | Toby carvery is terrible now

CurdinHenry · 2026-11-06T17:38:29+00:00

The cost of living crisis has gone too far

rememberingthem · 07/11/2026 08:06

Both near me are utter shite! Filthy with unappetising looking slop and staff that look like they need a good wash. Mind you looking at the sort of clientele the staff have to deal with im actually surprised they manage to get anyone to work there.

muddyford · 07/11/2026 08:09

The one in Bedford is fine. Everything clean and tidy, food well-cooked and very hot and plates scorching. They keep their cask ale well too.

hellospring26 · 07/11/2026 08:21

It’s always been awful.

rookiemere · 07/11/2026 08:23

The quality has definitely gone downhill over the last few years, but Toby Carvery still has a place for me as our go to when I came back from particularly difficult parental visits ( hour away with dementia) and was too tired to cook, didn’t fancy a spicy takeaway but didn’t want to go anywhere fancy.

Plus with my blue light discount DH and I can eat a meal for less than £20.

Smokewhistle · 07/11/2026 08:30

Boomer55 · 07/11/2026 07:45

The one at Badgers Mount in Kent is pretty good. But, it gets really busy. Need to book at weekends . 🤷‍♀️

I prefer a carvery - I have a small appetite and a mountain of food served by people who don’t know what the word ‘small’ means, just puts me off the whole meal.

The one at Gravesend is fantastic, the one in Maidstone Is one to avoid. Never been to the Badgers Mount one but the car park has always been packed when we’ve gone past.

namechange62 · 07/11/2026 08:31

I was a Toby Carvery Virgin until last Thursday.
I had no choice really but to eat there.
6 hrs journey to hotel, absolutely shattered and starving hungry. There was gridlocked traffic so I turned around and decided to give them a go. £15 ish for 2 courses. Man in front got twice as much meat as me?! And 20% of it was fat/gristle. The potatoes were nice. I could only eat the ok carrots and peas as cheese is my migraine trigger so the macaroni?! and cauliflower cheese was out. Pudding was overly sweet.
As I have nothing to compare it with I'd say it was adequate considering the circumstances.
It was certainly very busy.

tilypu · 07/11/2026 08:42

Man in front got twice as much meat as me?!

They have two sizes of meat portion - maybe he paid for the bigger size.

I've only been once, in spring this year. For the price, it was good. There are two in the city I was in, and I've been told we were in the better of the two. I would happily go again based on my experience.

HighEldersham · 07/11/2026 08:52

We used to go to one occasionally, but it closed down a couple of years ago. The actual restaurant was shabby and dated but the food was always fabulous!

HRTQueen · 07/11/2026 08:53

I have always found it good for the money it’s not fine dinning but comfort food

The best one I have been to is in a garden centre in Worcester it gets so busy it’s a bit canteen like but the food is really good

rookiemere · 07/11/2026 08:58

I meant to say the staff are always lovely but never the same people when we go 3-4 times per year, so I suspect conditions are poor.

oustedbymymate · 07/11/2026 09:12

Agree. We don’t go often but did used to really like it. Last time it was a fortune and gross

namechange62 · 07/11/2026 17:37

tilypu · 07/11/2026 08:42

Man in front got twice as much meat as me?!

They have two sizes of meat portion - maybe he paid for the bigger size.

I've only been once, in spring this year. For the price, it was good. There are two in the city I was in, and I've been told we were in the better of the two. I would happily go again based on my experience.

No. He had the same size plate as me not the bigger one.. I was aware of this because being my first time, being told you paid by plate size, I was looking..

Elaine118 · 07/11/2026 18:09

I'm a veggie and I like the one near me. It could do with a bit of tlc but it's clean. Staff are always friendly if a bit unorganised. Ours gets busy but it means the food is replenished a lot, so veg is hot/fresh. It's cheap and cheerful but I know what to expect there. They have a lot more veg to chose from than any of the pubs around here too.

tilypu · 07/11/2026 20:49

namechange62 · 07/11/2026 17:37

No. He had the same size plate as me not the bigger one.. I was aware of this because being my first time, being told you paid by plate size, I was looking..

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Then why didn't you say something?

Tollington · 07/11/2026 20:54

I would never dream of going to a Toby carvery. Cheap for a reason

ilovepixie · 07/11/2026 22:01

It’s always been awful.

MyManinCaracas · 07/11/2026 22:05

I thought it was the sort of place you went to when you were desperate and there was nothing else around.

caringcarer · 07/11/2026 22:12

Nothing wrong with the one I go too. I've never seen gravy in little bowls.🤷 A choice of beef, pork, turkey or gammon, a Yorkshire pud, and as many toast potatoes and a choice of 5 or 6 vegetables with apple sauce, cranberry sauce a few other sauces and hot gravy. I quite like a Toby carvery and take 2 teen boys, most months. Desserts are not so good but the whippey dairy ice cream is ok. I get 20 percent off with Blue Light card too and get a stamp ony card for a free one every 5 visits. The breakfasts are ok too. I do have to ask for freshly cooked runny eggs sometimes though.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 07/11/2026 22:13

Our one is ok. Is it gourmet? No. Is it a nice Sunday lunch yes

SAzure · 10/11/2026 18:16

The one in Caerphilly is great, very popular especially on Sundays to the point the queue for tables goes back to the doors and outside. Cheap and cheerful and pretty good quality.

HappyLizard23 · 10/11/2026 18:18

My local one is good and very affordable 🤷🏻‍♀️

OonaStubbs · 10/11/2026 18:20

I wish shops, manufacturers, eateries etc would just put their prices up instead of trying to keep their prices low through shrinkflation/enshittification etc.

Original poster

CurdinHenry · 11/11/2026 08:58

I wonder if everyone saying it's good is too young to remember its heyday

OP posts:

HappyLizard23 · 11/11/2026 09:55

CurdinHenry · 11/11/2026 08:58

I wonder if everyone saying it's good is too young to remember its heyday

I’m an 80s baby so no, you’re wrong.

Mumof1andacat · 11/11/2026 10:38

Our nearest toby is lovely. Recently had a re fit. Food is good. Plenty of options. Its fresh. We tend to go week days as less busy. Been going for 20+ years