Toby Carvery has responded to a viral video that suggested the chain might be shrinking its portions, dismissing the claims as "misleading" and rolling out a £7 roast dinner offer.
The chain, known for its generous meal sizes including a large serving of meat and unlimited sides and potatoes, faced speculation after a Facebook video appeared to show a chef weighing meat on a scale.
Chain defends portion sizes
In a statement shared with The Sun, Toby Carvery said: "Don’t worry, Toby fans, nothing has changed with our portion sizes." The video was filmed at the chain's restaurant in Poole, Dorset.
The company explained that scales are "occasionally brought out as part of a long-standing training and quality assurance process within its award-winning apprenticeship programme, which helps train hundreds of new kitchen team members every year."
This "vital quality check" is designed to double check that the amount of meat chefs carve by sight is consistent across restaurants, ensuring guests receive the same roast experience wherever they dine.
£7 offer and charity dinner
Ellie Leacroft from Toby Carvery said the chain is rolling out a special offer this week, giving guests the chance to enjoy a roast dinner for just £7. The limited-time promotion is available through the Toby app and runs until Friday, October 16.
Leacroft also revealed that the Poole restaurant will host a charity dinner following the rumours online. "As our Poole restaurant was at the centre of this story, we wanted to show our generosity by inviting local charity Poole Communities Trust to join us for dinner on us," she said.
"They are a good cause that supports the community and particularly creates opportunities for young people, something that is close to our hearts here at Toby."
Behind-the-scenes invitation
Leacroft added: "We're also inviting Tee Gee back to our restaurant for a behind-the-scenes look at what we do, to meet the team and learn more about how our kitchens operate."
Toby Carvery was first established in the 1980s and has coined itself as the "home of the Sunday roast". A standard roast typically starts from £10.99, and the chain says the £7 promotion represents one of the most generous offers the brand has run this year. Terms and conditions apply and are detailed on the Toby Carvery app.
