Toby Carvery Worcester: Has the 1-Star Turned a Corner? We Went to Find Out…
After months of chatter around Toby Carvery Worcester’s 1-star Food Standards Agency rating, a new manager has finally taken the reins – promising higher standards, cleaner spaces, better food, and a return to what the place should be.
Social media has been full of confident statements about turning things around, so we headed over this Wednesday evening at 6pm to see whether the £6.99 weekday carvery special signals the start of a comeback.
First Impressions: A Noticeable Improvement
Walking in, the difference is immediate.
The restaurant looks cleaner – genuinely cleaner – and for the first time in a while, it actually smells fresh rather than stale. Tables were wiped, the floor didn’t feel sticky, and there wasn’t that lingering “old gravy” aroma regulars complained about.
Staff were upbeat and friendly, clearly trying to make a good impression under the new leadership. Credit where it’s due: front-of-house hospitality has definitely stepped up.
So far, so promising.
But… What About the Carvery?
Sadly, this is where the optimism stalls.
Despite the tidy dining area, the carvery counter itself is still a mess – and this was at 6pm on a Wednesday, not during any sort of weekend rush.
Trays looked scattered and unkempt, ladles sticky and resting in pools of gravy, and the whole serving area had that “after the storm” look despite it being a quiet midweek service.
The vegetables were overcooked, dry, and lifeless. The sort of veg that’s been steaming far too long and has given up the will to live. Cauliflower that collapses on contact. Carrots that have seen things.
And the meat… oh dear.
It still looks like it has been run over, dragged back, sliced with a butter knife, and left to sulk under a heat lamp. Tough, greyish, unevenly carved, and nowhere near the standard the new manager has been talking up online.
Portions felt stingy too, which is impressive considering the meat was practically fighting not to be eaten.
Value for £6.99? Yes. Quality? Not Yet.
For £6.99, you can argue that it’s still cheap and cheerful – and if you’re going just to fill up, you won’t leave hungry. But if the goal is to rebuild trust after a 1-star hygiene score, this isn’t the turnaround moment locals have been hoping for.
The dining room improvements are real, the staff attitude is much better, and it feels like the new manager cares. But the food – which is ultimately the whole point – hasn’t caught up yet.
