Toby Carvery Colwick Park — Restaurant in Gedling

Went to Toby carvery Colwick (19/1/24) table 24, as we were in the area and wanted to make use of the £6 carvery deal, well, wish we hadn't. We booked a table for 7:10 but arrived slightly earlier and were told to go order a drink at the bar while we waited, which we didn't mind, despite the fact there were plenty of tables free, so we got 2 pints of Stowford cider, bare thet in mind for the end of the review, as it is relevant. Another couple arrived before us and were told the same thing, then they got called to their table. While we sat waiting another couple arrived and were also asked to wait but then they got called to their table before us, the woman who was working both at the bar and entrance called over to us that she would check to see what's happening with our table but only because my partner caught her attention, it got to 7:25 before we got to be seated, still plenty of tables were free. So we took our cider to the table and were told we could go get our carvery. The chef/server wasn't there and waited a couple of minutes till he appeared with an anaemic looking piece of pork, he looked like he was on a downer, didnt even look at us before mumbling if I wanted a Yorkshire pudding, more like a pancake that had been at the bottom of the pot all evening. Mumbled what meat I wanted, I asked for turkey and beef, he sliced the scrappy bits off one side of the turkey despite a full breast on the other side, then sliced one piece of beef and handed me my plate. The woman being served behind us also had beef but had to ask for some of the nice looking fat from the top, as she called it the crackling, the chef said to her yes, as they only throw it away so yes she could have some. My partner went back to him and asked if we could have some but got told no as we had already got our portion of meat. Bare in mind the lady who asked for it also had her portion of meat served to her and was told yes as it gets thrown away. The mashed potato looked grey and the macaroni cheese was burnt on top, when we reached the gravy station, all three pots had barely any gravy in it. Anyway, we sat at our table and tried to eat my beef, it was too grisly. Two women on a nearby table were also complaining about the portion size of meat, one hadn't realised she could have two different types of meat and asked the chef if she could have another type of meat but was told no as she had her portion size. They and other people were waiting ages to be asked what drink they wanted as there seemed to be a lack of waiters. A waitress came to my table and asked if everything was okay with the meal, I told her about not being able to have the beef fat as it would have made my portion size too big and that the beef was grisly, she went to ask her manager, came back and said I could have a different kind of meat but I was full by then anyway, so I declined. It came to payment, she came over with her tablet and inputed the code for £6 carvery, so I was expecting the bill to total £12 as there were two of us. No, she said my bill was £19.98, so I said its £6 for the carvery, not the usual £9 49, she replied, you've had to refillable drinks, and this is where the Stowford cider comes in, as it was plain to see, as the glass had Stowford cider on it, my reply was well okay, I'll have a refillable cider then but it's clear to see its cider and not a refillable drinks glass and that I'd already paid for that at the bar when we first came in, She said ,oh it looks like you've been placed on the wrong table, I'll go and sort it, I said yes you do that dear. She came back and got the correct price of £12 which I wasn't too happy about paying due to the standard of the food and service but did so. I dont think Deana the waitress was too happy with me as the woman on the other table said she kept rolling her eyes whilst dealing with me. Keep rolling your eyes Deana, you might find some intelligent life at the back of your head. I much prefer the Riverside Farm carvery, the staff are so welcoming and friendly and I've never had eyes rolled...

A bit critically harsh but I will explain why. Booked a table for a thursday 4.30pm party of 6 with 2 children for my 3rd 39th birthday. I did add in the comments box my father was disabled but it didn't go through for what ever reason. We was sat furthest away from the car park possible. I explained to the staff and they offered to put us the other side but it wouldn't be table service. Not a huge biggie and not their fault (though how would you serve disabled diners if they cant sit closest to the disabled bays), we opted against it and was sat in a booth ( I'm 6ft2 and couldn't sit behind it) so we moved to an open table to the right.

So ordering 5 carverys and the food was OK, some felt it had been sat abit long under hot lights or aldente but the meat was good the rest below average, refillerable soft drinks is a great idea but if I wasnt there then again my elderly parents wouldnt have been able to get them as no staff even said if you have any problems just shout us and we will top them up for you. We ordered the chicken burger for my 6yo and this was where my biggest gripe was. After ordering 10mins had past and the waitress changed over.

The new waitress said it hadn't been handed over so she will check on it and was told 5 minutes, 10 mins later still not arrived and after 25mins it arrived after we had finished. 5 small chicken nuggets (about half the size of a fast food joings) in a plain stale bun with a small bowl of beans...served on a small chopping board to a 6 year old (do they want beans thrown everywhere?). So I cleaned my old plate to put it on for him....nothing else with but was told he could help himself to veggies on the carvery.

After which our waitress just disappeared (which given half the lights in the ceiling were out and we were practically sat in the dark, I'm not suprised). 3 times I had to get up to find her as once our first drinks were taken that was it.

Really disappointing as we had been to another Toby before around the same time weekday and it had been phenomenal, looked after the disabled, table checks every 20mins) even had dessert but this has put me right off going again. For the money we spent on drinks and food, it would've probably been better spent at another chain.

Food -Below Average bar the carvery meat which was exceptional Service - on the whole terrible Not disabled/limited mobility friendly (seriously how can you not have table service next to the closest seats to the disabled bays) Abysmal lighting

Doubtful I...

I had booked a table for 7 to celebrate my Mum's 79th birthday. She doesn't get out much being in a wheelchair so this was a big deal for her. There was Me, my partner, my daughter, her partner and their 2 children aged 13 and 9 years- though they both had adult meals and of course my Mum. We were disappointed when shown to our table that there was 2 tables reserved for us. One a booth with places, which would have fit 6 and with my Mum in her chair at the top of the table. (I had advised when I booked that one of our party was in a wheelchair). But this layout with Mum at the top would have mentioned that no one could get in or out. As it is a Carvery and you serve yourself from the hotplate it is quite important that you can get in and out easily. The other table was Freestanding with places for 6 people, but we are party of 7. The server who had shown us to the tables said it was yhe best they could do and we would need to split the party over the 2 tables. I said we were there to celebrate Mum's birthday and we didn't want to sit separately or what's the point, I could have cooked at home and got us all round my dining table. My 13 year old Grandson said for the rest of us to sit round the Freestanding table and he would sit at the other on his own. Whilst this was very kind of him, it wasn't a nice experience having one of our party on a separate table. Therefore not the best experience.

We were also surprised to see that the Carvery on a Sunday has increased in price to £13.99 for a standard size dinner. Which is really a lot to pay particularly for the 2 children, but one is now too old for the children's menu and the other doesn't find the kids size quite enough as she likes lots of vegetables. We didn't find the pricing very competitive compared to other Carvery we have visited recently. We had a 3 course festive menu on Boxing Day for £17.99 at another Carvery, which included a much bigger choice of vegetables and a very large dessert from their...