Toby Carvery Dronfield — Restaurant in North East Derbyshire

We arrived and table was ready no problem. Took a while to take our order table 7 but the waitress couldn’t have been less interested if she had tried. No apology for keeping us or actually anything else. Very disappointed as I had mentioned it was my daughter’s birthday on our booking and she was wearing a birthday badge! Didn’t need a big fuss making but it would have been nice to be acknowledged. There were 6 of us and we went up to the carvery which was busy as usual. After standing for about 10 minutes one of our party overheard there was no gammon and very little turkey available. Fortunately we also heard that the gammon should be about 10 minutes (making it 20 minutes waiting time in total). I appreciate the pub is busy but surely after all this time of being a carvery timing should be something you are on top of ? 3 of us decided to wait it out as we knew if we had taken an alternative we would not have been able to get gammon when it was ready. A poor system that needs upgrading and changing or better organised in the kitchen with letting the waiting staff what is going on. We all eventually got food which was acceptable nothing outstanding and the amount of meat you get now is pitiful for the cost of the meal. 1 small piece of gammon which was quite fatty and a bit of turkey all hidden under under a lush looking Yorkshire pudding which was not nearly as nice as it looked. I had briefly spoken to our waitress who again couldn’t have cared less and mentioned it was my daughters birthday in the hope that a bit of fuss may have made of her should we decide to have a dessert. She mumbled something inaudible and I gave up. There was a shift change and we had a young man become our server. Either he was incredibly stressed or deaf but we tried 3 times to get his attention to clear our table and order desserts. Eventually he acknowledged us. The desserts came and were ok but I was disappointed that again nothing was forthcoming for my daughter Why do you ask for notes on the booking if you have no intention of at least acknowledging why we were there? The waiter perked up a bit when we paid the bill and was quite pleasant but for me it was far too late. We came to the carvery on my daughter’s request but I wish we had stuck to our usual place of eating. The food is better as are the staff. I understand you are there to make money but a little thought and attention to your guests I am sure would...

Average food and in quite tired surroundings, very easy to get to just off the dronfield bypass. It can be tricky parking here at busy times especially on Sunday lunch as we have seen cars parking on the main road outside. We have been here on lots of occasions but the last visit was it for us. We booked a table for 11 to celebrate my Father in laws 73rd birthday, we turned up on time and waited at the desk while we waited for the staff member to show us to our table. It took her 3 mins to finish her chat to one of her friends before letting us know the rest of our party were there already. The we found out there were no draught drinks as the glass was out (This included the self service bottomless drinks) the weather was hot and we waited for our waiter/waitress 20 mins later we decided to just go to the carvery without drinks. My daughter wanted a kids meal so I finally flagged down a passing waitress and asked for her meal which she said she would sort out. You may think it was a busy day but there were 5 or 6 cars in the car park and probably only a 10th of the tables were being used. While getting our food we managed to stop a waitress and tell her we needed drinks so about half way through our meals my daughter's food arrived then half way through her meal our drinks arrived this is close to an hour after arriving on a hot day in an in air conditioned stuffy room! We Sat their pinned in because they decided to seat everybody who arrived right next to us blocking the way for us to get out and the waitress to get in!? The food wasn't at it best and my son who loves carverys wouldn't eat most of it, I was very disappointed I can only assume the manager was on holiday and the staff were having a chill out in the back room. The record was shoddy which I Hadn't noticed on previous trips with mould patches and worn and tired benches. The toilet had sick in the bowl and over the rim so we couldn't use the first set so had to go to the other ones at the other side of the pub. We decided that day we would not be going back here for a long time until I hear it's totally renovated and under...

I will continue to visit Toby carvery dronfield because it is the closest to me and with regard to the food quality, it is always consistent and enjoyable.

However, it is with regret that on this visit, we would question the professionalism of one of your team members. My partner and I arrived on time for our booking and the front of house member of staff showed us to a table which wasn't to our liking, and this was only because there were other people sat in the same area in very close proximity with regards to the table spacing. So I very politely asked the member of the team if we could perhaps sit elsewhere, bearing in mind that this would be a relatively quick visit and the venue was practically empty. We were then giving the choice of where we wish to sit and we found a table that was suitable. We then went up for our carvery and whilst waiting in the queue my partner was privy to a conversation between the front of house member of staff who had shown us to our table and another waitress. Presumably they were just doing some sort of check in with regards to where tables were at, who need a drinks etc. But my partner overheard her say that " the people at table 16 are a bit funny"! That was us.

He promptly asked the member of staff if it was us that she was talking about and the look on her face said it all. She wanted to discuss the matter but to be honest we were so perplexed as to why she felt the need to make these comments, but also angry that they were in earshot of ourselves. The lady also wanted to apologize but I'm afraid at that point the damage was done; that conversation should never have happened.

My partner and I are realists and we appreciate that everybody is entitled to an opinion on everybody else, but in the hospitality setting, and I'm sure you will agree, that being privy to a conversation of such negative connotation about ourselves, was not the experience that we had envisaged.

We had a very simple request and that was to sit in an area that was suitable for us, and if that makes us funny then I can live with that. Don't give me the option if...