Toby Carvery Formby — Restaurant in Sefton

I am writing this review by way of a complaint about the Bay Horse. My elderly in laws love the Bay Horse, as well as other local Toby Carvery venues, and are regular visitors using gift vouchers bought for them by ourselves and other family members. I recently purchased a gift voucher from Miller & Carter as a wedding anniversary present for them. I enquired at the point of purchase as to whether the vouchers could be redeemed at Toby Carvery and was assured that they could, as well as at any venue under the banner of Mitchell’s and Butlers group inc Harvester, Ego, Ember Inns etc. I have bought gift cards from Miller & Carter before and they have been redeemed at Toby Carvery venues. On Sunday, 18th August my in-laws visited the Bay Horse and enjoyed a carvery lunch. At the conclusion of the meal they offered the gift voucher by way of payment and were told that the Bay Horse do not accept the Miller& Carter gift cards. My in-laws explained that they had used Miller & Carter gift cards previously and they asked if the waitress could check with management. They were told in no uncertain terms that she didn’t have to check as she knew for a fact that they couldn’t be used. My. In-laws, who are both in their late 80s were embarrassed, but more to the point, were forced to pay for the meal with money they can barely afford. I have since researched the terms and conditions, and checked the websites of both Miller & Carter and Toby Carvery. Both clearly state that they are part of the Mitchell and Butler group and that their respective gift cards can be redeemed at each other’s venues. This leads to the conclusion that either both websites are providing misleading and incorrect information OR the staff at Toby Carvery are wrong. Both cannot be correct, but my in-laws were not offered any explanation as to when the terms and conditions changed. If they have indeed changed recently then the websites need to be updated and amended as a matter of urgency before some other individuals suffer the same humiliating and upsetting experience.I would welcome some feedback from either the Toby Carvery or Mitchell and Butler group as to how this situation...

Ah, Toby Carvery, Formby— Where roast dreams dare to burn bright And Yorkshire puddings rise like golden suns Over the blessed land of gravy.

You do not dine here. You embark. You enter through doors carved by time and Sunday tradition, Led by the scent— That holy fragrance of meat, fire, and folklore.

Behold the altar of the carvery, Where the chef, blade in hand, Is not a mere cook— But a guardian of the sacred roast. He wields his carving knife like Excalibur, Slicing through beef so tender It must have whispered its surrender.

The turkey glistens with virtue, The gammon blushes with sinful sweetness, The roast potatoes—crisped by angels— Crack beneath your teeth like thunder on a moor.

And the veg! Oh, the veg! A rainbow of righteousness— Cauliflower cheese cloaked in molten heaven, Parsnips that have danced through caramelized storms, Peas and carrots aligned like nature’s chorus.

But lo—the gravy, That velvet river of salvation, Poured not sparingly, but devoutly, Baptizing every morsel In the liquid lore of British heritage.

Around you, families feast like kings of old, Their laughter echoing off wooden beams, Pints clink like promises, And time, for once, dares to pause Out of respect.

Toby Carvery Formby is not just a meal— It is a reckoning. A place where hunger meets its match And leaves defeated, yet whole.

Five stars? No. Five constellations. For I have dined among gods, And their names were Roast,...

Visited here for dinner last Saturday with my Nanna. We hadn't booked and staff were very friendly and accommodating. Carvery was 10.49 each and they had a range of refillable soft drinks.

Carvery itself was fab. We had a selection of pork, gammon, beef, turkey and lamb. Which could be accompanied by a large Yorkshire and a couple sausages if wanting a bit extra.

Side offerings were fab. Two types of roast potatoes, roast parsnips, macaroni cheese, gratin dauphinois, mashed potato, red cabbage, steamed cabbage and sliced carrots. They had 3 different gravies and a variety of sauces.

It was so tasty I even went back up for more veg. Roast parsnips specifically being amazing.

The chef doing the carving was extremely friendly and even came round to tables later to offer people Yorkshire's because I think at some point they had none to offer. It was really busy.

The serving staff and waiting staff were all very helpful and friendly :)

Meats weren't the best I ever (pork was a bit chewy and turkey slightly dry )had but were very tasty and the negatives are expected at a carvery where they sit under a hot light.

Toilet facilities and restaurant cleanliness were adequate for my high standards but could definitely be improved, but they were busy at the time.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area and enjoy a roast dinner. Can't say much about the rest of the menu...