Toby Carvery Highnam — Restaurant in Tewkesbury

My drink was great because it was a bottled drink. We arrived and did not have a booking. Understanding it was extremely busy for dinner time on a Sunday we were advised that it would be at least an hour and half wait for a table but we can sit outside and have a table straight away. Lady did not even look up at us just continued to write on a piece of paper whilst talking to us. We sat outside to start off with, all but 2 tables had dirty plates on. We sat at an empty table and decided we were not sitting out there, there were too many flying insects and the table was filthy. I went online and for some reason I was able to book a table that was available in 10 minutes. Went in 10 minutes later and was seated straight away although again the lady didnt even look up at us and continued staring down at a notepad. The glass that my friends drink was in was filthy. The beef coated roasties in front of the non coated roasties were renewed along with a nice splash of the beef going all over the non coated which meant my friend could now not have them being vegetarian. Veg and sides were mixed due to customers. Gravy area was disgusting, couldn't put your plate down there was food all over it and Gravy, not the fault of the staff but maybe keep an eye on this for cleaning regularly. Sat back at table and forks were dirty. Couldn't see a staff member so got some clean cutlery from a table with no one on yet kept the dirty ones so no one else had them. Staff came over and said "I was just about to come and change those for you" he obviously knew they were dirty so why just leave them almost expecting us not to notice and carry on. Mashed potato was tasteless and lumpy Stuffing was tasteless Non coated roasties were mushy and watery as if they had been soaking in water and tasted disgusting. Carrots and peas were nice can't really get them wrong Gravy, Yorkshire pudding and mac & cheese were nice. Pigs in blankets that was asked at the beginning if we wanted them never came out. We didn't dare go into...

I previously rated this restaurant 4 stars, but after this evening I'm reducing it to 2 stars.

We arrived and our table wasn't ready which is okay, it's a Saturday I understand. But, we ordered our drinks and then headed up to the Carvery queue... where we waited 25+ minutes to be served. At first, I was understanding because it's a Saturday but there was just one (very lovely) chef at the front with a queue of about 30+ people. He kept running out of stuff and disappearing out the back to get more food which meant it was unmanned for quite a while. I felt so bad for him, especially when 2 other chefs came out of the back looked at the queue, looked at him for a couple of minutes and then went back to the kitchen and didn't even help him. Guys, you're a team bashing those potatoes wasn't helping your colleague - could you not have helped bring the meats out for him at least so he could focus on customers? Come and checked he was good? Help him reduce the queue, even for a few minutes? I'm sure he was sick to death of people complaining at him :(

We then went back to the table and our drinks still hadn't arrived (again it was busy but noone had checked on the table in the 30 minutes I was queuing with my 6 year old). We were a large group with young children so took it in turns to queue which is normally fine at a Toby but the delays took so long that we didn't actually get to eat together.

The whole experience was another world compared to our last visit which was amazing.

The food was great, and the team are nice but tonight's experience was just stressful and not enjoyable at all.

It was also my birthday, but we didn't stay for pudding because everyone was just stressed and cross.

We will come back and hoping it was just a one-off.

I never complain, I've worked in hospitality and I know how hard it is but tonight just needed more people and a bit better organisation.

I would like to say thanks the team for your help, it was...

This is the 3rd time I have visited Higham Toby Carvery and both your vegan options are unavailable. Half your veg options on the carvery deck have milk in them (macaroni cheese, cauliflower cheese, potato slices in a creamy sauce, mash) and your actual vegetable options usually vary.

As someone who is dairy free, I am very very disappointed that you expect me to pay so much money for a 'meat free' carvery of potato and peas. On this occasion your staff told me it was supply issues and that its an ongoing problem. I would then suggest that you black out vegan options on your menu for the time being or communicate this product shortage on arrival.

The manager took my meat free carvery off of the end bill and apologised, however this is only a temporary solution. Long term do you expect to cater for a dairy free diet and actually stock the vegan products your menu offers? If every day 10 people request vegan options that aren't available and 10 meals are given free of charge as a solution to their complaints, long term this is not money malang solution for your company.

I like Toby Carvery because you are one of a kind in what you do offering roast dinners across the UK everyday. I have one of your vegan options once before and enjoyed this alongside my family who eat roast meats. When I can also eat from your menu, its a lovely experience for all the family to enjoy.

Currently I would not be in a hurry to return to Toby Carvery or recommend you. Please consider removing 'vegan' options from your menu or actually stocking them! Maybe also consider offering a better range of vegetables that aren't full of dairy so that you are more inclusive to the 21st century dietary requirements.

The only highlight of this visit was the young waitress who was very apologetic and despite us and another table complaining during our visit, she was continued to do...