Toby Carvery offers £7 roast after video of chef weighing meat prompts portion-size claims

Mixed · 2Toby Carvery has launched a £7 roast dinner offer after a viral Facebook video prompted claims that the chain was shrinking its portions. 1 2 Mixed · 2The video was posted by content creator Tee Gee and showed a staff member using scales to plate up meat at the Poole, Dorset restaurant, with a caption joking that "they’re weighing the meat now". 1 2 Left · 1According to the Daily Mirror, a chef in the video said portions had been weighed for three weeks but was unsure about other branches; hundreds commented and some threatened a boycott. 1

Mixed · 2A Toby Carvery spokesperson said nothing had changed with portion sizes, and that chefs generally carve by experience while scales are occasionally used to train new staff or reassure existing ones. 1 2 Mixed · 2The company said this is a quality check within its apprenticeship programme, designed to make sure meat carved by sight is consistent across restaurants, and not a cost-cutting measure. 1 2 Left · 1Ellie Leacroft of Toby Carvery said the chain would never skimp on portions and deliberately over-caters, passing surplus food on through a partnership with Too Good To Go. 1

Mixed · 2Leacroft also announced that the Poole restaurant would host the local charity Poole Communities Trust for a free dinner and that Tee Gee was invited back for a behind-the-scenes look at the kitchens. 1 2 Mixed · 2The £7 offer is available through the Toby app until Friday 16 October, with terms and conditions on the app; a standard roast typically starts from £10.99. 1 2 Right · 1The Daily Express adds that the chain described the £7 promotion as one of its most generous offers this year. 2