Toby Carvery Chelmsford

Essex, 1 Dukes Ln, Chelmsford CM2 6AD

About This Pub

Ah, Toby Carvery Chelmsford – it's one of those places that really captures the essence of a good old British carvery, isn't it? I've heard from a few folks that the roasts are spot on, with juicy meats and perfectly cooked veg that leave you feeling well satisfied after a long day. It's especially lovely for gathering with family or friends over a generous all-you-can-eat spread, and they've got options for vegetarians and vegans too, which is a nice touch in this day and age. The atmosphere feels welcoming, like a home-from-home in the heart of Chelmsford, and when the staff are on form, they're cheerful and attentive, making the whole experience that bit more enjoyable. But, let's be honest, it's not all gravy – service can be a mixed bag, with some tales of slow responses or the odd mix-up that might leave you twiddling your thumbs while waiting for your order. And if you're fancying breakfast, well, it might not be the highlight, as a couple of people have mentioned disappointing selections that don't quite live up to the carvery's reputation. All in all, I'd say it's worth a visit if you're after a solid, affordable meal, but perhaps pop in during quieter times to avoid any potential hiccups and make the most of what this place does well.

Pros and Cons

Pros

The roasts are an absolute treat – proper British classics with tender meats and fresh veg, perfect for a hearty meal.
Some staff members are really welcoming and cheerful, making the visit feel like a proper catch-up with mates.
It's a brilliant spot for families, offering all-you-can-eat options, vegetarian and vegan choices, plus a kids' menu to keep everyone happy.

Cons

Service can be a bit patchy at times, with reports of long waits for drinks or orders getting mixed up, which puts a dampener on things.
Breakfast options have let a few people down, with cold or subpar dishes that don't quite hit the mark.
The overall experience might feel inconsistent, as the place can sometimes seem understaffed or a tad inattentive when it's busy.

Contact Information

Essex, 1 Dukes Ln, Chelmsford CM2 6AD

+441245450695

Carvery

Open Now

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 22:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 22:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 22:00
Thursday	08:00 - 22:00
Friday (Today)	08:00 - 22:00
Saturday	08:00 - 22:00
Sunday	08:00 - 22:00

Location

Recent Reviews

Jake was very nice and friendly. Just the kind of person you want serving your carvery, bought out the fresh Yorkshire puddings just as I was getting my food and told me to smell them and I’m glad I did. They smelled amazing and the taste lived up to the expectations and more. Let alone the fact that he offered me two because I said how nice it looked!

Dylan Moore

Popped in for lunch. Lovely to see it’s been redecorated as was looking quite tired last time we visited. All the staff were lovely, friendly and helpful. We were served by Dee who was very cheerful, polite and helpful. Probably the best carvery we have had - the food was nice and hot and plentiful as usual. Thank you (Chelmsford branch)

Sally Tupper

The food was great, but the service was terrible ! We had to chase up staff to get our cutlery, remind them of our drink orders as we was waiting 30 min. Also we ordered a chocolate and cookie dough brownie and was given a sponge cake, with the server insisting it was a brownie ! Also took 30 min plus, Officially the worst service out of any Toby I’ve been too ! Took about 2 hours for the whole experience

James Everett

Never visiting again, was bad before they had the place done up but it’s even worse at least before you got asked if your food was ok. Don’t really know where to start, the fact that the staff and manager was standing at the bar ignoring people waiting to be seated was when I should have just left, then there was no carver was to be seen and was left waiting for 10mins then the kitchen staff just stood there staring at us for no reason and didn’t sort out the dry nasty food then disappeared and was never seen again. Then the manager was just standing there bopping away to the music rather than getting his staff to do their jobs and sort out the food or clean up the food on the floor around where you ge your food. The hygiene was so bad that it made me feel sick, asked for the bill and never got asked how our food was which is poor service, leaving the majority of our food because it was so rubbish wouldn’t even take it back for the dogs to eat

Louise Radley

Breakfast visit, the selection was empty and what food was left was so bad it was disappointing to say the least. The bacon was the only part that was ok but then it was dry . The eggs we had to wait for arrived snotty and literally floating in oil . The scraping of beans I managed to get was cold and runny . The sausages were ok but again just lukewarm. My coffee was tasteless and bland . After waiting 5 minutes for the toast machine to complete making my toast everything was cold . £11 well spent not really. I would have to recommend you avoid this Toby until they get their act together and deal with the problem. The chef can’t be a real chef to put out food on this low quality. It’s just basic food. Beans , egg , etc . Very disgusting and disappointing visit. Even the bread for the toast was empty. Visiting 45 minutes after opening it’s not like we arrived at the end of the breakfast service.

Andre Govia