Toby Carvery fans won’t be able to serve themselves at buffets when it reopens
TOBY Carvery fans won't be able to fill up their own plates when the popular restaurant chain reopens next month.
Breakfast buffet and carvery stations will still be in place as normal, but instead of customers helping themselves they'll find their entire meal is dished up by chefs.
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Before lockdown, Toby Carvery chefs only served the meat and Yorkshire pudding elements of its carveries with customers serving up their own veg, sides, and other accompaniments.
Customers previously helped themselves to Toby Carvery's breakfast buffets too, but going forward this will now be entirely served by chefs.
This is to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading from numerous people touching the same serving equipment.
A Toby Carvery spokesperson said: "We’re delighted to say that guests will still be able to enjoy their favourite roast just the way they like it, but we will reopen our Carvery Deck with our chefs serving the roast meats, vegetables and accompaniments to guests at the deck.
"Similarly, the famous Toby breakfast will be served for guests by our chefs in the same way. "
Toby Carvery owner, Mitchell and Butlers, confirmed that all of its branches in England, which includes Toby Carvery, O'Neill's, and Harvester, will reopen from July 4.
You can even book a table now, which might be worthwhile as some punters report restaurants already selling out on the weekend they reopen.
It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed earlier this week that pubs and restaurants in England are allowed to reopen from July 4 as long as they follow social distancing measures.
It's worth noting that Mitchells and Butlers hasn't confirmed its plans for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales yet as the rules here are different.
In Scotland, beer gardens can reopen from July 6 and indoor restaurants can go back into business from July 15, while Northern Ireland says pubs and restaurants can reopen for table service only from July 3.
Wales is yet to confirm its position.
Toby Carvery says it will enforce social distancing around serving stations and tables, as well as place hand sanitiser stations around restaurants.
"Rigorous" cleaning schedules will also be put in place.
But it has warned that not all ingredients or menu items will be available due to some suppliers being unable to get up running again in time for July 4.
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You can use the on Mitchell and Butlers' website to find a specific pub or restaurant near you.
The government updated its guidance this week to say that where 2metre social distancing can't be enforced, 1metre is acceptable.
Here's the full list of venues that can reopen from July 4, as well as those that must remain closed.