Toby Carvery responds to meat-weighing claims as fans threaten boycott

| Assistant Lifestyle Editor Published October 10, 2026 12:03pm Updated October 10, 2026 12:06pm The chain has addressed social media claims of a policy change (Picture: Getty Images) There are few things more sacred to Brits than a Sunday roast — and arguably even fewer things that grind our gears more than shrinkflation. Toby Carvery has been on the receiving end of these shared national passions this week, with increasing social media critcism forcing the chain to set the record straight. Content creator Tee Gee posted a video on Facebook showing a staff member using weighing scales to plate up his meal at Toby’s Poole, Dorset, branch. ‘Tiny Yorkshire puddings and they’re weighing the meat now,’ he wrote in the caption. ‘Good job I went king size. Next they’ll be counting the peas!’ In the clip, Tee asked the chef how long they’d been weighing the meat, to which they replied ‘about three weeks’, but they ‘don’t think it’s in all [locations].’ Hundreds commented on Tee’s post, calling the supposed change ‘ridiculous’, ‘mental’, and ‘really, really bad’, Running a carvery counter is in many ways a numbers game (Picture: Getty Images) Some even threatened to boycott the 158-restaurant chain as a result, including Maria Clayton who wrote: ‘Weigh the meat, really? Won’t be going for a Toby Carvery anymore that’s for sure!’ However, as a few eagle-eyed customers pointed out, this seems to be more of a case of crossed wires than an official policy update. A Toby Carvery spokesperson told Metro: ‘Don’t worry, Toby fans, nothing has changed with our portion sizes. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘Our chefs are highly trained and generally carve portions using their experience. ‘Sometimes, we use scales to help to train new team members, or to reassure existing chefs that their portion servings are on point, ensuring accuracy and quality for our guests.’ What is your opinion on weighing meat portions at carveries? It's a good way to ensure fairness.Check It takes away from the experience.Check I don't mind as long as I get my value.Check This would stop me from visiting such places.Check Join the family and sign up to The Diaspora Dish newsletter to get exclusive interviews and unforgettable recipes. While vegetables and most sides are unlimited, Yorkshire puddings and hand-carved meats such as turkey, beef, gammon, and pork have always been served in set amounts by staff at the ‘home of the Sunday roast’. According to the chef in Tee’s video, protein portion size guidelines are ‘about 160g on a normal plate’ — priced from £10.99 to £17.29 depending on location and time — or roughly 216g for the upgraded king size meal which costs £6.49 extra. Given the NHS puts an average portion of Sunday roast (three slices of roast lamb, beef or pork, each about the size of half a slice of bread) at 90g, and UK restaurants now charge £18.87 on average per head, this seems fairly generous. Some roast dinner enthusiasts saw nothing wrong with this method of portion control (Picture: Getty Images) Plus, as Facebooker Mek Dawson highlighted, ‘weighing the meat works both ways,’ meaning ‘you’re not going to get given less than you should.’ ‘Nothing wrong or weird about this at all,’ added Conor Cahalane. ‘Controlling portion sizes makes sure it’s profitable and this is a normal practice in every kitchen. The only difference here is that you can see it being done in front of you.’ But if you’d rather skip the restaurant altogether, Toby Carvery has another option up its sleeve. Back in September, the brand hit supermarket shelves for the first time ever, with frozen ready meals in Iceland & Food Warehouse stores priced at £4.75 each, or two for £8.50. Deals of the Day Most of us aren't getting enough fibre – this easy supplement could change that My honest review of the new UKLash Lash Lift Gel Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather Dyson fans are swapping to this Hoover vacuum-mop that washes floors as it cleans I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use Featuring options like filled Yorkshire puddings and roast potato topped cottage pies, the range was launched to give shoppers the chance to ‘enjoy a little taste of Toby Carvery whenever they fancy it.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: Stop making regular coffee in the morning — add this extra ingredient Arrow MORE: Scammer mum jailed after making £500,000 selling fake designer gear on Facebook Arrow MORE: Walkers unveils 2026 Christmas crisps — with discontinued flavour returning after 5 years The Diaspora Dish Join the family: The Diaspora Dish series two is here! New recipes and chef interviews with The Slice's co-editor Lola Christina Alao.