'I took my family to Toby Carvery and it was nothing short of chaotic'
02.10.2022 - 09:43
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
It's a treat to eat out as a family isn't it, especially when everyone's finances are stretched. And when it comes to a roast dinner, you can't do better than a good old Toby Carvery - or so we thought.
A bit of a last minute decision, we still managed to book online just a few hours before getting a table for Sunday teatime, so presumed that meant there would be space for us.
However, arriving at the Watergate Toll, Bolton, to see people queuing out of the door, it soon became clear that wasn't going to be the case.
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Some had booked, others hadn't and were just turning up on a whim, but nobody looked pleased with the situation - one mum storming off with her daughter to 'find somewhere else'.
As we waited in line, one cause of the delay became abundantly clear as a group of Just Eat drivers were gathered waiting for their deliveries to take back to those customers who had ordered online. They looked equally fed up.
The staff trying to manage the situation looked most stressed of all though and did their best to explain that 'there was a backlog' - caused in part by people staying at their tables too long.
It didn't seem to wash and customers were soon discussing between themselves about the most likely reason for the delay, which in our case lasted around 20 minutes before we got seated.
As with places like McDonald's, where we've reported on similar complaints, they seem to be struggling to cope with the demand to cater for online customers as well as those turning up to eat.
The result is that everyone suffers - not least the staff who are having to deal with the extra workload. I have to hand it to