Because Toby Carvery is all about tradition. It’s about British comfort food, carved meats, and sticky toffee pudding. But now, they’ve killed a piece of natural history. The tree was believed to be over 300 years old.
To put that in perspective, that oak was a sapling when Isaac Newton was still figuring out gravity. It shaded people during the Industrial Revolution. And a chain restaurant with a condiment bar sent it to woodchip heaven.
The legal stuff is pure gold.
The tree had a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on it. That’s the law saying, "Hands off, you can’t touch this." Toby Carvery ignored it. They didn’t even ask for permission. They just went full lumberjack.
Now, the council is furious. They’ve issued an enforcement notice. Translation: “Get out of the building or chop down nothing ever again.” The carvery could be forced to close for good. Imagine losing your Sunday roast spot over a tree. That’s a plot twist.
Fun fact: The maximum fine for destroying a protected tree is £20,000. That’s a lot of gravy boats. But the real punishment? Public shame. Everyone is laughing at them on social media.
