CUSTOMERS hoping for a cracking Chrismas breakfast at Toby Carvery were left crying into their eggs and bacon after Santa Claus was branded the ‘worst ever’.
The chain promises a “morning of magic and cheer” for £10.99 per person, which includes an all you can eat breakfast buffet, plus a gift and visit to see Santa.
However, customers have been left underwhelmed by the experience.
One customer wrote: “It was the worst santa i ever seen, he didnt talk to anyone, looked moody.”
Another said: “Went on sat with my kids and can’t lie was very disappointed in the whole Santa theme breakfast, was a normal Toby breakfast (food fine, staff okay) but with a Santa dressed awfully in a side room, nothing Christmassy or magical at all about it….”
The disappointed reviews didn’t stop there.
One person said: “We visited our local one last Sunday for breakfast with Santa we had 4 grandchildren and our goddaughter there was 11 of us all together it was really disappointing no interaction from Santa at all other than the children going to see him for about 2 mins… it cost us a lot of money for a disappointing visit”
Someone else said: “I took my grandchildren to the Toby in Morecambe. Food was lovely. Santa was horrendous. Sat in a chair with wrapped boxes next to him and opposite the bar.
“We had to keep moving out of the way of other customers that were paying for their breakfast. Santa didn’t really welcome the children. He didn’t initiate the conversation and lacked the christmas spirit. His costume was not very good at all. Very very very disappointing.”
Another wrote: “We went yesterday and so disappointed in the food, everything was either overcooked or undercooked.
“Santa did not look or act how a Santa should be.”
One customer said: “Shocking at Leeds one don’t waste your money.”
Toby Carvery has been contacted for comment.
This Santa wasn’t fooling anyone
SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements took her four and six-year-old to Toby Carvery in Maidenhead for its breakfast with Santa experience. Here she shares the experience…
“I thought the Toby Carvery ‘breakfast with Santa’ would be a relatively cheap and cheerful festive morning that the kids would love and get us all in the Christmas spirit.
It was £10.99 per person for the all you can eat breakfast buffet, plus a visit to see Father Christmas. I think that £10.99 for a kids’ breakfast is pretty pricey but considering you can pay lots more to visit a grotto, I felt it was good value.
When I walked through the door and saw ‘ Santa’ I quickly realised that it wasn’t going to match expectations.
I would have expected him to be waving at the kids and a ‘ho ho ho’ at the least, but instead he was stood awkwardly in the corner.
His stomach stuffing had also ridden up, so rather than looking like a big tummy, it looked like he was hiding a pair of breasts. And his modern smart watch was clearly on display.
It wasn’t really clear or explained how the experience was supposed to unfold.
But after having some grub, I decided to wander over to him with the kids.
The grotto area was a couple of coloured sheets draped over some chairs.
When they sat down, Father Christmas didn’t really seem to know what to say to my children and was quiet and a bit awkward.
After a couple of painful minutes, I decided to put everyone out of their misery and we went and sat back down.
After, my four-year-old said to me: “That wasn’t Santa, I could see his black beard.”
We were all left feeling disappointed and when money is stretched at this time of year, I’d rather have put it towards something else.”
