Travel & Tourism

You can have your wedding reception at Toby Carvery with £9.99 roast dinners for your guests

The roast momantic - sorry, most romantic - day of your lives

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 17th August 2024

Do you love a roast dinner with your romance? Then surely you’ve already considered celebrating the big day in a Toby Carvery. No?

Well, everyone’s favourite carvery is ready and waiting to host your wedding reception.

Your wedding guests could be feasting on a classic Toby Carvery roast in their finery, and it’ll only cost the happy couple as little as £9.99 a head. Bargain.

This British institution has been filling tummies with roast meats, Yorkshire puddings and all the other trimmings for decades.

So why not let them create the roast momantic – sorry, most romantic – day of your lives?

Toby Carvery promises to make your wedding day ‘extra-special’ and is surprisingly well-equipped to host your reception, from the private bars to the sound tech you need for speeches and music.

They also say they believe in ‘transparent, value-for-money packages’ to suit all sorts of budgets, with ‘no nasty surprises’.

There’s no arguing with that once you start browsing through the menus – there are a couple to choose from, from a classic Toby buffet to a three-course set menu.

Toby Carvery in Bolton. Credit: Google Maps
Toby Carvery in Bolton. Credit: Google Maps
You can have your wedding reception at a Toby Carvery in Greater Manchester. Credit: Mitchells and Butlers press
You can have your wedding reception at a Toby Carvery in Greater Manchester. Credit: Mitchells and Butlers press

If you plan a mid-week wedding, you can get a carvery of roasted meats, freshly steamed and roasted vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, mac and cheese, and roasties for £9.99 per person (it’s still only £10.99 on a Saturday).

Or there are buffets stuffed with finger sandwiches, pork pies, cocktail sausages, salads, popcorn chicken, tart tartin and roasties with dips, plus chocolate chunk cookie pieces, and cookie dough brownie squares.

For those who prefer not to make their wedding guests queue up for their dinner, Toby Carvery also does a more traditional three-course menu (£24.99 per person on Saturdays and Sundays, or £19.99 Monday to Friday).

That menu includes British favourites like prawn cocktail, the famous roast carvery, and chocolate fudge cake.

There are quite a few Toby Carvery sites offering wedding reception packages around Greater Manchester, including Chadderton Park, Ainsworth, Bolton, and Watergate Toll.

Given that Bolton’s Toby Carvery is set in a historic country house which is genuinely stunning, it’s all starting to come together, isn’t it?

You can have your wedding reception at a Toby Carvery in Greater Manchester. Credit: Mitchells and Butlers press

Toby Carvery says: “Don’t worry about the details; our experienced team is on hand to guide you every step of the way. We’ll ensure everything is looking perfectly poised to host your wedding reception.

“From private bars to sound capabilities for speeches and music, and, of course, delicious roast dinners you know everyone will love – we can help make your day extra-special.

“Now the non-romantic bit – let’s talk about pricing. We believe in transparent, value-for-money packages that cater to a range of budgets. Trust us, there are no nasty surprises here, only pleasant ones!

“So why wait? Choose Toby Carvery as the backdrop for your love story. After all, your wedding day deserves nothing but the best.”

You can see more here.

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Featured image: Mitchells and Butlers press

Travel & Tourism

Blackpool Pleasure Beach reveals exclusive glimpse at new ‘tallest of its kind’ ride

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Blackpool Pleasure Beach reveals exclusive glimpse at new 'tallest of its kind' ride Aviktas

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has unveiled a first glimpse of what its new £8.72m ride will look like.

The brand-new ride is set to be the ‘tallest of its kind’ and will change the Blackpool skyline when it opens next year.

Aviktas will be a towering 138ft gyro swing which will fly riders alongside the other world-famous rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, including the Big One.

It’ll be the tallest ride of its kind in the UK and will spin riders 120 degrees, facing outwards with legs dangling as you soar along the coastline.

There are other swinging pendulum rides in the UK, but none come close to Aviktas in terms of height – it’s almost twice the height of Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has now released the first CGI of what the ride will look like when it opens in 2026.

Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said: “We’re known for going big at Pleasure Beach, and Aviktas is exactly that.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach reveals exclusive glimpse at new ‘tallest of its kind’ ride Aviktas

“We hope by releasing this video, guests will be able to understand the mammoth scale of our new investment, and the huge impact it’ll have on our park and the industry as a whole. This ride will be colossal, daunting, exhilarating and an incredible addition to the town.”

Amanda added: “This is the first small tease of what we have planned, there’s plenty more teasers on the way!

“Keep an eye on our socials, as what may now seem mysterious, will eventually be revealed!”

Aviktas will open in 2026 – in the meantime you can book advance tickets to visit Blackpool Pleasure Beach HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

Travel & Tourism

Beat-Herder Festival 2025 – a magical weekend of music, madness, miniature worlds and more

Emily Johnson Emily Johnson The Beat Herder Festival 2025 review

Some festivals give you good music. Some give you great crowds. And a very rare few create a world so immersive, you forget you’re even at a festival; the cult favourite Beat-Herder Festival does it all – and then some.

Tucked into the Ribble Valley countryside in the Lancashire town of Clitheroe, The Beat-Herder Festival isn’t your average weekend of tents and tunes.

It’s a handcrafted, mind-bending wonderland built by a small crew of dreamers who clearly love what they do and want you to feel the same.

Whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth, the moment you step through the gates, you know you’re in for something special

Beat-Herder Fest 2025 | Review

First up: the stages

There’s no main path here – just winding routes and secret cut-throughs that lead to 16 beautifully designed stages, each with its own vibe.

The Main Stage delivered as always, from high-energy daytime sets like Beatles Dub Club to headliners like the legendary Fabio, Grooverider and long-time collaborators, The Outlook Orchestra, which brought the field to life each night. 

Then there’s Hotel California, not just an Eagles reference but a site where you could catch a full-on rave in a wild west saloon, as well as The Parish Church: a gothic fairytale where choirs turn into choons and the altar doubles as a DJ booth.

One of the weekend’s highlights came tucked inside The Beat-Herder Working Men’s Club, where The Clone Roses had the entire crowd bouncing with their uncanny tribute to The Stones.

When ‘I Am the Resurrection’ dropped, it was hands-in-the-air euphoria; a true pinch-me moment. Ian Brown might as we have been on the stage, the way the crowd were going wild. 

And it wasn’t just music. The Working Men’s also hosted ‘Beat-Herder’s Got Talent’, which is a chaotic and charming mix of poetry, dragon dancing, comedy sketches and more. Heartfelt, hilarious and very Beat-Herder.

Truly immersive worlds

Venture deeper into the wonderful world of Beat-Herder and you’ll find entire miniature towns within the festival. There’s a literal high street, complete with its own tattoo parlour, barbers, a swap shop and even a secret swimming pool.

where is beat-herder fest?
Credit: Andrew Whitton (supplied via Beat-Herder)

We’re not going to disclose its location, but let’s just say if you find a dodgy-looking wooden gate and hear splashing on the other side – knock twice and bring a towel…

Late-night mayhem

As the sun went down, the party really came to life. The Beyond Tunnel was your portal to new dimensions, opening out into a maze of secret stages and psychedelic visuals.

From psytrance at The Sunrise Stage, to bassline chaos at The Laundrette and candy-coloured chaos at Bubba Gumma, it was a rabbit hole of sound you never wanted to leave.

Then there was The Temple – a fire-breathing stage that became a haven for breakbeats, jungle, techno and house. Tim Reaper’s set here was a standout for us – fast, furious, and euphoric.

And just when we thought the night was over, we found ourselves at a secret 3am b2b set with Tim Reaper and Samurai Breaks that blew us away – two talented DJs that had the crowd wanting even more despite the sun quite literally rising on the next day.

Another hidden gem was The Ring, an intimate open-air arena where we caught Jungle pioneer Goldie, alongside Sheffield’s own Silva Bumpa and Soul Mass Transit System for a bass-heavy b2b set that rattled your bones and lit up the crowd.

Then there’s The Factory – a steel-clad rave bunker pumping out electro, acid and heavy techno deep into the night. Dancing inside while the rain pelted the tin roof added a layer of gritty industrial magic – proper spine-tingling stuff if you’re into that sweaty, underground energy.

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes Fowler’s Garage: a chaotic, petrolhead fever dream of a stage where you can literally dance on top of cars. DJs spin sets from inside the vehicles, cooking up a storm from the front seat while the crowd parties on the roof.

It’s unhinged in the best way possible and one of the most unique spaces you’ll ever rave in.

Power and the people

What really makes Beat-Herder feel different is the people. There’s an unspoken code of friendliness here – everyone’s up for a chat, a laugh, or a spontaneous dance. You could spill your pint and end up making a friend for life. That kind of energy is rare, and Beat-Herder wears it like a badge of honour.

The merch stand has that signature hand-crafted feel. All of the merch is hand-printed, with designs that feel like proper collector’s items rather than throwaway souvenirs. We spotted punters proudly repping Beat-Herder tees from as far back as 2012 – testament to how deep the community pride runs here.

Even on the way out, with vans and cars getting stuck in the mud, everyone mucked in to help push – proof that the Beat-Herder spirit sticks with you long after you’ve left the gates. Just a bunch of lovely people all getting together to have a good time and make memories for life. 

beat herder 2025 review
lancashire music festival
beat-herder review
Credit: Andrew Whitton

Fantastic fancy dress

Saturday brought the iconic fancy dress theme – this year, the letter G. And wow, did people go for it. Giraffes towered above the crowd, Gnomes danced in groups, Gardeners handed out seed packets, and one hero turned up as ‘Garbage’, wearing an actual dustbin with a lid strapped to his head. We laughed for a full five minutes.

Final thoughts from the fields

Even though Beat-Herder was slightly scaled down this year due to budget cuts, it never once felt like anything was missing. If anything, it brought a tighter, even more magic-filled experience. The attention to detail, the creativity, and the atmosphere are still unmatched – a reminder that this isn’t just a festival. It’s a fully fledged world of its own.

If you’re looking for something different – stick this one at the very top of your list. But be warned: once you’ve been, you’ll never stop going back.

Tickets for next year go on sale on Thursday, 31 July, and you can be ready to grab your tickets HERE.

You can guarantee you’ll see us at back-to-back Beat-Herder Festivals again in 2026.

beat herder lineup
The Beat Hearder music Festival 2025 review
Credit: Supplied

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Featured Images — Andrew Whitton (supplied)

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