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?
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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’.
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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 MapsYou 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.
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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.
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“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.”
Chester Zoo becomes first UK zoo to gain important international status
Danny Jones
The North West’s beloved Chester Zoo has been awarded a highly coveted global status, being named as the first international botanical garden in the entire UK.
With so many well-deserved awards, accolades and plaudits from within the world of wildlife preservation over the year, it’s no surprise.
A gem in Cheshire and the wider region’s crown, which continues to express its extreme commitment to ecological and environmental causes year in and year out, Chester Zoo is regularly ranked the best in the country and one of the top facilities in all of Europe, and now its worldwide reputation is growing too.
Taking its already sterling CV one further this year, 2026 marks the inaugural year of not only Chester Zoo existing as a recognised international botanical garden, but a big moment for Great Britain’s conservation status in general, as it’s been over 150 years since it last held the status.
Writing on social media in response to the huge honour, they wrote: “We’re officially the FIRST UK zoo recognised as a globally important botanic garden!
“We care for hundreds of rare plants, protect species at risk of extinction, and create beautiful gardens that encourage visitors to slow down and connect with nature.
“Global plant conservation organisation [Botanic Gardens Conservation International] assessed us against 22 criteria before awarding us Conservation Practitioner status – a recognition that now lets us do even more to protect native wildlife alongside our incredible conservation partners!”
Incredible stuff.
They signed off by adding that their efforts are “all made possible by YOU”, with 2025 marking an all-around groundbreaking year for the venue, as a total of 2,136,224 visitors came through the gates to surpass their previous record tally back in 2019 (2,086,785).
BGCI’s awarding of Conservation Practitioner is yet more proof of just how much work Chester Zoo does throughout the annual calendar, not least of all the incredible fundraising they do via various activations like their hugely successful charity run.
They signed off by adding that their efforts are “all made possible by YOU”, with 2025 marking an all-around groundbreaking year for the venue, as a total of 2,136,224 individuals came through the gates to surpass their previous record tally back in 2019 (2,086,785).
Speaking directly on the watershed moment, the zoo’s head of plants, Philip Esseen, said in an official press release: “This recognition shows that our plant work has real conservation value.
“We’re caring for species that are threatened with extinction in the wild, and that carries a responsibility to protect them, propagate them and share our expertise with others.
“The accreditation will help us work more closely with other horticultural and conservation organisations and increase the amount of conservation work we can do, particularly to support native species.”
Congratulations once again to Chester Zoo on such a significant achievement, and with around 10k people visiting each day – be that staff, field-expert guests or visitors – the proof is in the pudding: it really is the best in Britain doing some of the most vital work possible.
The UK has lost half of it's hedgehogs in the last 20 years, so here's 3 simple things you can do to make your garden a hedgehog haven 👇
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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Chester Zoo)
Travel & Tourism
The countryside Airbnb where you can have a sleepover with a Shetland pony
Daisy Jackson
Do you like your animals pint-sized and ideally sporting an excellent, tousled hairstyle? Then allow us to introduce you to Basil.
This adorable little Shetland pony lives inside an Airbnb rental, which means he’s ready and waiting for you to join him for a sleepover.
At the cosy accommodation, the bedroom is directly attached to wee Basil’s stable, so you could roll over in bed and give him a little fuss.
Then just outside your door, you’ll find paddocks that are home to Highland cows, Hebridean sheep, horses, pigs, chickens and Norwegian Forrest cats.
Honestly, this place might be paradise for animal lovers.
Known as ‘Basils Barn’, the Airbnb is located in the grounds of a 17th century manor, surrounded by a 60 acre estate.
The owners have mostly rescued the animals, who are strictly kept as pets – so it’s safe to form an emotional attachment to Basil and his farmyard pals knowing they’re in safe hands.
So back to your overnight accommodation. This cosy barn still has gorgeous original features like a flagstone floor, covered in colourful rugs, and traditional stone walls.
Basils Barn also includes a cosy living area. Credit: AirbnbThe outside space at Basils Barn has a firepit and seating area. Credit: AirbnbBasil the Shetland Pony shares an entrance to the Airbnb. Basils Barn also includes a cosy living area. Credit: Airbnb
There’s enough space for four people to sleep between the double bed and a bunk bed, as well as a separate living room/kitchen/diner.
Outside, you can have access to an open outdoor log fire with barbecue grill, and an outdoor tiki hut seating area.
Other amenities include toiletries, toys, books and board games for families, a well-equipped kitchen and free parking.
Some things to bear in mind? There is a literal horse next door, so you might experience some sights, sounds and smells.
And your alarm clock may not be needed, with a cockerel on the estate who will soon let you know when dawn arrives with his crowing.
Basil the pony is usually in his stable – adorable head poking over the low wall that separates him from the Airbnb – from the time you arrive, and he stays there overnight, before he heads back to his field in the morning.
You also have to turn his light out for him when it’s time for bed. Aww.
Daisy Jackson -
17th August 2024 
