What to expect as much-loved Toby Carvery in Sutton Coldfield undergoes £1.5m transformation

The Toby Carvery in Sutton Park has closed with work now underway on transforming it into a more upmarket Browns Brasserie and Bar

A popular restaurant in Sutton Coldfield has closed after decades of being a fixture in the town. But it is now undergoing a huge £1.5 million plus transformation to turn it into a ‘stunning’ new brasserie.

The Toby Carvery, known locally as the Park House, in Sutton Park shut on Monday, September 9, for the final time, despite customers at the roast dinner specialist, railing against the plans earlier this year. Work is now underway at the site with the Toby Carvery site fenced-off and scaffolding put up around the building.

But restaurant and pub firm, Mitchells & Butlers, which owns a number of well-known brands including steak chain, Miller & Carter, which has a venue at Boldmere Gate in the park, All Bar One, Ember Inns, Ego, Vintage Inns, Sizzling Pubs as well as the Toby Carvery offshoot, is now bringing its more upmarket Browns brasserie to Sutton at some cost.

Read more: Restaurant closes as owners say ‘we should really have taken decision sooner’

A sign outside the now-building site is already encouraging bookings and says : "Browns Brasserie& Bar Sutton Park. Opening November 2024. Join us for a magical Christmas." It is also advertising for staff to 'Join Our Team', including 'front of house, kitchen and bar staff'.

Browns offers everything from breakfasts and bottomless brunches, to lunch, afternoon tea, an a la carte menu and Sunday roasts for those hankering back to its Toby Carvery days, according to its Birmingham site’s menu. The bottomless brunch offers free-flowing Champagne, Aperol Spritz, Bellinis, prosecco and Bloody Marys.

And dishes including: “Lobster Benedict, Baked Eggs in Purgatory, Buttermilk Pancakes, Smoked Salmon, Smashed Avo and even our classic Browns Burger,” served at weekends Friday to Sunday until 2pm. They are ‘time-limited’ for one-and-a-half hours.

Breakfasts range from £7.95 for coconut and berry granola with fresh berries, yoghurt and maple syrup, to a traditional fry-up with bacon, sausages, black pudding, two eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomato and toasted sourdough for £13.50. Or a Browns Lobster Benedict with buttered spinach, thermidor sauce, two heritage hend eggs, hollandaise and a toasted muffin at £15.50.

The lunch menu has starters like duck and watermelon salad or asparagus and exotic mushrooms on sourdough to start. With mains including steak frites, smoked haddock fishcake and lemon hollandaise and risotto verde.

And puds from Timperley rhubarb and Bramley apple crumble, chocolate fondant or lemon posset. Two courses for £17.85. Three for £21.95. Afternoon teas with sandwiches, scones, cakes and a brew range from £25 to £40 for the pink champagne version.

On the a la carte menu, starters range from asparagus & exotic mushroom vol-au-vent for £8.95, garlic prawns and chorizo for £10.25 and pan-seared scallops and pancetta for £12.95. Mains include six ‘meat’ options from a chicken Caesar salad at £15.95 to a pan roast Ibérico pork cutlet at £31.95.

A steak menu including a 10oz rib-eye at £28.50 to 7oz fillet steak with garlic butter scallops at £39.50. The seafood menu has fish (haddock) and chips for £17.95 up to lobster linguine at £32.95. Although there is a lobster specials section a whole lobster for £49.95 or surf and turf with half a lobster and a 7oz fillet steak for £44.95.

The vegetarian offer includes an avocado, kale & mango salad at £15.50, an asparagus and butternut curry for £17.50 and a crispy Portobello mushroom and halloumi burger at £17.95. Puds include the crumble as above vanilla crème brulee and salted caramel profiteroles all £8.50 and a cheese board at £10.95.

Along with the menu change, there will be a new look inside, which will include a Grand piano which every Browns has. The firm said it does not usually reveal details of what it spends but it said this one is ‘more than £1.5 million’ and the figure ‘[managed to convince the team’. The new look venue will also create ’50 new jobs’.

General manager, Danny Folcarelli, said: “We can't wait to open our doors to show off the stunning new Browns, Brasserie and Bar to the Sutton Coldfield community, which will open its doors after a two-and-a-half month transformation.

"The building has been totally transformed, bringing back to life all of the original features through a careful and well-planned restoration process to create a beautiful new venue, oozing Browns opulence and beauty. Aside from the work, the new venue will create around 50 new jobs and we know it will be an asset for the local community."

The new look ‘Park House’, a Browns Brasserie and Bar in the town’s famed Sutton Park, will open in two months on Tuesday, November 21.