In an effort to stop food waste, many eateries have begun packaging excess foods at the end of the day in Too Good To Go bundles.

With the cold weather drawing in and the incessant longing for a Sunday roast not leaving my body, I decided to save money and satisfy my craving and try out a Too Good To Go Bag for Darlington's Toby Carvery. Priced at just £3.29- a hefty saving from the usual midweek price of £10.29, I was excited to see just what that would provide.

The Darlington branch is so popular that the first time I attempted to reserve some food my order was cancelled because there was none left.

My second attempt at reserving a bag was much more successful and I secured my long-awaited roast dinner that would have otherwise gone to waste.

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Entering the building I was forced to admit that I had never been to a Toby Carvery before.

As I walked towards the buffet one staff member audibly said: "We outed him there."

There was a small queue patiently waiting for a turn at what was left of a large buffet.

I opted for some turkey, a sausage, carrots, roast potatoes, cauliflower and a healthy portion of gravy.

I carefully packed my tray to get some of everything.

The Northern Echo: Clearly excited for the meal

As soon as my food was sealed up I was straight out of the building and into the car.

I didn't want my food to lose its heat before I could enjoy it, this is one of those times where heated seats would have been a blessing!

The Northern Echo: The full spread

When I was finally settled down at the kitchen table there was no time to waste.

The gravy had slightly spilled over the side during the drive home but otherwise, it was a sight to behold.

I demolished the meal in a little under 10 minutes but thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Northern Echo: Action shot of the meal

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The sausage was succulent and the gravy coating the vegetables was delicious.

The Northern Echo: Unable to resist a bite

For just over £3 the meal was far nicer than I had expected and I would definitely go again.

The whole experience was heartwarming and the staff made me feel welcome.

This half term, kids eat for £1 at participating Toby Carvery restaurants across the UK. Visit their website to find out more and read their T&Cs.