Diners at the Toby Carvery in Brockworth, Gloucester, experienced a terrifying ordeal on Sunday evening, September 28, 2025, when a large section of the restaurant’s ceiling suddenly collapsed during the dinner rush. The incident, which occurred just after 6:00 PM BST, left two people—a young girl and a woman—injured and sent shockwaves through the local community, as reported by multiple sources including BBC and GloucestershireLive.
For those present, the evening began like any other, with families and friends gathering for a traditional Sunday roast. But the atmosphere shattered in an instant. Joey Pass, a 31-year-old diner from Dursley, was standing outside with one of his children when the disaster struck. “I suddenly heard a massive crash,” he recounted to BBC. “I could see loads of dust and heard a kid scream so I rushed in to see if everyone was OK.” His account was echoed by other diners who described panic, confusion, and a flurry of activity as people scrambled to help those caught in the collapse.
Video footage from inside the restaurant, widely shared on social media and viewed over 90,000 times, captured the chaotic aftermath. Plasterboard and debris littered the tables, chairs, and floor. Light fittings dangled precariously from the exposed ceiling. In the background, a child’s voice could be heard crying, “I’m scared,” and asking, “what happened?” as families hurried to evacuate. At one table, four plates of roast dinner sat untouched, a stark reminder of how abruptly the evening had been upended.
Emergency services responded swiftly. Fire crews from Gloucester South and North, paramedics, and a police vehicle arrived at the scene around 6:45 PM. According to a spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service, two patients—a young girl and a woman—were taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Thankfully, it was understood that neither sustained major injuries, though both required first aid on site, administered by a fellow diner described as a “frantic woman” by witnesses.
Joey Pass, still shaken, reflected on the near-miss. “I felt concerned and worried—what if that happened to my children or my wife?” he said to GloucestershireLive. “My daughter keeps asking about the little girl that the roof fell on.” His words captured the lingering anxiety felt by many families who witnessed the event firsthand.
Eyewitnesses described the moments immediately following the collapse. Chunks of plasterboard had fallen directly onto diners and their meals. Some guests, covered in dust, helped each other to safety as the restaurant staff quickly moved to evacuate the building. The evacuation, while orderly, was tinged with urgency as people processed what had just happened. “The staff took time to evacuate the building as people were still in there eating the roasts,” Pass noted.
The response from emergency crews was prompt and thorough. The Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that two fire engines and an incident support unit were dispatched after receiving reports that a roof may have collapsed and people could be trapped inside. Upon arrival, crews found that while plasterboard had indeed fallen, no one was trapped. They remained on site to ensure the building was safe, with the incident officially declared over by 6:50 PM.
In the aftermath, the restaurant’s management issued a statement through a spokesperson. “We can confirm that a small section of our Brockworth restaurant has been affected by damage to the ceiling,” the spokesperson told BBC. “As a precaution we immediately evacuated the restaurant and called on the support of the emergency services to assess the building and guests who were dining in the vicinity.” The spokesperson added, “Whilst we were grateful to hear from the emergency services that the incident did not cause harm to any guests, we apologise to all guests impacted and our care team will be contacting them directly over the coming days.”
After the building was inspected and declared safe to use, management assured the public that maintenance contractors would be on site soon to carry out repairs. Despite the frightening nature of the event, the company expressed gratitude that the injuries were not severe and emphasized its commitment to guest safety moving forward.
The incident also sparked conversation online, with many expressing relief that the outcome was not worse. Social media posts about the collapse quickly gained traction, with one diner posting, “Toby Carvery Brockworth ceiling just collapsed on us! Stay away!!” Comments poured in, with one person writing, “Hope everyone's ok—what a nightmare,” and another adding, “I hope everyone is okay, especially the little one crying!”
Adding to the shock was the fact that the Brockworth Toby Carvery had recently undergone a substantial refurbishment. In 2024, the restaurant invested approximately £500,000 over four months to revamp the site on the A46 Shurdington Road. The significant investment was intended to modernize the venue and improve the dining experience, making the ceiling collapse all the more surprising and concerning for regular patrons.
Restaurant management expressed hope that they could reopen the site as soon as possible, with some reports suggesting a reopening later on September 29, 2025. However, the incident has inevitably left diners rattled and raised questions about building safety, especially in recently renovated establishments.
For the Brockworth community, the ceiling collapse at Toby Carvery serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictability of such accidents. While the physical injuries were thankfully minor, the psychological impact on those present—particularly children—will likely linger. As one eyewitness put it, “My middle daughter keeps asking about the little girl that the ceiling fell on.”
In the days ahead, the restaurant’s care team is expected to reach out to affected guests, offering support and apologies. Emergency services, staff, and bystanders were credited for their quick thinking and compassion during the crisis, ensuring that what could have been a far more serious disaster was contained with minimal harm.
As repairs begin and investigations continue, the Brockworth Toby Carvery incident stands as a testament to the importance of vigilance in building maintenance—and the resilience of communities when the unexpected strikes.
