UPDATE: |Toby Carvery boss issues apology for ‘upset’ after 400-year-old tree torn down News

He said the company had acted in “good faith”

The chief executive of Toby Carvery has issued an apology for the upset caused after the company cut down a 400-year-old tree outside one of its restaurants.

The tree, in Whitewebbs Park, north London, was felled on April 3 after the company’s owner, Mitchells & Butlers, was advised by experts that it was dying and would pose a risk to the public.

Enfield Council reported the matter to the Metropolitan Police, with the council leader saying he was “outraged” by the 400-year-old trees felling.

Phil Urban, CEO of Mitchells & Butlers, has since issued a written apology to residents and said the company has “acted in good faith”.

Urban added the company could “have time for a fuller consultation” for future occurrences of a similar nature.

The restaurant owner said: “Clearly the felling of a beautiful old tree is a very emotive subject and is not something that any of us would undertake lightly. I can only apologise for all the upset that it has caused.

“As a business and, more importantly, as human beings, we are obliged to act on all health and safety issues where expert advice warns us of a direct risk to life or serious injury.”

While Urban said that they “cannot undo what has been done”, he claimed that the company does try to be “good neighbours”.

He added: “On a personal level, I am very sorry for all the anger and upset that this incident has caused.

“I am not expecting my words to resolve the depth of feeling, but I do hope that you will accept that we do try to always be responsible operators, and that the people involved did act in good faith and with good intentions.

“We will complete a thorough review and ensure that, in future, exceptional situations are treated differently from the more regular health and safety issues that arise on a day-to-day basis.”

Since 2022, Mitchell’s and Butler’s have worked with partners to plant more than 90,000 trees.

On Wednesday, leader of Enfield Council, Ergin Elbin said: “I am outraged that the leaseholder has cut down this beautiful, ancient, oak tree without seeking any permissions or advice from Enfield Council.

“This tree would have been home to countless wildlife, fungi and pollinators.

“This tree is a part of our ecological and cultural heritage.”