What happened to Taybarns? The place where buffet dreams were made was some diners’ idea from hell

If you ask someone to name an all-you-can-eat restaurant they’ve been to for a Sunday dinner or looking for a hangover cure, chances are they’ll mention Taybarns.

But unfortunately, and we’re breaking the news gently if you weren’t already aware… that’s no longer the case.

Opened in 2008, when Big Lukes faced little competition, Taybarns became one of those word-of-mouth success stories you heard about at work or from a friend and thought “god, what is this magical place they talk about?”

Or, chances are you’ve seen recordings on Facebook and were instantly jealous of the stacked high plates that were posted with them.

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Taybarns branches in the North East included one just next to the Premier Inn, a short distance from Gateshead MetroCentre and on the South Shields road, also next to a hotel.

Sadly, Taybarns bit the dust in 2016, with all of its venues becoming Brewer’s Fayre pubs.

Some fans were so furious that they started a petition on Change.org to bring him back!

Taybarns was truly a slice, or rather a huge helping of buffet heaven, which at the same time, might be some diners’ idea of ​​hell.

Upon entering the hard-to-miss building with a bright orange and green logo, a huge, brightly lit restaurant greeted you, which housed a large number of tables and booths and, of course, the main attraction – huge counters of buffet.

There really was, to use that famous cliché, something for everyone.

You can start with a burger and fries before moving on to curry; or maybe open your account with a carbonara, before filling your boots with a carvery or being a little less greedy and easing up with a soup, before considering your options and making sure to leave room for dessert – because there was plenty too!

There was no limit to the number of plates you could have, the only restriction was the time, which could sometimes depend on when you went and how busy the place was, but usually was two o’clock.

This meant that you often looked around and saw people on the verge of a food coma as they took a break from eating, yet determined to keep going and get their money’s worth.

Or, on the other hand, you’d watch someone come back to their table with yet another full plate and think “how is that even possible?”

Gone too soon or the stuff of nightmares? You decide!