The admission by Toby Carvery that it chopped down an ancient oak tree overlooking one of its pubs has outraged anyone who cares about arboreal preservation, British heritage and decent food and drink – not necessarily in that order.

The Mitchells and Butlers group, which owns Toby Carvery, issued a statement saying that the tree in Whitewebbs Park in Enfield, north London, was felled because they ‘were advised by our specialist arboriculture contractors that it caused a potential health and safety risk’.