The Blues Bar - how would you improve it?

For me the main issues are the poor access to the bar and the length of time it takes getting served.

I think the entire system could be improved dramatically by making the Blues Bar debit card only. I've seen this in operation and you'd be amazed how contactless payments speed up the process at sports grounds. I know a few people prefer cash for whatever reason but it probably doubles (or more) the time taken for a single transaction if you consider the buyer rummaging around for cash, the bar staff walking over to the till, ringing up the payment, then handing back change. I use contactless all the time now ...never had an issue with security. It's the way forward, although I expect there would be some resistance initially from a few dinosaurs. Obviously you need a robust, reliable card system in place.

I'm not a great fan of bottled beer but keg/craft rather than real ale/cask would be a compromise (keg has a longer shelf life) Would be interesting to know how many pints of Guinness are sold (if that's on tap), as it takes a ridiculously long time to pour/settle. When bottled beer is on offer it should be clearly visible, not tucked away on a low shelf so that more time is wasted asking what's available.

Longer term, the bar definitely needs to be longer to allow access. It's horrendous getting anywhere near when the place is even moderately busy. On the occasions I get to home games I've invariably driven four hours plus, so it's a real pain in the arse to then have to battle through five deep queues. Not sure whether it would work, but I wonder if a supermarket style ticketing system would be worth trialling? That would allow better access to the bar and reduce the current scrum to catch the eye of the bar staff. Standing there, vainly waving a fiver is another real pain!

Got to sell food in there. It can't be that difficult to have a pie and pint deal for a fiver or six quid, or what ever.

Yes the place need sprucing up, long term, but I think most fans just want an easy beer (or wine!) I don't think there should be any entry charge...if you are just popping in for a quick beer a £1 fee is quite a big percentage on the price (by all means have a collecting tin, but don't do anything that is a deterrent to entry)

There are so many clubs that do this better than us. Tranmere's marquee is a classic example of getting it right. Decent music, easy access to the bar, good choice of beer and plenty of bar staff. Appreciate we are on a smaller scale but even at our level there are good examples

I haven't been in the Bar in recent months due to personal commitments, but since I've finished I can there have been a mix of reviews. The running of the Bar area has never been perfect and has always been difficult. Staffing can be a nightmare as it only gets busy enough for the extra staff/ extra bar for about an hour before the match and half hour after. To staff that period is difficult.

One more point on debit card only is that it eliminates the risk of cash going astray. Therefore it should in theory make it easier to have sales points away from the bar (e.g. a bottle table, as has been suggested). Any reason why there couldn't be a trial?... maybe at the unused second bar - selling bottled and canned beer and wine. Would probably only require one member of staff, properly trained to use the machine. This would ease some of the pressure on the woefully small main bar area.