|
|
Post by villagercfc on Jan 13, 2024 18:23:23 GMT
Not really one for starting threads but I have had enough of the absolute jokers who provide the catering.
In the main stand kiosk closest to the Harry Mac, they had run out of ALL hot food BEFORE half time, how is this acceptable?
Is nobody who has some authority going to put the head above the parapet and admit this is not acceptable?
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE - it is affecting the match day experience for our floating supporters.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harry Lime on Jan 13, 2024 18:32:37 GMT
Said this before, people need to contact the club and complain.
I think Nick Phillipson is the board member responsible for the catering side. Can someone confirm or correct this please?
A load of complaints from unhappy supporters will give him more leverage to deal with the caterers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 13, 2024 21:04:53 GMT
Community Trust did a brilliant promotion today “Tickets For Teams” for local grassroots football teams, sports clubs, youth clubs etc - free admission for Under 16s and a tenner for adults. I brought some of the Under 10s team I coach (and their parents) for their first ever game today.
Had to say beforehand not to bother with the kiosks as the offering, quality and price is shite and there’s a chance there’ll be nothing in there anyway by the time you go.
Fortunately the performance, the result and the presence of a YouTube superstar from Venezuela with millions of subscribers won the kids over and that meant the parents were happy. The refreshments situation is a disgrace and really stings when you know it’s the same people supplying a first class service to the sponsors and the execs. Real “let them eat gruel” stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by whitey on Jan 13, 2024 21:09:06 GMT
Community Trust did a brilliant promotion today “Tickets For Teams” for local grassroots football teams, sports clubs, youth clubs etc - free admission for Under 16s and a tenner for adults. I brought some of the Under 10s team I coach (and their parents) for their first ever game today. Had to say beforehand not to bother with the kiosks as the offering, quality and price is shite and there’s a chance there’ll be nothing in there anyway by the time you go. Fortunately the performance, the result and the presence of a YouTube superstar from Venezuela with millions of subscribers won the kids over and that meant the parents were happy. The refreshments situation is a disgrace and really stings when you know it’s the same people supplying a first class service to the sponsors and the execs. Real “let them eat gruel” stuff. Different caterers for the legends lounge.... |
|
|
|
Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 13, 2024 21:10:02 GMT
A few people the other day said it was the same contract - someone even posted a link to the club website article saying as much.
|
|
|
|
Post by whitey on Jan 13, 2024 21:12:20 GMT
A few people the other day said it was the same contract - someone even posted a link to the club website article saying as much. Same people run the bar but the catering is done by a different company (or was at least), olive tree I think. |
|
|
|
Post by moldcestrian on Jan 13, 2024 21:30:21 GMT
Took my own in today. Wasn’t out drinking so a bottle of Pepsi and a lukewarm steak slice from Greggs.
Kiosks are the absolute pits for a club getting 2,000 + a game.
|
|
|
|
Post by superhans on Jan 13, 2024 21:32:27 GMT
Get the vibe this season it’s done by chancers but bringing it in house would require at least ten or so volunteers that we probably don’t have.
Realistically it’s a must tho if we want to offer a good experience, I think the potential for wasteage is quite high tho that’s why they’d rather sell out before HT than buy too much stock and be out of pocket, but if we brought it in house we could offer much better service, I doubt the club profits much from this current lot so what’s the difference
|
|
|
|
Post by whitey on Jan 14, 2024 0:05:38 GMT
It obviously doesn't matter to the people in charge, mates!
|
|
|
|
Post by weststander on Jan 14, 2024 5:00:00 GMT
Waited 15 minutes for hot food only to be told they had sold out. It was as bare as a post Brexit supermarket
|
|
|
|
Post by cestrian60 on Jan 14, 2024 8:26:53 GMT
Wouldn’t surprise me if the SAG group limited the capacity again to equal the food availability in kiosks and when it sells out we are told to leave the ground!
|
|
|
|
Post by welshrover on Jan 14, 2024 9:26:11 GMT
It's not just us, this is a fans post from Caledonia Braves v Albion Rovers
"Game kicks off at 15:01 run out of pies at 15:08"
|
|
|
|
Post by Harry Lime on Jan 14, 2024 10:10:07 GMT
I don't think we had many companies that tendered for the kiosk concessions last couple of times. It maybe that these were the only ones?
If so, it maybe difficult to improve things inside the ground.
I was wondering whether there could be a fan zone within a fenced area by the turnstiles, allowing people to use these after entry to the ground. There would be security and entry issues, but would be fine for most games. You certainly get more people interested in providing food that way. We could move the existing car park sited vendors into there too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Neil Hunt Nonsense Potter on Jan 14, 2024 11:04:26 GMT
I like the steak pies 🥧
Quite dear but tasty. Also very rare the West Stand sells out.
Believe there were plans for a fan zone on the corner of the Harry Mac and Main Stand but planning is an issue?
|
|
|
|
Post by Micky Wilde on Jan 16, 2024 9:34:19 GMT
Community Trust did a brilliant promotion today “Tickets For Teams” for local grassroots football teams, sports clubs, youth clubs etc - free admission for Under 16s and a tenner for adults. I brought some of the Under 10s team I coach (and their parents) for their first ever game today. Had to say beforehand not to bother with the kiosks as the offering, quality and price is shite and there’s a chance there’ll be nothing in there anyway by the time you go. Fortunately the performance, the result and the presence of a YouTube superstar from Venezuela with millions of subscribers won the kids over and that meant the parents were happy. The refreshments situation is a disgrace and really stings when you know it’s the same people supplying a first class service to the sponsors and the execs. Real “let them eat gruel” stuff. Different caterers for the legends lounge.... Hopefully they don’t carry out any sexual assaults |
|
|
|
Post by hughdemann on Jan 16, 2024 14:02:58 GMT
Went to the West Stand kiosk about 5 mins before half time for the Rushall game for a coffee, and heard the young lad behind thecounter saying they had nearly run out of hot dogs already
|
|
|
|
Post by Deva Chanter on Jan 16, 2024 21:57:50 GMT
Catering situation in the ground has been dire for a few years now. Still can't get my head over them charging for sachets of ketchup to go with an already horrifically overpriced pie or hot dog.
Was down near Stroud over Christmas and went to see Forest Green - all vegan but still head and shoulders above what we're offering; could get a decent tray of chips and even had the luxury of a table with help yourself sauce bottles: ketchup, mayo, curry sauce, mustard. Not that hard really, is it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Moltisanti on Jan 16, 2024 22:06:44 GMT
Catering situation in the ground has been dire for a few years now. Still can't get my head over them charging for sachets of ketchup to go with an already horrifically overpriced pie or hot dog. Was down near Stroud over Christmas and went to see Forest Green - all vegan but still head and shoulders above what we're offering; could get a decent tray of chips and even had the luxury of a table with help yourself sauce bottles: ketchup, mayo, curry sauce, mustard. Not that hard really, is it? They charge for ketchup? 😂😂 Wow Scruffy scumbags |
|
|
|
Post by utb on Jan 17, 2024 12:48:41 GMT
It's the one thing the club have never really been able to crack in all the years of being fan-owned. I'll never blame the volunteers who are short in numbers and clearly do their very best behind the counter. The catering huts in general are cramped and awful which may be a factor (lack of decent facilities). Having a shit tip of a ground with no concourses really screws us over in that department. Then of course we have the caterers. I assume we always go the cheapest possible in this department, which is probably going to have to change moving forward, even if it costs us a player signing or two.
Could we potentially open the ground up at half-time and provide an outdoor service where fans can use burger vans etc that we hire in/or are provided by outside caterers? We already let smokers out, might as well let anyone who wants some food out as well, especially for run of the mill fixtures where no one is going to turn up at half-time and sneak in.
|
|
|
|
Post by nytram on Jan 17, 2024 14:22:57 GMT
I think the club need to provide better equipment and facilities for the caterers to work. GWG have the van outside with all their equipment and provide good food. Loads of people blame the caterers but it's all down to the club in my opinion. They need to close the door access and just have a large hatch opening. This will provide the caterers a huge area to work. Then maybe get a chip shop fryer unit within that space. Simple but money needs to be spent.
|
|
|
|
Post by Neil Hunt Nonsense Potter on Jan 17, 2024 15:12:47 GMT
I think the club need to provide better equipment and facilities for the caterers to work. GWG have the van outside with all their equipment and provide good food. Loads of people blame the caterers but it's all down to the club in my opinion. They need to close the door access and just have a large hatch opening. This will provide the caterers a huge area to work. Then maybe get a chip shop fryer unit within that space. Simple but money needs to be spent. Absolutely nothing to do with the club. The kiosks are run by an external contractor who pays the staff (they aren't volunteers) and food costs and takes the profit. They pay the club an amount, almost like a rent. Not for the club to spend thousands for someone else to make the money. If they think chips in the ground would be an earner, its on them to provide the equipment to cook them. Mind you, if someone wants chips at the match surely they can buy them from the GWG van and bring them in? Had a Bovril last night and it was fine, but I guess you can't mess that up. The fan zone would have really helped, giving people the chance to choose from a range of food and drink and sit and have them with their friends before and after the match. Doesn't help that the bar is a bit bland now, really doesn't have the feel of a social club. |
|
|
|
Post by Moltisanti on Jan 17, 2024 15:21:27 GMT
I think the club need to provide better equipment and facilities for the caterers to work. GWG have the van outside with all their equipment and provide good food. Loads of people blame the caterers but it's all down to the club in my opinion. They need to close the door access and just have a large hatch opening. This will provide the caterers a huge area to work. Then maybe get a chip shop fryer unit within that space. Simple but money needs to be spent. Fuck me sideways. 🤦🏻♂️ I give up. |
|
|
|
Post by nytram on Jan 17, 2024 17:18:20 GMT
Do you really think outside caterers would spend money for something that happens maybe twice a month. Get real. It's all on the club.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldsealandroadender on Jan 17, 2024 19:58:51 GMT
Part of the problem with catering is the design of the ground. Eight outlets inside the ground is ludicrous. There is no way you can stock and staff them all, even if the ground was full for every game. Many other clubs in this league, admittedly with smaller attendances than us have only one or two food outlets so can concentrate on getting the basics right.
A short term fix would be outlets outside the ground accessible from inside and fewer if them serving decent basic fare. I'm not sure how that can be achieved but it has got to be looked at to improve the match day experience and not put people off. So far this season I have bought a cup of coffee once, with no desire to repeat. Last season maybe twice max.
|
|
|
|
Post by Neil Hunt Nonsense Potter on Jan 17, 2024 20:10:21 GMT
Do you really think outside caterers would spend money for something that happens maybe twice a month. Get real. It's all on the club. So why would the club spend money on something that someone else will profit from twice a month? Get real. |
|
|
|
Post by yoshimitsu on Jan 17, 2024 20:41:08 GMT
Part of the problem with catering is the design of the ground. Eight outlets inside the ground is ludicrous. There is no way you can stock and staff them all, even if the ground was full for every game. Many other clubs in this league, admittedly with smaller attendances than us have only one or two food outlets so can concentrate on getting the basics right. A short term fix would be outlets outside the ground accessible from inside and fewer if them serving decent basic fare. I'm not sure how that can be achieved but it has got to be looked at to improve the match day experience and not put people off. So far this season I have bought a cup of coffee once, with no desire to repeat. Last season maybe twice max. Agreed the layout is a major issue. If you could somehow put a single fair sized outlet in the gap between the Harry Mac and main stand you could keep the segregation whilst serving two sides at once. Concentrate the work force and streamline serving/payment operations. Would require capital expenditure though and no doubt planning which I guess we could pay for but at the expense to something else. When’s our lottery winner going to turn up?! |
|
|
|
Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 18, 2024 0:19:52 GMT
That’s only serve two stands though. What about us over in the West?
No, I think having some sort of mobile catering van driving around the perimeter of the pitch throughout the game - stopping every ten minutes in different corners/centre of each stand - would be a fairer idea.
Be a lot more entertaining than the football currently too!
|
|
|
|
Post by yoshimitsu on Jan 18, 2024 8:25:13 GMT
That’s only serve two stands though. What about us over in the West? No, I think having some sort of mobile catering van driving around the perimeter of the pitch throughout the game - stopping every ten minutes in different corners/centre of each stand - would be a fairer idea. Be a lot more entertaining than the football currently too! Waiter service for the West Stand obviously. |
|
|
|
Post by nytram on Jan 18, 2024 15:37:55 GMT
Do you really think outside caterers would spend money for something that happens maybe twice a month. Get real. It's all on the club. So why would the club spend money on something that someone else will profit from twice a month? Get real. Depends on the contract. Could be 50/50. |
|
|
|
Post by Frank Owen’s Paintbrush on Jan 18, 2024 19:07:25 GMT
I think the club need to provide better equipment and facilities for the caterers to work. GWG have the van outside with all their equipment and provide good food. Loads of people blame the caterers but it's all down to the club in my opinion. They need to close the door access and just have a large hatch opening. This will provide the caterers a huge area to work. Then maybe get a chip shop fryer unit within that space. Simple but money needs to be spent. Absolutely nothing to do with the club. The kiosks are run by an external contractor who pays the staff (they aren't volunteers) and food costs and takes the profit. They pay the club an amount, almost like a rent. Not for the club to spend thousands for someone else to make the money. If they think chips in the ground would be an earner, its on them to provide the equipment to cook them. Mind you, if someone wants chips at the match surely they can buy them from the GWG van and bring them in? Had a Bovril last night and it was fine, but I guess you can't mess that up. The fan zone would have really helped, giving people the chance to choose from a range of food and drink and sit and have them with their friends before and after the match. Doesn't help that the bar is a bit bland now, really doesn't have the feel of a social club. It isn’t “absolutely nothing to do with the club” though is it? The kitchen facilities are provided by the club. Agree on the bar though, you wouldn’t have a clue you were at a football ground if you woke up inside it. |
|
