Catering last night

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

cooperblade said:
On a more positive note, I thought the new pie boxes and lining paper were excellent.

And the Proove pizza in the car park was really good.

(With a nod to the fitness thread, I should point out that I didn't have both)
Click to expand...
Was it just for last night Coops or is it there all season?
 



Keef Chedwyn said:
Why don't they have the people walking round with the bottle dispenser backpacks anymore? They were handy for the occasional bottle drinker. I also think a dedicated pint bar would be handy.
That said I wouldn't use the catering facilities in the ground under any circumstances. The experience is just too unpleasant.
Click to expand...
I know this is a different can of worms but most other sporting venues allow you to drink at your seats. Less people in the concourses, easier to get served etc etc but of course people would be up and down back to the 'bar' even more than they are now. Do they line up the pints in readiness for the rush these days ?
 
Why on earth do some of our fans expect decent service from a situation where the staff work just Saturday every two weeks and possibly a midweek game on just the minimum wage? It isn't going happen. Most are probably using it as experience and to move on asap.

UTB
 
Jim Chimmerney said:
I know this is a different can of worms but most other sporting venues allow you to drink at your seats. Less people in the concourses, easier to get served etc etc but of course people would be up and down back to the 'bar' even more than they are now. Do they line up the pints in readiness for the rush these days ?
Click to expand...

Dunno what they do with the pints but they should. Or install one of those quick pint things they have at Emirates and Wembley.
I get my pre match coffee at the place at the bottom of London Rd that doubles up as a launderette.
 
I'm not going to defend the concept, even though my Daughter does a bit of work for such companies. Here's my take based on what she has told me, and my own experiences of "outsourcing".

The staff are often on casual contracts, an as and when basis. I'd say this makes it difficult to get staff of a certain standard, such people tend to want a more permanent job. They are often poorly trained (if at all) and poorly led. Speaking as a Team Leader myself, it is best to know every aspect of the job that you can, then you can give (hopefully) effective training and leadership when needed. Furthermore, as with most things these days, it's all about the bottom line. An extra wage is an extra (considerably extra if it's agency staff) expense. So, you usually, if you are lucky, find yourself having JUST enough staff. That is until 10 minutes before you open, you get a couple of texts from people who have decided they don't want to come, or worse, they just don't turn up. Then you have to reallocate and rejig the whole thing, as well as making sure everything is ready.

I wouldn't do it for a big fucking clock, the job I have is stressful enough.
 
stringjunior said:
Yeh, about them.... My supplier ran out of horses. We might have to with the gerbils as the fall back plan
Click to expand...

I'll leave it in your capable hands, I know you won't let me down.
 
stringjunior said:
Man alive how I would love to get my hands on the catering contract.
Click to expand...

There in lies the problem, large outside Catering companies, who promise the earth get a 3 year deal, fill it with the cheapest labour available and no one cares enough to do proper training, have enough preparation as they don’t want the risk and invest in equipment that would speed up the whole process.
We need an in house or very small contractor who gives a shit about quality , speed and high turnover because it’s their job/company that’s directly affected.
But this will never happen as to many people in suits make the decision not the people who actually know shit!
 
Taking contactless payments only in some lines surely would speed things up a bit, then when everyone twigs on how much quicker it is make them all contactless only but a few.
 
Fulwood Blade said:
Why on earth do some of our fans expect decent service from a situation where the staff work just Saturday every two weeks and possibly a midweek game on just the minimum wage? It isn't going happen. Most are probably using it as experience and to move on asap.

UTB
Click to expand...
It's all frozen, they only have to warm it up.
 
blades95 said:
Taking contactless payments only in some lines surely would speed things up a bit, then when everyone twigs on how much quicker it is make them all contactless only but a few.
Click to expand...
JSS is cash only, signs up everywhere.
 



Some of the complaints and expectations from people are completely ridiculous. The biggest pubs with plenty of well trained staff will struggle to get people served quickly and efficiently on a busy night, or go into a city centre MacDonalds and you'll still end up standing in a queue, despite plenty of staff, equipment that costs tens of thousands and a company that's being doing the same thing for decades. At SUFC you have on average one two hour sales period every two weeks - with sales periods sandwiched between two long quiet periods. It is simply not a possible commercial situation. I am amazed that anything is provided at all - and more amazed that these catering companies will touch it with a barge pole.
Some things can be made to work, but it will always be very limited. The less choice you offer people, the more chance you have, or the higher you can charge of course. If the club decided to take it on as part of the "matchday experience" there might be hope of a decent offer, but I doubt it would make a profit.
Personally, I always manage to find it in me to go 2 hours without stuffing my face with something dodgy and overpriced, or pouring alcohol down my throat. The fact that this is a perennial complaint has to tell you something. Don't bother or accept there will be long queues, untrained staff, high prices and poor fare.
 
Fulwood Blade said:
Why on earth do some of our fans expect decent service from a situation where the staff work just Saturday every two weeks and possibly a midweek game on just the minimum wage? It isn't going happen. Most are probably using it as experience and to move on asap.

UTB
Click to expand...
Aside from the minimum wage, you could apply that statement to the players.:p
 
Hamburg Blade said:
Some of the complaints and expectations from people are completely ridiculous. The biggest pubs with plenty of well trained staff will struggle to get people served quickly and efficiently on a busy night, or go into a city centre MacDonalds and you'll still end up standing in a queue, despite plenty of staff, equipment that costs tens of thousands and a company that's being doing the same thing for decades. At SUFC you have on average one two hour sales period every two weeks - with sales periods sandwiched between two long quiet periods. It is simply not a possible commercial situation. I am amazed that anything is provided at all - and more amazed that these catering companies will touch it with a barge pole.
Some things can be made to work, but it will always be very limited. The less choice you offer people, the more chance you have, or the higher you can charge of course. If the club decided to take it on as part of the "matchday experience" there might be hope of a decent offer, but I doubt it would make a profit.
Personally, I always manage to find it in me to go 2 hours without stuffing my face with something dodgy and overpriced, or pouring alcohol down my throat. The fact that this is a perennial complaint has to tell you something. Don't bother or accept there will be long queues, untrained staff, high prices and poor fare.
Click to expand...

In my OP I was referring to last night's situation. For most of the season I find it acceptable if not ideal.
 
blackydog said:
In my OP I was referring to last night's situation. For most of the season I find it acceptable if not ideal.
Click to expand...
I practically never bother, if I do it's usually because I'm with someone who wants something. Even venues that have it pretty well organised the fare on offer is sub-standard to what I would usually order given the choice. Prices are usually too high and there are always queues. I don't complain about it because I can see the difficulties in getting it all to work.
I don't know how much the catering contracts are worth to the club, but I can't imagine it's that much. Does it really add to the matchday experience? If it wasn't there, would people really suffer? Do people only go for a pie because it's there and 20 minutes later they come back with a luke warm dollop of gravy between two pieces of cardboard and complain about it?
If there was no catering fewer people would be leaving their seats 5 minutes before half time, pissing everyone off as they get in the way.
 
Keef Chedwyn said:
Why don't they have the people walking round with the bottle dispenser backpacks anymore? They were handy for the occasional bottle drinker. I also think a dedicated pint bar would be handy.
That said I wouldn't use the catering facilities in the ground under any circumstances. The experience is just too unpleasant.
Click to expand...
The Carling men and women that were used in the Premier League season (I think) was the best idea the club has ever come up with catering wise, so naturally they were sacked the following season.
 
blackydog said:
In John St was crap. I got up just before half time because the kids wanted chips and the queue was back to the toilets. Took ages to get served and when i was heading back to my seat, the queue was stretching halfway back along the concourse (gangway F-G), never seen it that bad even for near sell outs.
Plus the craft ale bar was closed. They knew how many were going to be there, why not cater for it?
Prices up, service down,wasn't happy!
Click to expand...

Craft Ale Bar?!?
 



You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Silent Blade
Where's my dad?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Kenilworth
Kenilworth
Blade56
New Wesite
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
JJ Sefton
JJ Sefton
5
The good old days
Replies
7
Views
1K
I should coco
I should coco
GreasyChipBeattie
(Yes, Cannon again) summed up today where much of the problem lies
Replies
23
Views
2K
1888to1889
1
Deadbat
United 1 WBA 1 - report/ratings
2
Replies
37
Views
2K
Valley Blade
Valley Blade

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

Back
Top Bottom