Half time refreshments

[Ainsley Harriott]

There was one lad who was called Michael (and I asked him for the purpose of praising him despite complaining about everyone else being feckin useless) who was pouring pint after pint before anyone had ordered. So praise to the lad for using some common sense that none of the others have.

Bottom of the kop (John Street end) used to have the right hand kiosk for beer only. Not now. So you have people wanting pies and chocolate and everything else. This causes a backlog. This is something that again isn't difficult. It worked yet has been scrapped. Why? Beer vouchers worked yet have been scrapped. Sell 100 vouchers, pour 100 pints. The only one losing out is the one who doesn't fetch their ale. This system worked efficiently so why has it been scrapped? It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

I went down at 33 minutes (bar opens at 35). Ridiculous queues already. They know how many tickets have been sold. They know people want beer. It's as though they're surprised every week. Shambolic when it doesn't need to be. It's as though they're deliberately making it shitter by the week.

I know the staff will be on low wages. I know they're not in the hospitality industry and I know they're only part time. But jesus christ, it is simply not difficult.

 

[BarryBigtime]

I purposely don't drink during a game now because it's so bad. Tbh Wembley was sh*te for the Euros. Only because people are pre-pouring that it makes sense. Everyone was just taking them to the stands and ignoring the stewards.

 

[jaybee]

Used to always go to the counter a couple of times before going to my seat before the match. A beer then back for a pie and some food for the kids. I can’t do that now, queues are massive. So last few matches I’ve just not bought anything. It’s a right farce.

I mean this is not splitting the atom, it’s selling a very small choice of products to a few customers. Every transaction should be under a minute if they were even remotely competent

 

[MobileBlade]

Westfield upper as always good fun. Not a lot of choice other than 3 different cans - take your pick - John Smiths, Strongbow, Heineken (although it says on tv screens Carlsberg). Walk up to counter, nice smiling girl. Give choice. "Sorry, this till isn't working, need to wait for [boy charging on till next aisle person in front]". Me - "Does that mean you can't be pouring mine and then he can charge me straight away or do we have to wait for him to finish so the three of us can all work togehter". Girl have a trying to comprehend look then says pleasantly "Ok". She fetches and starts to pour. Boy on next till finishes serving, absolutely panic as the two between them then try to calculate what I have had. Two cans.

Still trying to figure out why there are massive queues up there.

 

[jaybee]

Could probably replace them with vending machines to be honest. Might email the club

 

[s4-blade]

At headingley for the test match they had the same reusable cups we now use, difference being after you had been to the bar once to obtain said cup, you can then go and fill it up yourself at a self service dispenser. Simply tap your card or put your money in and press the button to pour it yourself. Genius and if you have enough of them there’s no need to queue.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

At headingley for the test match they had the same reusable cups we now use, difference being after you had been to the bar once to obtain said cup, you can then go and fill it up yourself at a self service dispenser. Simply tap your card or put your money in and press the button to pour it yourself. Genius and if you have enough of them there’s no need to queue.

Stuff like this should be considered. Initial outlay might cost a few quid (I don't know who would pay for them, compass or United), but as has already been mentioned, the club (or compass) are losing a heck of a lot of money through their own incompetence. I think even Middlesbrough have those machines that pour from bottom up or at least those 4 pump efforts.

Lots of complaints were made until improvements were made. I have praised those improvements numerous times. It's as if they simply don't care and their contract is up at the end of the season.

They've turned into John Lundstram

 

[Rodley]

Surely have a belly full of ale (or a couple of pints) at one of the legion of excellent pubs within spitting distance of BDTBL? Food & drink at most sporting stadiums is abysmal.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Surely have a belly full of ale (or a couple of pints) at one of the legion of excellent pubs within spitting distance of BDTBL? Food & drink at most sporting stadiums is abysmal.

Well due to the queues at the turnstiles being also ridiculous at times I decided to head in at 230. Half hour to spare thought I'd have a slurp.

 

[JohnGannonsPerm]

Got in (John Street) about 5-10 mins before KO, saw there was a small queue of no more than 3 or 4 people in each row at the snap counters and decided to make an impulse pie purchase. The queue didn’t move by one single person. I binned it off.

 

[jt64]

Well due to the queues at the turnstiles being also ridiculous at times I decided to head in at 230. Half hour to spare thought I'd have a slurp.

Yeah, I also opted to enter pretty early. Did hear the group behind me complaining at the amount of time service was taking, and this was in the BL upper, which wasn't particularly full (although given the amount of spaces I saw around the ground and the announced attendance, I'd have expected the section to be full)

 

[DI36O]

I tried to get a half time pint at the first 2 league games and both times got absolutely nowhere near the front of the queue before the second half kicked off. Managed to get one in the league cup game and the beer was decent, better plastic cups that don't squash in your hand.

It seems so daft there's me trying to spend money at the ground and I can't. I swear they were pouring 1 pint every 3 or 4 minutes.

Can't take it out on minimum wage part time teenagers but who's managing it? Someone's absolutely thieving a wage. Just pour some pints its obvious what people will want. Ronnie Barker got what he wanted faster in the four candles sketch.

 

[Deadbat]

I always am surprised how desperate people are for a pint in effectively 15 minutes. Now and again if I get in early I might have one before the game in the ground but mostly the queues and prices make it not worth it. At half time I don't see the point. I am sure the service could be better but unless you go down early and miss the game or later and same issue?

Why would you queue and then have to effectively neck a pint when you have it? Maybe that's just me but I can cope without a beer till full time.

 

[bxb]

So frustratingly slow and shambolic. My lad wanted a soft drink as he had a sore throat (not COVID, and yes should have just brought one in with us I know..) A queue of 4 people in front took over 15 minutes to be served, and not with large orders, just a couple of drinks. Nobody seemed to know how to pour a pint of beer, time after time they were trying to give customers half a pint of beer and foam. As others have said, how much money is the club missing out on? I can only assume the staff turn up on the day and are just thrown in at the deep end with no training. It is so amateur to the point of being embarrassing.
PS - this was on the Kop bar closest to Cherry Street.

 

[TJB.]

Maybe that's just me but I can cope without a beer till full time

Nobody 'needs' a pint at half-time. Everyone can cope. But a significant amount of people want one and it shouldn't be difficult to cater for that. There are plenty of grounds around the country (indeed, around the world) where this isn’t an issue.

The catering facilities on the Kop are abysmal and they're made even worse by shutting half of them.

 

[robbiez666]

It's so incompetent. You have someone on the till and someone just pouring. It should take about 10 seconds from paying to get a pint. We're pouting shit beer. It's hardly rocket science. I'd love to know if the catering company if paying us a flat fee or a percentage. If it's the latter, the club is chucking money away due to a terrible contractor.

We're definitely a lower league club when it comes to concessions. Problem is, we have higher Championship attendences.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

More kiosks closed at half time. Same queues. I did see a dozen half poured pints at half-time which is progress. But a dozen? Not good enough.

I would say I feel sorry for the staff but I just can't.

 

[Foxy]

More kiosks closed at half time. Same queues. I did see a dozen half poured pints at half-time which is progress. But a dozen? Not good enough.

I would say I feel sorry for the staff but I just can't.

The fire alarm kept going off on John Street, meaning they couldn't serve a lot of the time and appeared to have sod all available at half time. Can't imagine they took loads today.

 

[RecordBreakers]

Asked the lass behind the counter to pass me the relish for my pie her reply "we don't have relish here" so what the fuck is that big bottle of hendos there then love!! Absolute waste of time they are behind the counters..

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Admin and catering-wise, the club is like a non-league club at the moment. Absolutely pathetic.

 

[Harry's Game]

Why is the kiosk at the top of the Kop now closed? It was open for the Brum game but closed since?

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

The fire alarm kept going off on John Street, meaning they couldn't serve a lot of the time and appeared to have sod all available at half time. Can't imagine they took loads today.

I'm not on John Street so can't and won't comment. The only thing I heard about a fire alarm was at 725 with the queues outside. Again, I'm not on there so no idea.

The staff are just hopeless. They're rabbits in headlights basically. Thrown in at the deep end. All the clichés. They're not trained at all. So it's those above them not doing their jobs. It would take 2 hours at an absolute maximum to teach someone how to pour a pint.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Why is the kiosk at the top of the Kop now closed? It was open for the Brum game but closed since?

Covid pinging.

 

[cahill]

How difficult can the club make it to order a pint? Last time we were allowed in the bottom kop had a dedicated beer kiosk. That's gone. So the queues take longer. We used to have beer vouchers. They've now gone so the queues take longer.

No, a pint isn't the bee-all-and-end-all so some might suggest it's moaning for nowt. But the queues tell a different story. And the computer system went down at one point, and because there's no cash any more, the card machines weren't working (though I accept this isn't the fault of any individual).

It's just poor organisation. Does anyone on here have any input with the club to pass the message on? I've also noticed the ticket office standards have slipped this season and seems understaffed on the occasions I've been in.

Just thought I'd mention it that's all.

It’s just a beer.

 

[Harry's Game]

Covid pinging.

Eh?

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

It’s just a beer.

Multiply that by everyone else queueing for one.

'It's just' quite a few quid in lost revenue

It's just a last minute goal as well, don't worry about it.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Eh?

Staff off due to the track and trace stuff.

 

[cahill]

I purposely don't drink during a game now because it's so bad. Tbh Wembley was sh*te for the Euros. Only because people are pre-pouring that it makes sense. Everyone was just taking them to the stands and ignoring the stewards.

The stewards at Wembley may as well not be there. Whoever recruits and trains them needs sacking

 

[SwissBlade]

I'm not on John Street so can't and won't comment. The only thing I heard about a fire alarm was at 725 with the queues outside. Again, I'm not on there so no idea.

The staff are just hopeless. They're rabbits in headlights basically. Thrown in at the deep end. All the clichés. They're not trained at all. So it's those above them not doing their jobs. It would take 2 hours at an absolute maximum to teach someone how to pour a pint.

Mate of mine got a call from his dad to say fire alarms were going off about 1930. They sit on south stand.

I arrived at the kop at 1945, just as GCB was ringing out, a few mins queuing and eventually got to the front, steward apologised and said systems had been down, I asked if it had been because of fire alarms and he said he didn’t know about that… no linked up comms is a bad sign.

and then half time, top of kop…

 

[Harry's Game]

Staff off due to the track and trace stuff.

Oh I see