Half time refreshments

[S64 Blade]

Whoever decided this was an appropriate choice of words for the situation needs to have a prolonged dialogue with the harsh and extremely violent physical retribution partner.

I think the naming conventions are the crux of the issue. Too much time thinking through how it can sound more grandiose than it is in reality, less time concentrating on delivering.

 

[SwissBlade]

Positive post:

Went on the south stand last night. Not had a beer on the kop for at least a couple of years as the pint plastics were too flimsy and the beer was shite. However, last night my mate had a decent pint of Amstel and I had the neck oil. Both very decent. Same at Half Time.

Also had the hendos sausage roll, which was really decent.

No idea on price and how it compares to normal pubs as I’ve no idea how much either costs.

No queuing, as you’d expect as it was a reserve game, but cashless payments keep things moving along

I was expecting it to be shite but didn’t find anything to complain about, just a shame it’s not the same when it’s scaled up for bigger crowds or in other parts of the ground

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

HURRAH!!! Anyone else had an email from the club?

From Saturday they're reintroducing the voucher system!! The email outlines why the queues have been slow (supply problems across the country but also a labour shortage).

This despite someone from compass telling me last week the voucher system wouldn't help anything. I hope he's removed from his senior role to be honest. Considering the voucher system has worked for years, to suggest it wouldn't help when they're having labour issues is frankly ridiculous.

But anyway, it's back. More dedicated kiosks as well (so a beer only aisle should be back in place).

I'm not saying it will be perfect this weekend, but should see at least an improvement.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Positive post:

Went on the south stand last night. Not had a beer on the kop for at least a couple of years as the pint plastics were too flimsy and the beer was shite. However, last night my mate had a decent pint of Amstel and I had the neck oil. Both very decent. Same at Half Time.

Also had the hendos sausage roll, which was really decent.

No idea on price and how it compares to normal pubs as I’ve no idea how much either costs.

No queuing, as you’d expect as it was a reserve game, but cashless payments keep things moving along

I was expecting it to be shite but didn’t find anything to complain about, just a shame it’s not the same when it’s scaled up for bigger crowds or in other parts of the ground

I suspect the lower crowd and therefore demand will have had less impact on the demand of the staff to be honest. I don't envy their job at all. They get trained up and let loose (but I don't know the extent of their training. Some of them are barely out of school).

Cashless keeps things moving as its tap and go rather than aforementioned school leaver fiddling about with cash. The machines/systems did crash at the Huddersfield game though which slows things to a stop. That's no individuals fault. That's technology as it is.

 

[MobileBlade]

Take it the labour issues mean they need two people watching another person serve rather than just one working and one watching as at present?

 

[shorehamview]

I suspect the lower crowd and therefore demand will have had less impact on the demand of the staff to be honest. I don't envy their job at all. They get trained up and let loose (but I don't know the extent of their training. Some of them are barely out of school).

Cashless keeps things moving as its tap and go rather than aforementioned school leaver fiddling about with cash. The machines/systems did crash at the Huddersfield game though which slows things to a stop. That's no individuals fault. That's technology as it is.

If they had decent bar staff then they’d get through customers quickly, but the thing is about decent bar staff is they’re already working somewhere else. Compass will get the kids who just want a bit of pocket money that 23 league games and a few cup games will offer.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Take it the labour issues mean they need two people watching another person serve rather than just one working and one watching as at present?

Something along those lines. I don't know how or what they teach them, but it has nothing to do with efficiency. I know the top staff are in the boxes and corporate zones so we get all the dregs, but crikey, is it too much to ask to fetch a supervisor down?

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

If they had decent bar staff then they’d get through customers quickly, but the thing is about decent bar staff is they’re already working somewhere else. Compass will get the kids who just want a bit of pocket money that 23 league games and a few cup games will offer.

I know they'll be centred on profit margins so pay peanuts sell overpriced ale. But by paying peanuts, you get monkeys. And I've never seen a monkey in the hospitality industry. They're good at ripping windscreen wipers off, not so good at pouring 300 pints of ale.

I'm not saying I know all the answers to this problem. I have offered solutions to a few of the problems. Seemingly, the club and/or compass have listened.

 

[Shakespeare blade]

The problem stems with the clubs insisting on using outside catering company who are there to make as much money from us as they can, they even factor in losing their contracts because of the way they behave.
I’ve had the misfortune of working for these and other types of contractors and honestly I’m stunned legal action doesn’t follow, however here are my thoughts for what they’re worth.
1. Kick out contractors,the club already has most of the infrastructure to manage it themselves.
2. Introduce guest beer suppliers who will bend over to get as much of their stock sold in the shortest time frame as possible, they want your custom long term.
3. Design easy served food that’s actually nice to eat, cost effective and that customers will want .
4. Create loyalty by efficient service, prices that fans can get behind and will leave the pubs earlier for, driving up revenues and profit and this in turn keeps the prices down.
5. Appointment a management structure that actually cares about its staff and it’s customer base, who continually want to improve and have profit related bonuses to keep them motivated. The same applies to front of house staff, make sure they’re properly trained and motivated and well paid, this reduces costs by having less costs for recruitment, training, uniforms and mistakes.
5. I’m not convinced people only being able to pay by just card really helps, why cut out some of customer base, does it really speed up the process that much, again I’m not convinced it does if you have the right people working on the tills( I do except cash is a pain, dirty and costs to count and bank).

Bottom line do it in house!

Sorry to have bored you shitless with my ramblings

 

[Inter_blade83]

I was working on the bars on South Stand 20 years ago as a snotty 18 year old. 10 minutes before half time I'd pour as many pints as possible before lifting the shutters at HT.

There was no organised queuing and it was a free for all. Only 2 of us on the bar, yet the punters were never more than 2 deep and everyone was catered for well before the start of the second half so that we could clean up and get in the stand ourselves.

This current crop are just useless.

Fans don't really want the perfect head on their pint, or it poured freshly in front of them, they just want a pint, and quickly.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I asked for a neck oil before last game and got given a cider. Nearly spat it out, awful stuff. They soon poured the offending cider and brought my pint though.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Fans don't really want the perfect head on their pint, or it poured freshly in front of them, they just want a pint, and quickly.

This.

As mentioned before, it's crap lager and crap cider. It's fizzy overpriced piss. But I still want one. Getting one is a pain in the arse.

The email also mentions that the fact they've gone all eco-friendly means they can't supply bottles any more or them shitty flimsy plastic cups. They're using those reusable ones.

But again, I personally don't care about how eco-friendly the club is. Nor do the other 800 thirsty Blades in the queue. Things like that need to be implemented over time, not overnight. Or one concourse at a time. Running before being able to walk.

I do expect to see steady improvements over time, rather than overnight. But this is progress at least. Compass seemed stubborn in their email response to me. So some le-way has been given.

 

[shorehamview]

This.

As mentioned before, it's crap lager and crap cider. It's fizzy overpriced piss. But I still want one. Getting one is a pain in the arse.

The email also mentions that the fact they've gone all eco-friendly means they can't supply bottles any more or them shitty flimsy plastic cups. They're using those reusable ones.

But again, I personally don't care about how eco-friendly the club is. Nor do the other 800 thirsty Blades in the queue. Things like that need to be implemented over time, not overnight. Or one concourse at a time. Running before being able to walk.

I do expect to see steady improvements over time, rather than overnight. But this is progress at least. Compass seemed stubborn in their email response to me. So some le-way has been given.

It shouldn’t take you, me, or anyone else to get a company like Compass to buck their ideas up. The fact that you’ve felt strongly enough to email them about the service improvements they could implement tells me that someone out there has fucked up one way or another, and they are trying to deflect the blame.

It’s almost as though the start of the season came as a surprise to them.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

It shouldn’t take you, me, or anyone else to get a company like Compass to buck their ideas up. The fact that you’ve felt strongly enough to email them about the service improvements they could implement tells me that someone out there has fucked up one way or another, and they are trying to deflect the blame.

It’s almost as though the start of the season came as a surprise to them.

I might have been taking the piss with my emails to the EFL with the pigs, just for the laugh more than owt, but rarely do I genuinely complain about stuff. But the queues were a joke. The service was poor. If I didn't say owt there's no doubt it would have continued. Yes it's crap lager and crap food and overpriced, as has been mentioned numerous times. But that's no reason for the service to be the same.

Like you say, compass are a professional company. They should strive to offer the best service they can but even with the labour shortage and supply issues, they cannot look themselves in the mirror and say they're doing their best. But today's email from the club is a start.

Again, I don't expect a seamless or perfect afternoon on Saturday by any means. But the vouchers is a start.

 

[metalblade]

Today' s e-mail is just a load of corporate speak bullshit does anyone really think things will improve? After all this type of thread crops up at this time every season and has done for as long as I can remember. Things will remain just the same while ever SUFC contract matchday catering out, Compass don't really give a damn about good service anyone can see that when only two of the staff are old enough to serve beer, a young kid takes your order and has to shout someone old enough to serve ale then another young un asks what you have had and takes your money 3 people to serve 1 pint. I think the first training most of them have had was on the job v Birmingham.

HT vouchers will help but until the staff get a bit of know how and experience then nothing will improve quickly. Perhaps if they shifted a bit more food and drink they wouldn't have to charge exorbitant prices to make a profit everything they sell is around 40% more than it is outside the ground.

 

[WhiteHawk]

Alongside supply challenges, the Club and our pouring rights partner, Heineken, are committed to reducing single use plastic and therefore we are no longer able to provide bottled beer and cider in our concourse areas, instead opting for the improved draught products in reusable plastic cups. We are, however, aware this can have an impact on service by as much as 10 seconds per drink.

Are the bottles not recyclable? Is anybody actually reusing these new plastic cups or are they just chucking them on the floor when they've finished?

 

[WhiteHawk]

Had an email from a guy who runs the thing. Says a voucher system won't solve the issues.

I disagree. It's been used before and did solve issues. So if he thinks differently I'd love to know why. Also cited issues with lack of staff available to them (a nationwide shortage of hospitality staff was mentioned). Right, so if we have a shortage of staff, we work round it. We utilise it best we can. We sell vouchers before the game and start pouring them at 30 minutes. Easy. Isn't it?

And if they're struggling to get staff, make it even easier and get bottles. Sell them a bit cheaper (£4 a bottle is too much but I'd pay it) and instead of pouring ale, you whip a top off. Any idiot can do that.

These are issues that can be solved despite the lack of staff. Just make things easier and manageable.

Can't have bottles though because we're football fans and therefore will launch them at the away fans/into our own fans. Football fans are scum don't forget.

 

[S64 Blade]

This.

As mentioned before, it's crap lager and crap cider. It's fizzy overpriced piss. But I still want one. Getting one is a pain in the arse.

The email also mentions that the fact they've gone all eco-friendly means they can't supply bottles any more or them shitty flimsy plastic cups. They're using those reusable ones.

But again, I personally don't care about how eco-friendly the club is. Nor do the other 800 thirsty Blades in the queue. Things like that need to be implemented over time, not overnight. Or one concourse at a time. Running before being able to walk.

I do expect to see steady improvements over time, rather than overnight. But this is progress at least. Compass seemed stubborn in their email response to me. So some le-way has been given.

Besides, if United want really to be “eco friendly”, they’d reduce their carbon footprint far more, by using the abundance of breweries within a 2 miles radius of Bramall Lane.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Are the bottles not recyclable? Is anybody actually reusing these new plastic cups or are they just chucking them on the floor when they've finished?

They are recyclable, that is in the sense of our young lads throw them at the away fans who then reuse them by throwing them back.

 

[jt64]

If they want to recycle, just make the pint pots of decent quality, print a player on them, and put a deposit on them like they do in Germany. All of a sudden they'll start coming back, especially if you weight the percentage of players used in favour of Jack Robinson and Oli Burke so the kids aren't tempted to take them home

 

[Houston_Blade]

The recyclable cups they use are a good idea in theory, the fact that they give you a Chelsea Smile every time you have a swig of your pint is not such a good thing.

 

[Birdwell Blade]

I’m all for recycling but those plastic cups have sharp edges and aren’t nice to drink out of. They don’t do halves either. I took my Mrs with us the other night and got her a half in the JS stand and it came as a roughly estimated half in a pint glass.

I understand the problems getting staff but, even so, the majority of them I’ve been served by have been completely clueless. Don’t know how to pour beer, don’t know what they sell, don’t know how to work the tills etc. On Tuesday I asked for a pint of Neck Oil. The young girl couldn’t speak a word of English. I tried explaining which one it was “the one with a skull on the pump” and so on. Ended up walking over and pointing right at it and holding up one finger to explain what I wanted. Then her supervisor had to come over to ring it through the till. Not blaming the young girl, but you can see the problem.

 

[mancunianblade]

May no longer need to be a half time thing

 

[TJB.]

May no longer need to be a half time thing

Won't happen. I'd love to be wrong but once the fan-led review is complete, the relevant powers have to then get off their arses and implement the recommendations.

Then when they don't and fans complain they're being ignored, they'll say "What do you mean ignored? We did a fan-led review for you!"

 

[metalblade]

May no longer need to be a half time thing

Let's hope not bad enough the coked up dickheads throwing tomato sauce abarght without arming the knobs with lager

 

[Working Class Hero]

The ONLY time I can ever remember being able to get a drink at half time without it being a complete fiasco, is when they had those lads going round with backpacks full of Carling bottles. I don't understand why that ever got ditched.

As for beer in the stands, I actually think it's a good thing that we can't do that. I'd keep that rule.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Positive post:

Went on the south stand last night. Not had a beer on the kop for at least a couple of years as the pint plastics were too flimsy and the beer was shite. However, last night my mate had a decent pint of Amstel and I had the neck oil. Both very decent. Same at Half Time.

Also had the hendos sausage roll, which was really decent.

No idea on price and how it compares to normal pubs as I’ve no idea how much either costs.

No queuing, as you’d expect as it was a reserve game, but cashless payments keep things moving along

I was expecting it to be shite but didn’t find anything to complain about, just a shame it’s not the same when it’s scaled up for bigger crowds or in other parts of the ground

I think most stadiums short on space on the concourse will suffer the same problems.
Spurs new ground is designed for modern day customers ,Wembley has massive concourses service customers.
I would assume the club like others continually assess how things are working as it's a big money earner with the prices charged.
The south stand concourse is heaving at half time nowhere near big enough to cater for punters.
The stadium upgrade (plans) would I'm sure have taken this into account,all that is obviously on the back burner.
Impossible to get a pint and a half into a pint pot I think that's the main problem.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

May no longer need to be a half time thing

Can you imagine carrying 4 pints back to your seat just as the blades score and there’s limbs everywhere.

It’s a no from me

 

[Gin&Juice]

Can you imagine carrying 4 pints back to your seat just as the blades score and there’s limbs everywhere.

It’s a no from me

Works well in Germany as the new grounds are built with ample space. Been to a few of the larger grounds like HSV’s and Koln’s and the space you have makes it fine to have a drink and not worry about spillage. Would never work at Bramall lane as it's so compact - especially when busy.

Plus - our choice of “refreshments” is absolutely pityfull. Unless I've got the taste of beer or someones buying I usually avoid..

Went Hamburg once and a lad turned round and said how he was pissed off they’d changed breweries. The beer was still absolutely amazing compared to Heineken or Carling we offer. Even Wednesday have that shit Thornbridge beer in their stands. If it were to happen there’d need to be an overall of suppliers.

 

[mancunianblade]

Can you imagine carrying 4 pints back to your seat just as the blades score and there’s limbs everywhere.

It’s a no from me

I don’t drink and from experiences at Gigs with groups of “lads” coupled with alcohol and a sudden spike in excitement I wouldn’t be too keen on the resulting shower.

Maybe I’m being cynical here but the safe standing roll out seems to have come about very quickly all of a sudden, add to that the reintroduction of drinking in stands it’s almost as if the government dipped in the polls..