Catering

[Andy Y. (G&NFC)]

Boys done good today! So no complaints on the pitch

 

BUT

 

There is something that has bugged me all season and now seems about the right time to bring it to the notice of the club

 

CATERING?

 

Good, Bad , indifferent?

 

What are your thoughts?

 

My own opinion is that, although the standard of food looks like it has improved from last year, the position of the mobile catering truck is well out of place if you want to just get a cup of tea, a chocy bar or something like that. Ok I can see the need for a mobile wagon as our facilities probably aren't up to the required standard but the queues have been awful all season. Why cant we re-open the tea bar at the very least and that might take some of the pressure of the truck? They could make it part of the contract to provide a service at more than one outlet on site? And I sooooo miss the once a season thrill of seeing the ball score a direct hit inside the hatch!

 

Personally, I've given up bothering to try to queue now and I bet I'm not the only one.

 

Can the club at least try to come up with something a little better for next year?

 

God knows what the away supporters have to put up with but I bet its not great.

 

As I said any thoughts anyone or should I get my coat

[David Holden]

The answer is to send our caterers to Kidderminster to find out how it should be done.

[BustaGut]

we agree , we stand close to the club shop, by the time you get to the van, the que is massive, so now we do not bother, if club shop one was opened for sealed good,s tea coffe etc, be a good move in our opnion

[UP FLEET]

its crap, not enough out lets hot drinks are cold ques are bad, foods [****!!****] its a complete joke

[Red Neck]

I said in an earlier post, that I would save any criticisms until after the end of the season, but seeing the post heading I couldn't resist. Anyway, I don't consider the caterers as part of the club. The caterers started out well, though a little more expensive, the choice and quality of food and drinks was a vast improvement, but that hasn't lasted. Long queues for lukewarm drinks, over done burgers and brusque service. Like those above, I don't even bother anymore.

[Riverview Supporter]

My understanding is that the club are paid a set fee per season by the Caterers to provide a set serivce. If they cant provide a service its them who loose out.

 

What I do not know , is if this is based on attendances or based on income. If the latter , the club may be out of pocket next season if the caterers renegotaiate.

 

As a suggestion , can we not split the deal so that we cna bring the tea hut back into our remit and still allow caterers to sell burgers etc. the caterers could also sell warm tasteless brown stuff (tea) for those of us who want a burger as well.

 

Also, why not get a guy (or gal) with a trolley to walk round the ground selling drinks. A bit like a cinema.

 

Or finally , any kind soul got a burger van for outside the ground. Will make a small killing.

[jc]

Quote:

David Holden said:
The answer is to send our caterers to Kidderminster to find out how it should be done.

The 'Aggborough Soup' comes highly recommended to those making the trip next season.

[Riverview Supporter]

Had a rather nice Pork Sanwich at Tamworth last season

 

£1.50 for a small cup of tea at Hereford though is my low point

[jc]

Yes - Tamworth's catering, while not on a par with Kiddy's, is good too. Morecambe's pies are also recommended. Much of the rest of the division supplies generic rubbish though.

[Jimmy]

Hereford in competition with York for the most expensive cup of tea in the league.

 

I don't use our caterers as I don't have time on matchdays but I get mixed reports with regard to quality of both food and service.

 

The "old" tea bar appears to have been taken over by the stewards as some sort of control post and storage area for their coats and accoutrements. This probably means it won't see service again as a tea bar.

 

The one next to the main stand was used by the previous caterers as a week day base, I'm not sure what state that is in now but can remember it also serving food and drink on match days at one time.

[Harry J Allstars]

What about the bar could they not sell stuff from in there? Not cooked stuff obviously but crisps chocolate bars that sort of thing could be done from there.

[Riverview Supporter]

Quote:

Jimmy said:

The "old" tea bar appears to have been taken over by the stewards as some sort of control post and storage area for their coats and accoutrements. This probably means it won't see service again as a tea bar.

New song. "We want out tea bar back"

[BustaGut]

Not sure if anyone else agrees but the catering at the club, in my opnion, represents the club,and can be the only thing the away supporters remember is how good or bad the club facilities are, The club is also trying to encourage youngsters to matches.If most the of the match is spent queing at a burger bar for a can of coke, not a lot of fun for most little ones i would have thought.The caterers prob do the best they can with what they have, but maybe another van or outlet may be a advantage.

[UP FLEET]

went to grays v hereford a few weeks back, and the tea huts there are very good 3 of them and good food too,anyone from any club will agree ours is utter crap, and impressions count, as said facilities are terrible at our place, but then know one seems to care, so its not going to change. its a case of put up with it.

[KShep]

The catering has its good and bad points, especillay in comparison to last season. Last year, if you wanted a burger and coke, you had to go through two queues, as opposed to this years one, but some would say this is a good thing if you just want a can of coke. This years catering service has got better variety in the way of food, but you can't see a thing from it, whereas from the other burger van you could. Both were similarly priced, but I prefered the catering service from last year.

[Riverview Supporter]

Ideal soultion would be a fast vend area for cokes etc. And allow burger bar to sell drinks as well. there fore those who want a drink with the burger wouldnt queue twice.

 

maybe get one of those big ice cream fridges outside the bar or by the programme booth.

[EUFC FAN]

At the Dover game it became obvious that some of the staff did not have English as their first language, as the bloke on front of me had to ask the girl four times for a cheese burger and she just looked completely blank at him. He had to point at it in the end!!!!

[Andy Y. (G&NFC)]

A good selection of replies and I think the general concensus of opinion is that we "Could do better," both in terms of home and away supporters.

 

I believe that a club is judged on a number of issues and catering is one of the things that get you noticed. I know that the club checks this site and I wouldn't like to think of this as simply a whinge, I just think its a part of the service to the supporters that could be improved to the benefit of all concerned.

 

I'm not dumb enough to realise that the club are doing their best to give us cheap catering with fast, friendly service. I just don't believe that the present caterers have sussed that long queue doesn't neccessarily mean good business. I firmly believe that one of (or even both) of the Tea bars should be refurbished and opened up for drinks, rolls and confectionary. This would go some way to shortening the wait. If the Stewards are using one of the huts its not exactly going to be difficult to put a shed or something up elsewhere so we can "maximize" the facilities we have.As I said if the caterers are making money, another outlet is surely going to increase any profit?

 

I am a bit disapointed that nobody else has waxed lyical about the good old days of the match ball into the Tea urn though, it was a once a season treat that I always loked forward to!

[Harry J Allstars]

I heard that the position of the tea bar was moved due to the advice of a Feng Shui expert we had down the ground in the summer.

 

Although it didn't work at first re no win in the preseason friendlies or the game v Exeter it is thought to take some time to bed in, like a new manager, so is thought to be the reason of only three defeats this season at fortress Stonebridge Road.

[Andy Y. (G&NFC)]

Thats very infomative Harry.

 

How silly of me not to realise.