[Albion] Catering

[Professor Plum]

MEMO TO CLUB (IF YOU'RE LISTENING)

SORT OUT THE FREAKIN' CATERING! YOU ARE LOSING TONS OF MONEY AND PISSING OFF THE HUNGRY FANS!

 

[dazzer6666]

Perfectly fine and understandable to have inexperienced staff, what isn’t acceptable is to not have an experienced leader at each kiosk directing them - from a licensing point of view don’t they need a licensee in each stand at least? Maybe not but they need a chief to direct everyone.

Definitely. Spent about 5 mins pre-match watching 6 or 7 servers stand and wait for full pints watching the one person the other side pouring them. Any half-sensible manager would have simply told 1 or 2 to get around the other side and help with the pouring……..

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

MEMO TO CLUB (IF YOU'RE LISTENING)

SORT OUT THE FREAKIN' CATERING! YOU ARE LOSING TONS OF MONEY AND PISSING OFF THE HUNGRY FANS!

I wonder if there’s been any analysis of different catering models and profit? Whilst better qualify food served by competent staff will be a higher overhead maybe it will result in more people being served and more people wanting to buy and in turn more profit?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Reckon the catering often gets overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers. Maybe the new fanzone will partually ease the pressure on the concourse kiosks. Personally would love to see an entire catering village outside the stadium

 

[RandyWanger]

Didn't think it was that bad in the ESU. 5 minutes in the queue, the Harvey's was delicious and the Piglet's bobay potato pie was perfect.

 

[HeaviestTed]

I only buy food from the piglets kiosk in the north stand now, if that went I’d not buy any I guess, maybe a yorkie.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

There was half a sausage on the stairs up to the WSU before the game so either it was so crap someone just threw it away or some poor kid was being told off by their parent for dropping £3.25 of sausage.

I’ve had mixed reviews when dropping 3 pounds of sausage

 

[Weststander]

Definitely. Spent about 5 mins pre-match watching 6 or 7 servers stand and wait for full pints watching the one person the other side pouring them. Any half-sensible manager would have simply told 1 or 2 to get around the other side and help with the pouring……..

That’d cause a demarcation dispute, UNITE would pull everyone out.

 

[Professor Plum]

Didn't think it was that bad in the ESU. 5 minutes in the queue, the Harvey's was delicious and the Piglet's bobay potato pie was perfect.

All depends when you arrive in the queue, I guess. I got in about 35 mins before KO and the queue was so long it was almost impossible to get past it to walk along the concourse. To make it worse for anyone trying to get through, there were also the queues for the beer bars so you were sandwiched between the two. There was quite a crush and people were starting to lose patience. Anyone joining the queue for food would have been there a lot longer than 5 minutes.

As mentioned earlier, if I want a pie the only realistic option I have is to nip out a few mins before the HT whistle. Fortunately I sit in an aisle seat so I don’t disturb anyone. The downside is they’ve almost always nearly sold out of pies so I have to take what’s left.

 

[Barry Izbak]

Shirley this is Fab remit territory? FAO @Barry Izbak

Quality of catering / stock and staff should be fed back to the club in an official capacity as they aren’t going to experience it first hand in the Directors box

New staff or not (uni change over) there should be some simple SOPs in place to run a production line and have pints and pies ready in all instances.

They need to do something about speeding up the hot drinks as typically it’s always a shambolic transaction with the customer equally at fault (f*** off out the way after you’ve bought your drink)

Should be aiming for less than 30 seconds per customer

This, and transport, are the two most common complaints received. The club are aware of the issues.

I'm off the FAB now, my two years have finished. They've added the new names on the FAB section of the Albion website (presumably they'll remove me soon)

You can contact the FAB at fanadvisoryboard@brightonandhovealbion.com.

 

[Weststander]

All depends when you arrive in the queue, I guess. I got in about 35 mins before KO and the queue was so long it was almost impossible to get past it to walk along the concourse. To make it worse for anyone trying to get through, there were also the queues for the beer bars so you were sandwiched between the two. There was quite a crush and people were starting to lose patience. Anyone joining the queue for food would have been there a lot longer than 5 minutes.

As mentioned earlier, if I want a pie the only realistic option I have is to nip out a few mins before the HT whistle. Fortunately I sit in an aisle seat so I don’t disturb anyone. The downside is they’ve almost always nearly sold out of pies so I have to take what’s left.

You can also nip out when a player’s rolling around on the floor with a ‘head injury’, being attended by the medics. I use that for a loo visit.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

This, and transport, are the two most common complaints received. The club are aware of the issues.

I'm off the FAB now, my two years have finished. They've added the new names on the FAB section of the Albion website (presumably they'll remove me soon)

You can contact the FAB at fanadvisoryboard@brightonandhovealbion.com.

Thanks Barry, do you happen to know if there’s a plan from the new members to maintain a presence on NSC?

 

[PascalGroß Tips]

Reckon the catering often gets overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers. Maybe the new fanzone will partually ease the pressure on the concourse kiosks. Personally would love to see an entire catering village outside the stadium

A bit like the London Stadium maybe. Loads of food outlets outside. I had a fantastic traditional pasty last season which warmed me up as the weather was shocking. It's just sh*t when inside the stadium.

 

[portlock seagull]

I reckon every club in the country would be overwhelmed in our position. We have no comparable local infrustructure like in cities with walk up facilities dotting the approach and taking the sting out of stadium purchases for food and beverage preferences.

 

[wealdgull]

I reckon every club in the country would be overwhelmed in our position. We have no comparable local infrustructure like in cities with walk up facilities dotting the approach and taking the sting out of stadium purchases for food and beverage preferences.

It's surprising that they haven't used the space on the North of the walkway to the stadium, between the exit of the station/bridge over the tracks up to the main concourse, to put in some more food options. No idea if the club owns it or the council, but whoever it is they're missing out on some decent revenue renting out spots there. There have to be any number of vans that would love to park up there on matchdays and sell food.

 

[amexer]

Why was I unable to get a pie at 11.30 yet they were available at half time

 

[amexer]

For 3pm and 7.45 KOs many have eaten but surely for a 12.30 KO demand is greater and if anything should be an over supply. Noticed after game all outlets were shut in EU so assume nothing left to sell. Considering when people left home many hungry people.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Why was I unable to get a pie at 11.30 yet they were available at half time

Good question.
The email with match details for the United match from the club said turnstiles open at 10.30.
Seems very odd to not have pies ready and on sale an hour before kick off.

 

[beorhthelm]

aren't there zero catering facilities in the kiosks, just microwaves and hot cabinets? limits the options somewhat.

 

[Official Old Man]

Weirdly it was 15% off yesterday - at least the till I used. It’s any Amex, but you need to ask for it and show the card it’s not automatic

Re Amex cards. Last season I'd get either 10% or 15% discount. Maybe the till I use.
Also got a half price new home shirt for buying my ST with Amex. Disappointed though when I went to the club shop during the week that the 10% is only valid match days so put a T-Shirt back on the shelf.
If you do have a card you have to show it when ordering, but you don't have to use it so if you've an old card get it out.