The caterers are letting down the stadium

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

A few slices of melon for starter, butterbean stew for main which was ok, but when you consider my dad had chicken liver parfait and rack of lamb my meal didn't show much ambition and wasn't particularly good value in comparison. My dad said the parfait and lamb were very good but he has the palate of a toddler, so wouldn't trust his opinion one iota.

Loved the pies at half time though, with pre-booked drinks ready on the table. Just like the er... theatre.

Ruddy Heck, that's fairly poor for £38, unless you had the ruling of an enormous dessert trolley, but I doubt it! Definitely need to get that sorted pronto! Veggies always dip out but sliced melon starter is taking the Michael IMO.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Ruddy Heck, that's fairly poor for £38, unless you had the ruling of an enormous dessert trolley, but I doubt it! Definitely need to get that sorted pronto! Veggies always dip out but sliced melon starter is taking the Michael IMO.

As a know-nothing carnivore, I'm finding it hard to envisage ANY veggie combo that would justify anywhere near £38, or even half of that.

 

[ewe2]

I hope the caterers are listening,if they cant deliver every food and drink order that has to effect Gus,s playing budget !!!!

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

As a know-nothing carnivore, I'm finding it hard to envisage ANY veggie combo that would justify anywhere near £38, or even half of that.

Your not wrong, £38 is a lot of dosh, vegetarian food, done properly, can be superb but all too often it's slap dash and last minute. I know this I'm cos I'm guilty of doing it ! Have a look at Terre à Terre's menu, they do some lovely veggie dishes, though you'll be hard pushed to find a £38 meal I suspect.

 

[trueblue]

Your not wrong, £38 is a lot of dosh, vegetarian food, done properly, can be superb but all too often it's slap dash and last minute. I know this I'm cos I'm guilty of doing it ! Have a look at Terre à Terre's menu, they do some lovely veggie dishes, though you'll be hard pushed to find a £38 meal I suspect.

Or Food For Friends. Tremendous in there.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Or Food For Friends. Tremendous in there.

Yeah, also highly recommended!

 

[silkyseagull]

a couple of answers - i hope!

I work for the caterers at the stadium and have been keeping an eye on these threads for a while (as we all have). I hope I can answer a few questions, but please bear with me,

1) Chips - we cant sell chips as the stadium doesnt have the extraction facilities. This is how the stadium was built and why we are not allowed to fry on the concourses.....leading me on to,

2) Onions on hotdogs - ditto above

3) Curry has been taken off the menu temporarily to try to alleviate the pressure on the other menu item - Pies are far more popular than originally thought and oven space is needed to keep up with demand.

4) Opening and closing times are set by the club and not us. We are told when to open and close.

5) Queues - We are honestly worknig on this as much as we can. Demand for food and drink is way higher than any other stadium/venue that ive ever worked at. the big bosses are taking your thoughts on board and thats why the 'backpack' type sellers were put in place. As far as ive heard they will be selling water from these at the next match.

6) Dark star is on the way as far as I can tell.

7) Cant comment on the 1901 club stuff as thats not where I work - sorry

8) Staff training is an issue although we have all had training some pick stuff up faster than others. Thats not an excuse but a fact - also a match day situation is way different to a training session. We are trying our hardest and I know we will get faster. Regarding my colleagues from outside the uk - I think most catering businesses have some non english staff and we are all doing our best to get quicker.

9) regarding running out of stuff - as ive said already demand for food and drink is way higher than anticipated and this has led to some supply problems. we are doing our very best to get the numbers right and hope that where youve had to eat something other than what you originally wanted thats its not been a disappointment!

Im not making excuses - just asking for a chance. No-one is perfect in their first few days in a new job. That includes me. I know things will get better and hope youll bear with us.

 

[durrington gull]

I work for the caterers at the stadium and have been keeping an eye on these threads for a while (as we all have). I hope I can answer a few questions, but please bear with me,

1) Chips - we cant sell chips as the stadium doesnt have the extraction facilities. This is how the stadium was built and why we are not allowed to fry on the concourses.....leading me on to,

2) Onions on hotdogs - ditto above

3) Curry has been taken off the menu temporarily to try to alleviate the pressure on the other menu item - Pies are far more popular than originally thought and oven space is needed to keep up with demand.

4) Opening and closing times are set by the club and not us. We are told when to open and close.

5) Queues - We are honestly worknig on this as much as we can. Demand for food and drink is way higher than any other stadium/venue that ive ever worked at. the big bosses are taking your thoughts on board and thats why the 'backpack' type sellers were put in place. As far as ive heard they will be selling water from these at the next match.

6) Dark star is on the way as far as I can tell.

7) Cant comment on the 1901 club stuff as thats not where I work - sorry

8) Staff training is an issue although we have all had training some pick stuff up faster than others. Thats not an excuse but a fact - also a match day situation is way different to a training session. We are trying our hardest and I know we will get faster. Regarding my colleagues from outside the uk - I think most catering businesses have some non english staff and we are all doing our best to get quicker.

9) regarding running out of stuff - as ive said already demand for food and drink is way higher than anticipated and this has led to some supply problems. we are doing our very best to get the numbers right and hope that where youve had to eat something other than what you originally wanted thats its not been a disappointment!

Im not making excuses - just asking for a chance. No-one is perfect in their first few days in a new job. That includes me. I know things will get better and hope youll bear with us.

Thanks - useful feedback

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Thanks for the feedback.

Having worked in a fast-food restaurant, its quite simply the back-up to the till person that is slowing it down. When they take an order for a pie and a pint, someone else (usually a better trained/senior staff member) should be getting that order from the back allowing the till person to take the money and move on to the next customer. At the moment its horrendously slow.

 

[Fef]

Not at all, it'll be six pints, two pies and a burger in future :-D

Ha ! Your six pints, two pies and a burger is merely a snack to me, just a little appetiser before the real feasting begins!

 

[Saint Lennard]

At last some balance to the argument. Hallelujah.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Thanks for the feedback.

Having worked in a fast-food restaurant, its quite simply the back-up to the till person that is slowing it down. When they take an order for a pie and a pint, someone else (usually a better trained/senior staff member) should be getting that order from the back allowing the till person to take the money and move on to the next customer. At the moment its horrendously slow.

They were doing that in the north stand on Tuesday. I dont think the wait was excessive, before the game anyway- got served within about 5-10 minutes and there was a que.

At the Eastbourne game, I waited an hour!

 

[albiongirl]

I just want to know when kids meals are finally going to appear! Not necessarily the meal deal just the mini version will be on sale as for two matches running I've had to buy an adult burger for my 3yr old who will only eat half!! He did enjoy it but it is expensive to buy and to throw half away. I wont eat it as I would have a veggie burger thats when it's available.

 

[generation x]

Thanks for the post Silky. Running out of Harveys at all of the WSU portable outlets 5 minutes into half time is your priority to resolve. Thank you.

 

[pauli cee]

mmmmmm.......chicken and ham pies.....bloody gorgous

 

[Gazwag]

Having experienced the East Stand catering at both Donny & Gills, I have few complaints. A few tips though:-
1) Get your Harvey's from the little minibars wher they pull one on demand rather than the main catering outlets. Understandably in the main ones they pour pints off in advance to cut waiting time down. Mine had obviously been standing for a while.... !

But they cost 10% more

 

[trueblue]

At last some balance to the argument. Hallelujah.

It's interesting to hear the feedback, yes. But don't forget Azure are supposed to be very experienced stadium caterers - that was the whole point of appointing them. So some of the slow procedures they've been using are something of a surprise.

Sounds like they're trying to improve things so that's good.

 

[eastterracemike]

Absolutely agree with all of this.
I have rarely eaten at a football match before now apart from the burger/hot dog necessary to soak up the alcohol but honestly hoped the food in 1901 would tempt me to be more adventurous. The lack of choice and too high prices will I suspect result in people like me voting with their feet and simply stick to the decent pies .
The curry wasn't bad but at £25 too expensive.
The point about the transport system is a very valid one and the club should be pressing the caterers to improve the service or I shall be adding to the problems of congestion by arriving as late as possible and leaving on the whistle.

I think some of the people moaning about moaners (!) are missing the point.

We know everyone at the Albion's working day and night to make the stadium better each week and that's fantastic. They've delivered a bloody brilliant stadium. But the caterers are an outside company who promised a standard and choice they're not delivering. Remember, they don't even make the one food item that's popular. Those promises would surely be why they got the contract.
Therefore, I'd imagine the club would be annoyed about this too. Far from fans' complaints being a hindrance, they should actually help the club to get the caterers to up their game.

In the long term, it'll sort itself out because people won't bother eating & drinking that much, just as in the past. As a lot of people are keen to point out "so what, I don't go to football for food/drink". Fine. Nor do I.

But the club had hoped to change that because it's essential to the success of the transport system that people stagger their journey times. There has to be an incentive for significant numbers to arrive early/stay late. Not to mention that it would make the club LOADS of money.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

They were doing that in the north stand on Tuesday. I dont think the wait was excessive, before the game anyway- got served within about 5-10 minutes and there was a que.

At the Eastbourne game, I waited an hour!

Good, because it was painful in the east for Donny

 

[libra-gully]

Well done to this poster for coming on here and giving us fans feedback.

Should it not be the job of Azure management, or the person at the club responsible for such matters to put their head above the parapit, rather than a mere employee??

For my part at the Doncaster game I queued in the East before the game, and half time and never got near enough to be served. When I did discover the small outlet down by the south end, they said that they had sold out of pies before half time. I must confess I was pretty pissed off. This coupled with the queue for the toilets did dampen my mood on Saturday.

On Tuesday of this week I went into Dicks, at lunchtime when you thought they would have everything available. Incredibly, I asked for the pies, then a tomato & mozzie panini both were unavailable. In the end I settled for a sandwich and a pint. Just as a further point, I too was charged double for this until I raised it with the staff.

My only other comment would be that as a supporters bar, certainly during the week, the atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired. It was like sitting in a bland library, certainly not worth the journey from town out to.

Still teething problems we are told. Lets hope the teething is not as long and as painful as my daughters teething!!!