Getting the people serving to speed up would solve a huge amount of the issue in hand. I mean... they have a peak window of about 20 minutes where there is real demand on the role they are doing, and either side of that it should be fairly relaxed... yet every time I have queued up the level of dither, disinterest and downright delusion when you ask what pies they have left is laughable.
I think it's a good idea but Charlton don't run the catering at the Valley.
It's been outsourced so it would be down to the caterers to decide whether to invest in more staff and equipment in order to sell more beer.
That’s the problem with out sourcing. They set fairly aggressive targets to win the contract and then, if numbers are not on target (which they wouldn’t have been under Roland) they cut staff and service levels. As a principle, I think they should keep catering in house, benefit from the margins and keep ‘customer’ service to the fore. You wouldn’t see cinemas, bowling etc out source their food. Cut out the middle man. Having said all that, queues in the west stand are never that bad.
I think it's a good idea but Charlton don't run the catering at the Valley.
It's been outsourced so it would be down to the caterers to decide whether to invest in more staff and equipment in order to sell more beer.
That’s the problem with out sourcing. They set fairly aggressive targets to win the contract and then, if numbers are not on target (which they wouldn’t have been under Roland) they cut staff and service levels. As a principle, I think they should keep catering in house, benefit from the margins and keep ‘customer’ service to the fore. You wouldn’t see cinemas, bowling etc out source their food. Cut out the middle man. Having said all that, queues in the west stand are never that bad.
Cinemas and bowling alleys are open every day though, a lot easier to train and retain good staff than with a once a fortnight type arrangement like a football ground
Family next to us got back to seats on 62 mins having queued over 25 mins to get something to eat.
personally I go to a football match to watch football, not to wait ages to buy overpriced grub thereby missing a large part of the match .. I suggest 'the family' has got their priorities very wrong
What a hero Lincs.
I’m sure you don’t go to a football match with the intention of going a loo either so lets close the toilets as well.
I just can't see the analogy .. but if you think so
Was in the home end at Southend a couple of years ago and you can book/pay for your half time beer before the match. All you have to do at half time is show the ticket they’ve given you and take your pre-poured beer. Saved a huge amount of time and I don’t see why they couldn’t do it at the Valley in future.
I asked about this and the real ale stall at the last FF, I think the reply was something on the lines of its for further down the line, but it may be in the minutes.
Personally I'm in favour of a rethink of the whole match day experience which I think is very substandard and over priced, we can and should be the best ground in England for this in my view, and what better way to win long term loyal support - off the pitch at least.
Tills they have are rubbish as well. If you want a receipt they can only email one to you. Was stuck for 10 mins behind a bloke buying 3 pints, who then took forever filling out his email address on the ipad. I agree with the paperless sentiment , but not when it slows service down further.
One thing I've seen work well at some away grounds is where they pre-pull pints both before the game and at half time which sped up the serving time considerably. Of course they also knew how to work the tills .....
People slipping out early/stumbling in late and missing action - tough titty, no sympathy due, in fact, selfish twunts disrupt the game for the rest of us. Not being able to last 90 minutes, or even 45 minutes without a pint of half flat characterless kangaroo piss or pseudo yorkie ditch water, is shouting loudly as to having much bigger issues than slow service. As for the self-absorbed alky numbskull and his offspring in our row, you've not just got substance dependence issues your bladders and/or prostrates are knackered as well - 10 minutes after sitting down -really ten effing minutes and you have to stumble out again? You're in the middle of a row you skin wasting mouth breather, that's 10 pairs of feet you trample on, 10 poor sods up and down like a bride's nightie just cos you have no self-awareness, self-control or respect for anybody at all, least of all yourself. If the overpriced swill sold as "beer" is that important - stay in the pub, don't let the football disrupt your boozing! We'll all be much happier.
dont suppose you fancy going for a pint later then ??
Was in the home end at Southend a couple of years ago and you can book/pay for your half time beer before the match. All you have to do at half time is show the ticket they’ve given you and take your pre-poured beer. Saved a huge amount of time and I don’t see why they couldn’t do it at the Valley in future.
People would moan that the beer had got warm as it was probably poured at 3.01.
Getting the people serving to speed up would solve a huge amount of the issue in hand. I mean... they have a peak window of about 20 minutes where there is real demand on the role they are doing, and either side of that it should be fairly relaxed... yet every time I have queued up the level of dither, disinterest and downright delusion when you ask what pies they have left is laughable.
No incentive for the staff to hurry up - Guess they get paid the same whether they serve 5 pints or 100 pints.
I wish those taking their seats when the action is happening would wait in the stairwell until there is a break in play for an injury or something. When they feed past, you miss seeing the action which is a drag.
Was in the home end at Southend a couple of years ago and you can book/pay for your half time beer before the match. All you have to do at half time is show the ticket they’ve given you and take your pre-poured beer. Saved a huge amount of time and I don’t see why they couldn’t do it at the Valley in future.
People would moan that the beer had got warm as it was probably poured at 3.01.
Was in the home end at Southend a couple of years ago and you can book/pay for your half time beer before the match. All you have to do at half time is show the ticket they’ve given you and take your pre-poured beer. Saved a huge amount of time and I don’t see why they couldn’t do it at the Valley in future.
People would moan that the beer had got warm as it was probably poured at 3.01.
Pretty sure that Health & Safety doesn’t allow for pouring of beer in advance of sales. Not 100% sure of this but I’m pretty sure I had heard about this at some point or another.
If food and ale wasnt popular at a game it would have died out decades ago, but it turns out it is... so maybe make the service as such that people dont have to leave 5 mins early or return 5 mins late.
I left my seat when the ball went out of play at 41 mins on the clock. I was so shocked to take my place 3rd in the queue and was surprised more people hadn't headed out already considering the increase of attendees. the guy serving my queue seemed flustered already, and took a while to serve the 1st guy 3 pints, he then had to find the cup holder thing and then work out the till. I had noticed that they no longer had the cash only/card only tills that caused a problem a few months ago the last time i bought something at half time. The guy in front of me then steps up to get served. there were half pints of lager on the shelf behind, which i thought - good idea - pre pouring some pints. but it was so painful watching him do one at a time he may as well have started from scratch. the guy on the till next to him then said 'it's getting busier - is it half time' 'no, not yet said the guy in front of me' and then there was the cheer of the crowd. this confused those behind the tills more and delayed them more whilst those in the queue craned their necks to try to view the replays on the tv's. It was then my turn. 'White wine and a bottle of heinekan please'. The guy looked at me as if i'd asked to see the menu, and looked in a half empty fridge behind him. he then walked the whole length of the bar to the tall fridge right up the other end to speak to someone who pointed at the fridge near to her and he came back with a white wine. He then picked up a cider from the small fridge behind him, before realising it wasn't a heinekan and correcting himself. there were about 10 people behind me at this point and the half time whistle had not yet been blown. He then had to try to find a bottle opener, before asking if i was paying cash or card even thought i was stood with my card hovering over the card payment point for a good while already. the whilstle was then blown and the transaction went through. It's so frustrating and surely so simple to get right. a competition for who can sell the most during the 20 min or so period per till would surely get a rocket up their arses?
The catering in the West Upper is rubbish. My son always wants something at half time but the quality of the food and speed of service means I invariably say no. Serving nutritious food at a reasonable price and at a good speed shouldn't be beyond the club's means.
We had great season tickets in the front row of the upper covered end behind the goal gave them up as the same inconsiderate arse and his massive rucksack would barge past at least 3 times each half!i tried asking politely and then resorted to kicking ankles all to no avail as he did not give a shinny shite regardless how many people gave him abuse
If they sold decent beer, I might have a drink before the game although I still think I'd prefer the River Ale House or White Swan for my pre-game libation. I'm very unlikely to drink at half-time but with the muck they serve now I most definitely won't. However, I suspect the caterers have a nationwide deal with Heineken / AB InBev so I think the chance of any other beer appearing is extremely remote.
Tills they have are rubbish as well. If you want a receipt they can only email one to you. Was stuck for 10 mins behind a bloke buying 3 pints, who then took forever filling out his email address on the ipad. I agree with the paperless sentiment , but not when it slows service down further.
If they sold decent beer, I might have a drink before the game although I still think I'd prefer the River Ale House or White Swan for my pre-game libation. I'm very unlikely to drink at half-time but with the muck they serve now I most definitely won't. However, I suspect the caterers have a nationwide deal with Heineken / AB InBev so I think the chance of any other beer appearing is extremely remote.
The deal was with Heineken, hence when we had the Real Ale kiosk it served Deuchars (and Addicks Ale) as they're both brewed by Caledonian, a subsidiary of them. I don't mind Deuchars, but weird to have an Edinburgh brewed Real Ale was a bit odd!
it'd be a help if the tills were cashless .. I can't think that many people/groups/families don't have a contactless payment card .. this would make the payment process so much quicker and save the problem of 'cashing up' after the game .. the insurance on moving cash around must be quite high .. the cracking brand newTottenham Stadium is totally cashless .. there again it's easy to go cashless when starting from scratch when all systems can be fully mechanised/computerised and be really fit for purpose
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Personally I'm in favour of a rethink of the whole match day experience which I think is very substandard and over priced, we can and should be the best ground in England for this in my view, and what better way to win long term loyal support - off the pitch at least.
No incentive for the staff to hurry up - Guess they get paid the same whether they serve 5 pints or 100 pints.
We have Meantime Brewery just down the road, criminal there is not a tie in. Bloody fosters and John Smiths
Not 100% sure of this but I’m pretty sure I had heard about this at some point or another.
the cracking brand newTottenham Stadium is totally cashless .. there again it's easy to go cashless when starting from scratch when all systems can be fully mechanised/computerised and be really fit for purpose