New food/drink rules at the Turf

[Goody1975]

I have posted this before:-

1. The new coffee is hideous
2. The lack of an option for pre whitened coffee has to be the decision of a moron. It's bad enough before the game but to put the milk/sugar etc in an area where people stand at half time makes it an impossible task. Maybe the club employees who assessed the concourses after the initial issues are just plain daft.

[ClaretTony]

On the subject of the concourse catering, I believe the bloke brought in to run the shambles has lost his job.

[NewClaret]

On the subject of the concourse catering, I believe the bloke brought in to run the shambles has lost his job.

Hardly surprising.

I went for a Bene pre-match vs West Ham. Do you know they make you pour your own hot water in the Bene now?

One jug for four tills.

[Big Vinny K]

Even worse from my understanding he was not told he had lost his job face to face.
He had to use one of those machines in the concourse and it printed out his P45.
Harsh.

[NewClaret]

Even worse from my understanding he was not told he had lost his job face to face.
He had to use one of those machines in the concourse and it printed out his P45.
Harsh.

If he were there on Saturday I’d have personally taken it out and given it to him myself. Then booted him off the Turf.

How catering could be made any worse is absolutely beyond me.

[Big Vinny K]

If he were there on Saturday I’d have personally taken it out and given it to him myself. Then booted him off the Turf.

How catering could be made any worse is absolutely beyond me.

Classic case of over complicating things with technology instead of dealing with the basics - ie the food and drinks they are selling and the people serving.

£6 for a drink in a town like ours with the problems that exist for many families is an absolute disgrace. To queue up twice to get this just adds insult to injury.

[bumba]

On the subject of the concourse catering, I believe the bloke brought in to run the shambles has lost his job.

Can't say it's a surprise, we've gone from £2.50 good ales from Bowland to cheap lager and £6 a pint!
Pie and a pint is over £10!!!!
Absolutely scandalous.
I'm refusing to spend another penny on there now I'll take my own food and drink

[NewClaret]

Classic case of over complicating things with technology instead of dealing with the basics - ie the food and drinks they are selling and the people serving.

£6 for a drink in a town like ours with the problems that exist for many families is an absolute disgrace. To queue up twice to get this just adds insult to injury.

I agree.

Just shocking they have got it so wrong. Needs a complete rethink, starting with half empty brews and bene’s you pour yourself. Wtf.

That’s before you talk about prices, the crap products, the slow staff, the awful bar areas from the 90’s

[NewClaret]

Can't say it's a surprise, we've gone from £2.50 good ales from Bowland to cheap lager and £6 a pint!
Pie and a pint is over £10!!!!
Absolutely scandalous.
I'm refusing to spend another penny on there now I'll take my own food and drink

Good on you. That’s what everyone needs to do. Only way it’ll get sorted.

[mikeS]

If the catering chaps been sacked does that mean the service will now improve?
Will we get Full cups of coffee instead of half full, and those milk tubes binned?
You'd think the Yanks who invented fast food would do a bit better than what's on offer currently.

[StayingDown4Ever]

Should we not have given this guy more time? I imagine a lot of his staff were new and getting used to the pace of dealing with the pace of the premier league crowds.

Or were we right to as he’s had long enough to make things better but we’ve seen no real sign of improvement having spent a fortune on apparent upgrades over the summer?

[claretonthecoast1882]

Should we not have given this guy more time? I imagine a lot of his staff were new and getting used to the pace of dealing with the pace of the premier league crowds.

Or were we right to as he’s had long enough to make things better but we’ve seen no real sign of improvement having spent a fortune on apparent upgrades over the summer?

No they decided he was pony with a week or 2, that's long enough don't you agree ?

[ClaretCliff]

Half time last week, JHU. Complete shambles. One of the first in the queue, I wanted 2 drinks and a couple of twixes (yes, I know, feeling flush!) was told there were no twixes and the server pointed to the rack/shelf for choc bars whe
I h was empty apart from a single double decker and 2 milk choc bars. How on earth can they run out of twix when they can have a few boxes stashed there, it’s not as though they go off like pies. And talking of pies, I was told they didn’t have any pies either, not that I’d asked for a pie.
Also, of the four windows in the block, staff from three windows were all carrying drinks to the end window to fill up with hot water. Then someone from the window at the other end came to the window where I was and started to fill his drink. Someone told him it wasn’t working - looks like it’s working to me he replied as he filled the drink.
As I said, total shambles.

[bfcjg]

I stopped buying food and drink after the Garstang two games, I'm not prepared to queue up only to be ripped off with substantial service and fayre. Disgraceful and pathetic TBH.

[Dyched]

I’ve said before but the club need to contact local business to see if they’d be interested in stalls on the concourse. Could be a variety of different options all over the ground.

[dougcollins]

Even worse from my understanding he was not told he had lost his job face to face.
He had to use one of those machines in the concourse and it printed out his P45.
Harsh.

It would probably mess up and promote him instead.

[Claretprinter]

Half time last week, JHU. Complete shambles. One of the first in the queue, I wanted 2 drinks and a couple of twixes (yes, I know, feeling flush!) was told there were no twixes and the server pointed to the rack/shelf for choc bars whe
I h was empty apart from a single double decker and 2 milk choc bars. How on earth can they run out of twix when they can have a few boxes stashed there, it’s not as though they go off like pies. And talking of pies, I was told they didn’t have any pies either, not that I’d asked for a pie.
Also, of the four windows in the block, staff from three windows were all carrying drinks to the end window to fill up with hot water. Then someone from the window at the other end came to the window where I was and started to fill his drink. Someone told him it wasn’t working - looks like it’s working to me he replied as he filled the drink.
As I said, total shambles.

I can confirm that Twix have been completely removed from the kiosks this season apart from in the Bob Lord where the rich folk are.

[fidelcastro]

I was "lucky" enough to speak to Alan Pace yesterday about the standard of the catering. He claimed he had no idea... Hmmmm!

Did anyone see an improvement yesterday? I can only speak for the standards in the JML.

[Leisure]

I stopped buying food and drink after the Garstang two games, I'm not prepared to queue up only to be ripped off with substantial service and fayre. Disgraceful and pathetic TBH.

Must have missed us playing Garstang??

[beddie]

What’s happened to the chaps who were selling coffee from their modern vans in the ground car park near the catering caravan. They haven’t been there for two weeks now. It’s a shame if they’ve been forced off, really good quality coffee unlike the rubbish (imo) sold inside the concourse.

[Fretters]

Must have missed us playing Garstang??

Played them twice apparently!

City at home, the first game of the season, was the last time I spent any money on the concourse. My experience that evening to put me off completely until they sort it out.

We previously went down every single half time, too.

[jedi_master]

What’s happened to the chaps who were selling coffee from their modern vans in the ground car park near the catering caravan. They haven’t been there for two weeks now. It’s a shame if they’ve been forced off, really good quality coffee unlike the rubbish (imo) sold inside the concourse.

Yep, me and my Dad were wondering the same. The burger van in the same area is now the only place around the club that will do you a brew/coffee with the order being actually prepared FOR you (hot water, milk, the lot - crazy I know).

[Jellybean]

Before the game they had 1000 staff working on service points with barely any customers, yet the milk/sugar area were filled with rubbish and no milk. Might be a bit too much to ask for but why are the counter staff not asked to check on the milk area and keep it clean and stocked up? I can't believe how shambolic it's got, not rocket science, fancy being sent to a tiny booth for milk etc then have to pee about opening milk sachets while people queue behind you with boiling water drinks. Joke, and way too expensive as well

[burnmark]

I’ve had a hot dog in Bob Lord the last two games and enjoyed them so I’ve no real complaints although I’ve stopped buying a half time pint as I was missing too much of the game to ensure I was served in good time to be able to drink and get back for the second half.

My mate went for pie about halfway through the 1st half yesterday but they only had chicken balti left.

[Leisure]

Before the game they had 1000 staff working on service points with barely any customers, yet the milk/sugar area were filled with rubbish and no milk. Might be a bit too much to ask for but why are the counter staff not asked to check on the milk area and keep it clean and stocked up? I can't believe how shambolic it's got, not rocket science, fancy being sent to a tiny booth for milk etc then have to pee about opening milk sachets while people queue behind you with boiling water drinks. Joke, and way too expensive as well

1000 staff!??

[NewClaret]

Yep, me and my Dad were wondering the same. The burger van in the same area is now the only place around the club that will do you a brew/coffee with the order being actually prepared FOR you (hot water, milk, the lot - crazy I know).

They make you what you pay for? That’ll never catch on.

Tbf, against my better judgement I did go for a pre-match bene again this week. More of a nerve settler. Anyway, they actually poured the water in for me!! Maybe they’re listening.

[Rick_Muller]

Get this… went early at half time for a hot drink yesterday in the CFS… ran out of hot water… unbelievable really

[ClaretCliff]

JHU at half time, till not working. The guy who came to try and fix it said the new management had been on the concourse earlier and had gone away with a list of all that was wrong with the catering.

[Leisure]

JHU at half time, till not working. The guy who came to try and fix it said the new management had been on the concourse earlier and had gone away with a list of all that was wrong with the catering.

Must have been a long list!

[StayingDown4Ever]

JHU at half time, till not working. The guy who came to try and fix it said the new management had been on the concourse earlier and had gone away with a list of all that was wrong with the catering.

You should have just given them the link to this thread.

[NewClaret]

JHU at half time, till not working. The guy who came to try and fix it said the new management had been on the concourse earlier and had gone away with a list of all that was wrong with the catering.

My word, they’d have been there a good while.

[NewClaret]

You should have just given them the link to this thread.

[CrosspoolClarets]

What happened to those donner sausage rolls? I thought people were saying they were the one plus this season, but in recent matches they aren't on the menu listing.

Literally the only thing I'd touch this season so far is the (overpriced but high quality) Haffner's pie and peas with gravy in the fanzone, piping hot last time I had it.

[bfcjg]

Must have missed us playing Garstang??

Lol, blooming predictive text, first two....

[Loyalclaret]

Ran out of hot water for brewa yesterday in the cricketfield! Pie before the game was hotter than the sun

[beddie]

Yep, me and my Dad were wondering the same. The burger van in the same area is now the only place around the club that will do you a brew/coffee with the order being actually prepared FOR you (hot water, milk, the lot - crazy I know).

Jedi. Great news. I’ve just found out from the coffee lads they had a couple of Christmas markets booked before the fixtures came out, they are due back on the 16th. Don’t forget to mention it to your Dad.

[AlargeClaret]

Took this at about 2.35/2.40pm yesterday at one of lower Longside bars ,looks like something out the 1970’s , dated, empty .tatty , nothing ( at ANY kiosk ) to show what’s on offer not one piece of merchandising anywhere . As for the way they’re serving Bene…sweet feckin Jesus , “ do I want water in it ?”
Regardless of the steep pricing , there’s literally nothing to induce you to buy .One of the most unprofessional catering set ups I’ve ever seen.

[simonclaret]

I had a Bene yesterday, water was hot, tick. Unfortunately the volume of water was way too much.

The poor chap behind me in the queue asked for one and was asked single or double! Eh? Bene n hot!

[ClaretAL]

What are those pies they are serving now? The ones that fall apart when you breathe on them. Surely should be Haffners by now, selling point of the turf for away fans.

[NewClaret]

Took this at about 2.35/2.40pm yesterday at one of lower Longside bars ,looks like something out the 1970’s , dated, empty .tatty , nothing ( at ANY kiosk ) to show what’s on offer not one piece of merchandising anywhere . As for the way they’re serving Bene…sweet feckin Jesus , “ do I want water in it ?”
Regardless of the steep pricing , there’s literally nothing to induce you to buy .One of the most unprofessional catering set ups I’ve ever seen.

How drab and dreary are they? They’re like a hospital food hatches.

Honestly would’ve preferred to sign one less winger and had some decent investment in the facilities beyond the hospitality areas.

I went to one yesterday and they were pouring bene’s using measures. They didn’t even have optics

[TheFamilyCat]

Ran out of Bovril in the Jimmy Mac upper yesterday. Unforgivable.

Got a brew instead, they've decided to put the milk on the old bookies hatches across the concourse, so had to squeeze through to there only to find.... they'd run out of milk.

[jedi_master]

Jedi. Great news. I’ve just found out from the coffee lads they had a couple of Christmas markets booked before the fixtures came out, they are due back on the 16th. Don’t forget to mention it to your Dad.

Spot on! Nice one

[NewClaret]

Ran out of Bovril in the Jimmy Mac upper yesterday. Unforgivable.

Got a brew instead, they've decided to put the milk on the old bookies hatches across the concourse, so had to squeeze through to there only to find.... they'd run out of milk.

They should just give you the milk when they sell you the drink and then use those bookies booths for something far more exciting like a pizza stall or a hot dog stand or whatever.

But if that photo above is really at 2:35, it does’t look like anyone is buying anything at all, which is my experience actually - everywhere looks way less busy than it did.

[chipbutty]

How drab and dreary are they? They’re like a hospital food hatches.

Honestly would’ve preferred to sign one less winger and had some decent investment in the facilities beyond the hospitality areas.

I went to one yesterday and they were pouring bene’s using measures. They didn’t even have optics

Only place that I've seen Bene on optics is in Miners.

[Somethingfishy]

What’s happened to the chaps who were selling coffee from their modern vans in the ground car park near the catering caravan. They haven’t been there for two weeks now. It’s a shame if they’ve been forced off, really good quality coffee unlike the rubbish (imo) sold inside the concourse.

My plan was to have pints when the weather was warm and coffee when it got colder (being a sensible chap ). However as soon as it got colder the van disappeared. Contrary to my sensible nature I opted to buy a coffee inside the fanzone. It was filled literally to the brim. So much so it was difficult to walk away with...and naturally being so diluted it tasted like dishwater. Lesson learnt.

[ClaretTony]

All seems to have improved then

[NewClaret]

Only place that I've seen Bene on optics is in Miners.

They have them in the bar on the longside upper nearest the CFS. Or at least they did, not been for a while.

I thought the queues were long there, but I reckon they must be even longer on the other side if they’re measuring out Bene every time.

[burnmark]

They have optics in the Bob Lord.

[jdrobbo]

So….

A few months on, where are we on this? The club have made significant announcements, promised change etc… so what are your thoughts…

We played Everton on Saturday 16th December, and my observations from the Longside Upper at 5:10pm (20 minutes BEFORE) kick off….


Very courteous and professional staff

Quick and easy contactless payment system (buy still long processing times)

Very low stocked racks (hardly any crisps, sweets, chocolates etc)

No milk (at all) at two out of three booths that I visited. People complaining about it not being acceptable. Cups only about 70% filled

Self service booths an absolute mess with spills, sugar and milk sachets in big piles. No bin liners or way of disposing unless you carry along the concourse to a bin away from the booths

Queues very reasonable, BUT I sense this is due to people just not bothering any more

Genuinely feel the club have said they’ve listened, but that’s no more than an acknowledgment. I see minimal change.

[beddie]

My only concern was whether the lads were back with their coffee vans near the fanzone on Saturday against Everton and yippee they were. Fabulous coffee from Simon and his colleague.