The Catering Longside

[chipbutty]

I refuse to buy anything to eat or drink at the ground. Why would you?
Park View etc. supplies much better value and actually accepts CASH !!

The Park View doesn't do food.

[Blue Skies]

Didn't you have a free hot dog as well in the Circ DG? I am with you on this one. I use to do Park Runs they were max 30/40 mins and people were desperate for water. Ridiculous

[Nori1958]

The Park View doesn't do food.

Park View chippy ?

[Burnley1989]

If its Park View chippy, they do take cash... but cash only

[ŽižkovClaret]

Interestingly, we used to buy 3 pies each game.
Now it’s £4.20 a pie we will buy none.

Not sure they are judging the people of Burnley. Don’t mind paying a premium , but £4.20 for a crap Holland’s pie. It can stay n the warmer.

Exactly, i'll pay premium for premium, not molten baby food in pastry

[NewClaret]

In the JHU the lad that served my Bene moved with speed of a striking slug, painfully slow looking like it was a big effort to put the hot water in the cup, my mate had been at at a different kiosk and asked for three potato pies, the girl said she would need to see if they had any and went away to check, came back and said yes they had then had to go back again to get them when he said well I want three !! couldn`t script it really.

This is hilarious but basically my experience. Just really not at the races. Very slow staff. I’ll never forget once that one lady disappeared for five minutes of HT to go elsewhere looking for a pie that had been pre-ordered but had sold out, leaving one queue of thirsty punters like a baying mob. Which was being led by me I must confess

Who in their right mind abandons ship for a third of HT to collect a single pie (which she didn’t actually find) when there’s a massive queue of thirsty punters waiting?

In the nicest possible way, they must get paid for the whole afternoon, a proportion of it will not be spent working. They have 15 minutes at HT to run their backsides off and move quickly. I’d have them in training sessions where they sit down for 45 minutes and then graft for 15 until they get it that at HT they need to get a hurry on. That or put them on sales commission only and let them earn more if they sell more.

All that said, I don’t feel the club are providing them the technology/tools for the job. Automatic beer pourers would help. As might reusing the old betting booths as quick service pie stalls, or bottle bars, to relieve some of the pressure.

I’ve given up on it for now and to other peoples points I can go without quite easily. What’s frustrating for me is that while I can go without I’d prefer not to, am happy to pay the inflated prices, and it seems the issues could be so easily solved by applying the right tech and utilising our space more effectively.

[NewClaret]

If its Park View chippy, they do take cash... but cash only

In fairness, I’m pretty sure their cash only policy is a contributory factor to why they can sell things more cheaply than the club.

[NewClaret]

Very polite guy behind the kiosk
Queue was shorter
An extra few kiosks were open

Asked if I wanted extra water: almost everyone was saying ‘yes’ as the cup was only 60% full

Still have to put milk in whilst at the front of queue
Still paying 20p more for an inferior product to last season

An improvement though

Good to hear a balanced assessment of the improvements. Especially the additional kiosks. Potentially the issue here was holiday season, so hopefully now we see that continuing.

Thought the more water question was funny: “Would you like the whole product you’re paying for, or just part of it?”

[Falcon]

Used the beer only bar in centre of JHU for a pint at 14:45. No queue whatsoever and the pouring machine was in full flow.

Didn't go down at HT.

[NewClaret]

Interesting that Stuart Hunt, one of the Directors was mingling in the JML concourse at HT, asking for opinions......I didn't see him queuing for a pie !

If this is true, massive respect to him and the club for sending their Directors out to observe this first hand.

I may have even called for this myself (can’t remember) but I know a lot of fans mentioned it. It’s very impressive they listened to fans and put themselves out. I’m more and more impressed with ALK. I hope this kind of thing continues

[Rileybobs]

If this is true, massive respect to him and the club for sending their Directors out to observe this first hand.

I may have even called for this myself (can’t remember) but I know a lot of fans mentioned it. It’s very impressive they listened to fans and put themselves out. I’m more and more impressed with ALK. I hope this kind of thing continues

To be fair they’re currently missing out on a huge chunk of potential revenue so he’s not exactly putting himself out.

[chipbutty]

At 4pm as I was going back to my seat, i noticed at least 20 pints poured on the JML Leighton James bar. I asked the staff why they had all these surplus drinks when there is a pre ordering system. She basically shrugged her shoulders and said the club have asked them to pour pints in advance....
Surely, some common sense says stop pouring thrm when none are ordered??

[Longsidelenny1882]

Ordered my pint and payed received pint which looked like a pint of kiss complained I kid you not changed my drink 4 times still not satisfied with the pint please bring back the plastic bottles of beer if not no more beer for me on the turf utc

[Fretters]

A lot have referred to the pre-ordering system, but I've never used it. At half time against City and Villa, I just went to the bar in the Longside upper (furtherst towards the cricket field), queued, ordered my pint and received it there and then. How do you even use the pre-ordering system and how is it quicker than what I've been doing? Surely it's just queueing twice?

[jdrobbo]

Very polite guy behind the kiosk
Queue was shorter
An extra few kiosks were open

Asked if I wanted extra water: almost everyone was saying ‘yes’ as the cup was only 60% full

Still have to put milk in whilst at the front of queue
Still paying 20p more for an inferior product to last season

An improvement though

Fourth home game and after seeing a few slight improvements in the matchday service at the Tottenham game, it was definitely back to the start of the season mess that we experienced in the first two games.

They’ve moved all the milk, sugar, condiments etc to the opposite side of the concourse, which shows the club listen….but this was at some kiosks and not at others.

No one was monitoring that area…it became a free for all and was a complete mess with no bins.

No milk left by 7:36!!

Had to walk down to the other end of the concourse to get some, from a cup at one of the kiosks!!

Not enough water in the cups!

Queues very long and slow

Pies seemingly ‘not ready until just before kick off’ according to a number of people.

No one appearing to be monitoring the situation

Pies in a number of places, sold out by the end of the first half!

How is it going so wrong?

[NewClaret]

I’ve given up John but sounds like the problems are not resolved.

[Granny WeatherWax]

On the flip side, my hot dog was purchased and sauced within about 30 seconds, and it didn’t take much longer to eat it. Superb service.

[Claret Till I Die]

If they're going to pre pull pints they're better off leaving a couple of inches short rather than the half inch they topped up in the Bob Lord last night making it as flat as a witch's tit.....

[jdrobbo]

On the flip side, my hot dog was purchased and sauced within about 30 seconds, and it didn’t take much longer to eat it. Superb service.

That’s good to hear

[beddie]

We went to the two vans that sell coffee- tea etc just outside the ground in the car park, a queue but not that long and well worth the wait if you want a lovely latte. I decided after last season I wouldn't be buying any of the drinks from inside the ground, they were some of the worst I’ve ever tasted.

[Nori1958]

7.40pm.....no M&P pies.... ridiculous

[4midable]

Was offered a pre poured pint in JHU
Told them i wanted a fresh. And they poured it
Excellent

But guess what. I was charged nearly 13 quid for a pint and a pie. Obvious mistake but didnt see it until this morning (on my banking app)

*******

[steve1264b]

We were approached by a member of the board at halftime (Jimmy Mac upper) about the service and what did we think they could do about it.

They are obviously aware of these issues and are out and about during the games.

[SalisburyClaret]

Looked around last night and everyone who was eating had brought in their own food.

[jdrobbo]

We were approached by a member of the board at halftime (Jimmy Mac upper) about the service and what did we think they could do about it.

They are obviously aware of these issues and are out and about during the games.

That’s good

[mikeS]

Any reason why they can't fill a cup with hot water?
And the fiddly milk tubes are bloody useless.
Bah!

[simonclaret]

Pie supplier changed in Bob Lord stand last night, Hollands gone! Had the rarely spotted butter pie, quite tasty and well prepared.

[Nori1958]

Pie supplier changed in Bob Lord stand last night, Hollands gone! Had the rarely spotted butter pie, quite tasty and well prepared.

They obviously didn't deliver enough then

[bfcjg]

I voted with my feet and didn't bother buying anything,and won't until the overpriced fiasco is sorted.

[Leisure]

7.40pm.....no M&P pies.... ridiculous

There were no bottles of water either at the till point I was at.

[Nori1958]

There were no bottles of water either at the till point I was at.

Basic things that they need to get right...quickly

[Claret Till I Die]

Pie supplier changed in Bob Lord stand last night, Hollands gone! Had the rarely spotted butter pie, quite tasty and well prepared.

I wanted a cheese and onion pie & a pint of cider. I was told that neither were available so ended up with flat San Miguel

[wilks_bfc]

Pie supplier changed in Bob Lord stand last night, Hollands gone! Had the rarely spotted butter pie, quite tasty and well prepared.

A bloke in front of me in the JMU asked for a cheese & onion pie and was given a butter pie that the young girl serving was insisting was the same thing

They also had a stack of hot dogs ready to serve which helped ease the wait times

[ClaretTony]

A bloke in front of me in the JMU asked for a cheese & onion pie and was given a butter pie that the young girl serving was insisting was the same thing

Oh dear

[jos]

Half time against Man Utd I went down after the whistle had been blown and was surprised to see only a small queue for food, usually it’s rammed by the time I get there, So I bought a coffee and a Chicken Balti pie. The coffee was hot but the taste was grim, The pie was just horrible, most of the pastry had stuck to the tin foil and tasted stodgy.

£6:80 wasted, I won’t be repeating this mistake.

The only positive was the speedy service and friendly person behind the counter.

I’ll be bringing half time snacks with me in future.

[Vincent'sCap]

Anyone who is gullible enough to purchase football stadium food and drink deserves everything they get, £
3.40 for a pie that's baked like an Accrington Nori brick,just have lunch before you leave home it's not rocket science,and don't get me started on those idiots that go down on the concourse 35 minutes into the game to beat the queue.

[deanothedino]

We were approached by a member of the board at halftime (Jimmy Mac upper) about the service and what did we think they could do about it.

They are obviously aware of these issues and are out and about during the games.

What did you tell them and were they shocked?

[clarethomer]

There were no bottles of water either at the till point I was at.

Ive had the same experience every game this season. How hard can it be to have bottles of water to sell?

[AlargeClaret]

A bloke in front of me in the JMU asked for a cheese & onion pie and was given a butter pie that the young girl serving was insisting was the same thing

They also had a stack of hot dogs ready to serve which helped ease the wait times

Can you walk up to food without pre ordered ticket in the BL?

[wilks_bfc]

Can you walk up to food without pre ordered ticket in the BL?

I don’t know. I’m not in the BL

You don’t pre order in the JMU though

[jrgbfc]

Can you walk up to food without pre ordered ticket in the BL?

Pretty sure there's no pre ordering in the Bob Lord. Not 100% because I don't normally bother at half time.

[Goody1975]

We went to the two vans that sell coffee- tea etc just outside the ground in the car park, a queue but not that long and well worth the wait if you want a lovely latte. I decided after last season I wouldn't be buying any of the drinks from inside the ground, they were some of the worst I’ve ever tasted.

The new coffee they are using in the ground is rank, truly awful.

[AlargeClaret]

I don’t know. I’m not in the BL

You don’t pre order in the JMU though

Ah right , presumed whole ground was pre order only , I’m Longside lower ,

[Dyched]

They be plenty of local business prepared to rent out the areas for match day use. They should just do that. A Moorhouses bar perhaps? Hafners Stall and so on. Simple. Club makes money, local business make money and supporters get proper products that help the club and local businesses.

[Quickenthetempo]

Pie supplier changed in Bob Lord stand last night, Hollands gone! Had the rarely spotted butter pie, quite tasty and well prepared.

A Man U fan posted a pic of a Clayton Park pie he had purchased from the away end.

[Leisure]

Ive had the same experience every game this season. How hard can it be to have bottles of water to sell?

Presumably they do have water but obviously just not enough bottles.

[Claretforever]

I just needed a drink when I got to the ground last night so figured I’d buy a bottle of water as there was no queue. As I was about the pay the person serving took the bottle back from in front of me, and when I ask what he was doing he said they had to take the tops off them now. I wasn’t aware of this, so said don’t bother then, can you get just me a glass of water please. To be fair he did, but that was free when I would have paid for the water. I just figured if there was a chance of me knocking it over (the tread depths of the seats are so tight drinks constantly get kicked by people walking past or yourself when moving about) it may as well be free.

[IanMcL]

Was offered a pre poured pint in JHU
Told them i wanted a fresh. And they poured it
Excellent

But guess what. I was charged nearly 13 quid for a pint and a pie. Obvious mistake but didnt see it until this morning (on my banking app)

*******

You pay £5 extra for a personal pint.

[Fretters]

We go to the Woodsman pre and post-match and they now sell pies (£3, cash only). Definitely no need to pay the Turf prices now. Also an offy across the road for water and half time snacks!

[GetIntoEm]

Pies appeared to be burnt Clayton park pies for a change last night