Catering Canundrum+ More

I was wondering if there is any new initiatives for next season?

We have some really great local produce and it seems really strange we don't offer anything other than a basic bought in pukka pie, turgid hot dog or a nasty burger.

Why are we not pushing the local Docks Beers to? fantastic new local enterprise who we could be publicly supporting and serving their delicious beer on site!

Youngs? sponsoring  the shirt with that hideous logo, but not supplying food in the town that is the so called home of fish and chips -bizarre!

Also I have noticed there don't seem to be any puddings? Why can't I get a decent crumble and custard? What about a nice chocolate brownie and ice cream?

That little Penny sweet shop (oh the memories I have there) near the ground could do with some more business, why don't they set up a little stall inside the grounds?

And where are we at with the shift worker tickets ? we tried with the trust for this donkey years ago - still nothing ?

I want a decent fan experience and when JSF reads this hope he takes the suggestions on board !


Snoopy Snoops  

I don’t know about puddings in the ground but there’s a fruit loop on this board.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I don’t know about puddings in the ground but there’s a fruit loop on this board.

😂👍😂👍😂👍😂👍😂👍

The OP has a valid point ... the food in BP  Is abysmal. ... there are plenty of fish and chip vans in the area it wouldn't take much effort too get one in . Also a nice fish finger sandwich would be good  

All this stuff takes a tiny bit of ambition, imagination and initiative......... forget all of that and let’s get back to the important stuff like a “football fortune”, mythical new community stadium and getting to the Championship under Michael Jolley😉

Quoted from snoopsgtfc

Also I have noticed there don't seem to be any puddings? Why can't I get a decent crumble and custard? What about a nice chocolate brownie and ice cream?

Yeah, many a time during a sub-zero Tuesday night game in mid-January with the score at 0-2 have I said the person sat next to me "You know what this ground needs to improve the 'fan experience'?".... "Ice-cream, flipping ice-cream".

Don't understand why we can't get Turner's and other local food service businesses involved.  Possibly with themed events/cuisines provided throughout the season. The catering at the ground is shocking with no imagination or flair. Even McMenemy's is out dated with the food and service being of a poor standard. Looking at the way the club is run and its lack of vision, it is no wonder.

Kidderminster are the only club I've known to do 'decent' (or should that read edible) match day food.

The issue is, that theres potential for big losses when it comes to this type of catering. Limited time frame, resaleable/perishable goods and wastage will all contribute to quality of food.

I agree that the quality could be better, but given the facilities available, it's probably asking a lot too

Quoted from Spatchcock

Even McMenemy's is out dated with the food and service being of a poor standard.  

There are many things wrong with the general catering at BP.  But not in Mcmenemys.

I normally get a couple of corporate visits a season. Each time the food and service has been superb. A decent range of starters and deserts with fish and chips or carvery for the main.

You have to remember it’s a restaurant at a fourth tier football club.

For me, the club should be at the forefront of promoting the Town and pushing community regeneration. Given what the town is known for, it has baffled me for years why we continue to overlook the opportunity to provide something unique, local and symbolic in terms of food etc. that fans could enjoy and talk about - might even contribute to bringing more into BP. More generally, we should be working with the various tourist boards and attractions in the area to promote the town and county as a whole as a place worth coming too. Just an opinion.

It's only 90 minutes. Personally, I'm not bothered about food although a pie is decent sometimes and they even usually have a veggie option. If you want good food, Mcmenemy's is excellent and does fantastic fish and chips so I'm told. Whenever I've been, they've always done me a great option seeing as I'm a weirdo and don't eat fish.

The catering at the minute is over priced rubbish but we have the option of boycotting it,but I am afraid whilst people are willing to put up with this it will continue.

Asking for improved catering is not unreasonable, not only because the club are missing out on income, but because it improves the supporter experience and gets people in the ground earlier than they otherwise might come in,

Now, some make some reasonable points about the limitations of what the club can do and that's fair enough.  To run its own catering operation for maybe only 25 days a year, and to keep all the equipment and stock that would entail, might just not be feasible, BUT there should be no excuse for the garbage currently served up.  What could be a good alternative?  Some ideas:

1)  Conduct a catering review and find out the potential to increase takings. How much money do fans spend in McDonalds and in pubs and chippies in Cleethorpes before the game?  The club is just giving money away at the moment.  An average McDonalds takes about £5000 a day.  How much gets spent at the BP Hotel?  All money being leeched out of the football club because the club can't even be bothered to provide a better alternative.

2)  Instead of the club running catering, can they bring in some food trucks?  The area already has some great food truck selling everything from Grilled Cheese, Burgers, Curry and Greek food.  Why not get them in to set up in the Imperial or Harrington Street corners and turn the areas into a fan zone with picnic tables, live music, entertainment for children and a quick-service bar?

3)  Improve the drinks service.  At BP at the moment, whether the Findus/Trust Bar or the Pontoon Bars, the service is too slow and the queues too long.  There aren't many places to sit and it's a pretty grimy cold environment surrounded by concrete, rusty girders and barbed wire.  Doesn't need to be a massive permanent facility, but some tables and benches like you get at some sports bars or box parks.  Could we have drinks tokens, a bottle bar and pre-pouring to speed up the service? How can we speed things up so that people buy drinks at half-time?  Someone do the thinking and the numbers and come up with a plan.

Now all of these are simple cheap ideas.  I understand the club doesn't want to spend money on BP if they think they might be moving, but they shouldn't be looking at it as money spent on BP, but as money being invested in the supporters and future supporters.  

Quoted from HackneyHaddock

Asking for improved catering is not unreasonable, not only because the club are missing out on income, but because it improves the supporter experience and gets people in the ground earlier than they otherwise might come in,

Now, some make some reasonable points about the limitations of what the club can do and that's fair enough.  To run its own catering operation for maybe only 25 days a year, and to keep all the equipment and stock that would entail, might just not be feasible, BUT there should be no excuse for the garbage currently served up.  What could be a good alternative?  Some ideas:

1)  Conduct a catering review and find out the potential to increase takings. How much money do fans spend in McDonalds and in pubs and chippies in Cleethorpes before the game?  The club is just giving money away at the moment.  An average McDonalds takes about £5000 a day.  How much gets spent at the BP Hotel?  All money being leeched out of the football club because the club can't even be bothered to provide a better alternative.

2)  Instead of the club running catering, can they bring in some food trucks?  The area already has some great food truck selling everything from Grilled Cheese, Burgers, Curry and Greek food.  Why not get them in to set up in the Imperial or Harrington Street corners and turn the areas into a fan zone with picnic tables, live music, entertainment for children and a quick-service bar?

3)  Improve the drinks service.  At BP at the moment, whether the Findus/Trust Bar or the Pontoon Bars, the service is too slow and the queues too long.  There aren't many places to sit and it's a pretty grimy cold environment surrounded by concrete, rusty girders and barbed wire.  Doesn't need to be a massive permanent facility, but some tables and benches like you get at some sports bars or box parks.  Could we have drinks tokens, a bottle bar and pre-pouring to speed up the service? How can we speed things up so that people buy drinks at half-time?  Someone do the thinking and the numbers and come up with a plan.

Now all of these are simple cheap ideas.  I understand the club doesn't want to spend money on BP if they think they might be moving, but they shouldn't be looking at it as money spent on BP, but as money being invested in the supporters and future supporters.  

Some excellent points albeit on the back of the OP 's tongue in cheek Bank Holiday trolling. I'm  a good example of lost income in that I avoid queues by using chip shops,  cafes, meal deal sarnies from Tesco and smuggled flasks of coffee. Some parts of the Upper are like a picnic at half time as home made buns are passed around!

Quoted from Croxton

Some excellent points albeit on the back of the OP 's tongue in cheek Bank Holiday trolling. I'm  a good example of lost income in that I avoid queues by using chip shops,  cafes, meal deal sarnies from Tesco and smuggled flasks of coffee. Some parts of the Upper are like a picnic at half time as home made buns are passed around!

Fair point - does this suggest that the club is happy to franchise out food provision (regardless of quality) rather than look to improve the offer and make money by doing better itself?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Fair point - does this suggest that the club is happy to franchise out food provision (regardless of quality) rather than look to improve the offer and make money by doing better itself?

pretty sure that the club get a guaranteed set income from just letting the current food trucks operate along with a percentage on top ? Seem to think thats how it was explained once upon a time by JF.
Its easy for the club to do that....virtually zero risk...in business thats a bit of a no brainer...as much as we all think it wold be nice to have better quality greater variety it just doesnt stack up....it would be like purchasing and opening a chip shop in town and only opening for 3 hours max a fortnight for half of the year.
And no matter how good the food was it isnt going to bring people in...not sure if any other food outlet in town has a £20 entry charge !!

The only reasonable suggestion would be to approach the current providers and ask them to improve their quality/ range. Bringing in other mobile caterers could be an option but i would imagine the current providers are paying for exclusive rights as part of their arrangement.

Quoted from moosey_club

pretty sure that the club get a guaranteed set income from just letting the current food trucks operate along with a percentage on top ? Seem to think thats how it was explained once upon a time by JF.
Its easy for the club to do that....virtually zero risk...in business thats a bit of a no brainer...as much as we all think it wold be nice to have better quality greater variety it just doesnt stack up....it would be like purchasing and opening a chip shop in town and only opening for 3 hours max a fortnight for half of the year.
And no matter how good the food was it isnt going to bring people in...not sure if any other food outlet in town has a £20 entry charge !!

The only reasonable suggestion would be to approach the current providers and ask them to improve their quality/ range. Bringing in other mobile caterers could be an option but i would imagine the current providers are paying for exclusive rights as part of their arrangement.

Bang on Moosey. The club are guaranteed an income for very little hassle..no staff costs, no purchasing/stock issues. It's the same model almost as the bars.
Another thing..anyone (not you) saying McMenemys food is poor quality needs to give their head a wobble...

Quoted from snoopsgtfc

I was wondering if there is any new initiatives for next season?

We have some really great local produce and it seems really strange we don't offer anything other than a basic bought in pukka pie, turgid hot dog or a nasty burger.

Why are we not pushing the local Docks Beers to? fantastic new local enterprise who we could be publicly supporting and serving their delicious beer on site!

Youngs? sponsoring  the shirt with that hideous logo, but not supplying food in the town that is the so called home of fish and chips -bizarre!

Also I have noticed there don't seem to be any puddings? Why can't I get a decent crumble and custard? What about a nice chocolate brownie and ice cream?

That little Penny sweet shop (oh the memories I have there) near the ground could do with some more business, why don't they set up a little stall inside the grounds?

And where are we at with the shift worker tickets ? we tried with the trust for this donkey years ago - still nothing ?

I want a decent fan experience and when JSF reads this hope he takes the suggestions on board !


Snoopy Snoops  

Docks Beers have got it going on.