Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: SLO@DRFC on February 07, 2014, 10:11:17 am
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Dean Stones from Centreplate (formerly known as Lindleys) the clubs catering suppliers is keen to meet fans to discuss the most common problems experienced with the concourse catering and to discuss proposed solutions.
The meeting will take place on Thursday 13th February commencing at 6.00pm.
The club are looking for approximately twelve fans to take part in these discussions and would prefer an even spread from each stand if possible to achieve a full and comprehensive understanding to particular issues in each stand.
If you would like to attend this meeting, please email supporterliaison@doncasterroversfc.co.uk and state in which stand you normally sit. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Whilst on the face off it...this looks a good thing sometimes in business I smell lip service and this is one of them...Concerns have been passed to them by a variety of staff for a number of months regarding all of the issues of which none have been addressed in any shape or form...They know what the main problems are already they have been told enough, so like I said before sometimes you can have meeting upon meeting to little avail...The time has come for them to stop there talking and actually do something about it...Sorry to all the boys working hard on this issue but im just not buying that....
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These catering companies seem to be changing hands every two minutes, first we had that Australian company, I forget the name of, then Lindleys and now Centreplate, no wonder there's no continuity in anything they do or say!
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Since 1969- I hope their standards of catering are a lot better than your spelling!
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These catering companies seem to be changing hands every two minutes, first we had that Australian company, I forget the name of, then Lindleys and now Centreplate, no wonder there's no continuity in anything they do or say!
Centerplate is the new name for Lindley's and is not a different supplier. The management in place at Doncaster Rovers remains the same
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Whilst on the face off it...this looks a good thing sometimes in business I smell lip service and this is one of them...Concerns have been passed to them by a variety of staff for a number of months regarding all of the issues of which none have been addressed in any shape or form...They know what the main problems are already they have been told enough, so like I said before sometimes you can have meeting upon meeting to little avail...The time has come for them to stop there talking and actually do something about it...Sorry to all the boys working hard on this issue but im just not buying that....
Wing Commander, please come along to the meeting and discuss with Dean your issues. We know from talking to Dean and his team they are constantly looking for feedback on the service and looking to implement changes to improve it.
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Do you know I'm normally the first one to say don't moan if you arnt prepared to do anything about it, but if I actually believed any of your statement was in the remotest accurate I would, but Im sorry I don't I'm afraid they truly do not give a monkeys...I've been told far too much about this companies generally attitude to the situation by more than than one member of staff including managers (the couple they have left) to think that it would do much good other than to be smiled at....Most of the big points I would raise would implement people so I wont do that...If you think they arnt already fully aware of there issues then you have your head in the sand on this occasion I'm afraid and as such wouldn't waste my time.....
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They know what the issues are from the posts on here, and they are the supposed experts in this field.
Why don't they use the 7 days before the Barnsley game to address those points, rather than wait until the 13th to have a talking shop then say they haven't got time to put any changes in place before Saturday.
If there's no improvement at the Barnsley game, then they've got 3 weeks to the next home game to pack their bags and make way for someone who knows what they are doing and cares about the service they offer.
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Yep,
The main issues are pretty clear already.
The queues are much too long
The staff aren't up to scratch
Items on the menu are unavailable
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Out of interest is it the same caterers who provide the hospitality as the concourse? As someone who's had a box twice this season with a meal etc the service was exemplary.
I'd be sending some of those staff upstairs to watch and learn how it's done.
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. The club is amongst the first to initiate SLOs . The two guys in that function ( they are not full time paid professionals but fan volunters ) take the trouble to not only listen to fans' complaints but to convene a fans meet catering management session ..then you get responses like this . I imagine the SLOs will prove more resilient than those refusing to believe their action to be worthwhile .
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The thing is Wesco that like any other business the best staff are allocated to these areas as they are the face of the company to the corporate side..Much more important than us plebs on the concources...However those staff to have also started leaving in there droves...hence the bring a mate with black trousers text that was sent out to everybody the day before the Middlesbrough match...If that doesn't tell you this companies attitude to staff and training I don't know what does...The only people happy about this is the racecourse who I know have always had problems with staff in this area too...However they are happily taking on these people gleefully...
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Brian.... I accept your point I really do....I think both the SLO's do a absolute brilliant job and so do a lot of other clubs fans as well...However on this occasion I don't accept the reasoning...This is a large company supposedly experienced in the art of corporate entertainment and NOT Doncaster rovers per say...Im sure as a result of this meeting for a few weeks at least there will be pizzas and hot dogs available and maybe even hot water for a Bovril before half time..However its my opinion based on a variety of reasons that there problems go a lot lot deeper than this and if they need a few fans to rock up and explain that then your getting nothing other than lip service from a manager who knows he's in the crap and has switched to firefighting mode.....so its a pointless exercise..Just my opinion on this isolated occasion
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Im not suggesting leaving them alone with potentially our more affluent supporters.
We do a lot of job pairing as part of training and the best staff should be the ones teaching that. It shouldn't matter whether it's. TB with his net worth or me with my net worth of diddly squat - excellent service is excellent service and can go a long way to appeasing some of the little issue. A basic 'sorry for your wait' would stop me dead before moaning about it to them.
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Could we please add that this meeting was initiated by Dean Stones from Centerplate as he wanted to meet the fans to discuss the issues, potential obstacles and most importantly ways forward.
We as SLOs see this as an ideal opportunity for fans to voice their opinions face to face with the management for the enhancement of all our matchday experiences.
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Of course he has...he's firefighting...However if he can't work it out himself by now,he's in the wrong job....A well meaning but totally pointless exercise guys I'm afraid..
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Why doesn't he just turn up at the Barnsley match and experience it for himself?
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Why doesn't he just turn up at the Barnsley match and experience it for himself?
as a supporter "undercover boss" type thing
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I can't decide what's more inconsistent - their standard of service or the spelling of Center in this thread.
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Of course he has...he's firefighting...However if he can't work it out himself by now,he's in the wrong job....A well meaning but totally pointless exercise guys I'm afraid..
Your positivity is overwhelming. Enough said !!
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. The club is amongst the first to initiate SLOs . The two guys in that function ( they are not full time paid professionals but fan volunters ) take the trouble to not only listen to fans' complaints but to convene a fans meet catering management session ..then you get responses like this . I imagine the SLOs will prove more resilient than those refusing to believe their action to be worthwhile .
I didn't want to sound ungrateful Grainge but the problems have been highlighted very thoroughly just within this thread.
I suppose the caterers might want to have the opportunity to reassure people that they are taking it seriously and explain why it is that they are having problems.
For me they don't have to do that. All they have to do is manage to get me served at half time without me having to leave my seat 5 minutes before the first half as finished to get ahead of the queue, then I'll be very happy.
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My posivety is overwhelming?? Just how many times do they need it spelling out to them...??? It's simple really...Pay your staff on time,give them training and guidelines to follow to increase productivity and Taylor your staff requirements to supply..the same as any other basic business...When they can be bothered to address those issues then you can add your meetings to refine the service....until then I would direct them to these threads which of course they have already read and ignored..I'm actually hoping nobody goes then they may realise that nobody believes in there words anymore...
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My posivety is overwhelming?? Just how many times do they need it spelling out to them...??? It's simple really...Pay your staff on time,give them training and guidelines to follow to increase productivity and Taylor your staff requirements to supply..the same as any other basic business...When they can be bothered to address those issues then you can add your meetings to refine the service....until then I would direct them to these threads which of course they have already read and ignored..I'm actually hoping nobody goes then they may realise that nobody believes in there words anymore...
Couldn't agree more - I'm with the Gp Capt here - farcical service and a offer to meet and talk through the problems that should be blatantly obvious to anyone who has attended and viewed the mayhem in action. Forget the meeting propose - lets hear some resolutions
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Could we please add that this meeting was initiated by Dean Stones from Centerplate as he wanted to meet the fans to discuss the issues, potential obstacles and most importantly ways forward.
We as SLOs see this as an ideal opportunity for fans to voice their opinions face to face with the management for the enhancement of all our matchday experiences.
Sorry guys but that's tosh! The meeting was initiated by the amount of complaints they've been getting and this thread in particular. I met Dean prior to the game against Middlesborough and he sounded upbeat and ready for the game, pity really that it didn't last that long.
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Could we please add that this meeting was initiated by Dean Stones from Centerplate as he wanted to meet the fans to discuss the issues, potential obstacles and most importantly ways forward.
We as SLOs see this as an ideal opportunity for fans to voice their opinions face to face with the management for the enhancement of all our matchday experiences.
Sorry guys but that's tosh! The meeting was initiated by the amount of complaints they've been getting and this thread in particular. I met Dean prior to the game against Middlesborough and he sounded upbeat and ready for the game, pity really that it didn't last that long.
Are you certain it was this thread SM?
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I find this thread amusing, interesting, frustrating, annoying and promising... in equal measure.
Those of us who patronise the catering facilities at the KMS on a regular basis are probably 90% in agreement that it is not working satisfactorily. Personally, I've gone from finding the service mildly amusing, to rather frustrating, to very annoying and ultimately completely inept.
I'm one of those idiots who thinks that buying ANY product or service from my beloved club is ultimately benefitting that same beloved club.
OK, call me naive, but that's how I am.
But I have absolutely reached the end of my tether with the abjectly incompetent catering service on offer in the West Stand concourse........and believe me, I have a really long tether.
I wish I lived in Donny and could attend this meeting because I am prepared to put aside my total frustration with the inept catering service and offer my positive suggestions, but I can't make it as I live some distance away.
I can only hope that the catering supplier, along with our trusted representatives on the VSC, can have the goodwill and enthusiasm to really try and sort this out, because it is a serious failing in the club's attempts at customer satisfaction.
It really is just not funny anymore.
End of rant....
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When the stadium opened I used to take my flask of coffee because I didn't really want to put the money behind the then operators, when the club took over I tried, I bought a hot dog and a coffee on the first match Lindleys took control quite nice actually, tomato source and mustard EXACTLY as it had been given out in one of the fans forums and to be honest it went downhill very quickly.
Buy a coffee before kick off the chances are its warm at best, pint of Becks please, "sorry the pipes froze last night" and on another day that totally tasted of cleaning fluid, (numerous posts on here about that one) Half time just a coffee forget it.
Back to to flask I'm afraid.
This thread needs pointing out to them or printing out and put to them at the meeting.
Chip gate is sorted (thanks Twinkletoes) but ........................ It strikes me Wing Commander may well know a bit of behind the scenes stuff that the club or us will not be privy too
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No I don't actually just a number of people who used to work there,but I have run my own business long enough to know that in this case putting a few extra pizzas on the shelves will only be papering the cracks....it's a shame as I actually think the food variety is excellent but I'm sorry it's just plain old incompetence...
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Get local dinner ladies to work match days,experienced with dealing with queue's and let them train the younger staff members on the job,a simple answer to the question. :thumbsup:
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No I don't actually just a number of people who used to work there,but I have run my own business long enough to know that in this case putting a few extra pizzas on the shelves will only be papering the cracks....it's a shame as I actually think the food variety is excellent but I'm sorry it's just plain old incompetence...
That's more what I meant judging by some of your posts
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I find this thread amusing, interesting, frustrating, annoying and promising... in equal measure.
Those of us who patronise the catering facilities at the KMS on a regular basis are probably 90% in agreement that it is not working satisfactorily. Personally, I've gone from finding the service mildly amusing, to rather frustrating, to very annoying and ultimately completely inept.
I'm one of those idiots who thinks that buying ANY product or service from my beloved club is ultimately benefitting that same beloved club.
OK, call me naive, but that's how I am.
But I have absolutely reached the end of my tether with the abjectly incompetent catering service on offer in the West Stand concourse........and believe me, I have a really long tether.
I wish I lived in Donny and could attend this meeting because I am prepared to put aside my total frustration with the inept catering service and offer my positive suggestions, but I can't make it as I live some distance away.
I can only hope that the catering supplier, along with our trusted representatives on the VSC, can have the goodwill and enthusiasm to really try and sort this out, because it is a serious failing in the club's attempts at customer satisfaction.
It really is just not funny anymore.
End of rant....
Im going and live in Leeds!
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Listed below are the issues I will be raising at the meeting. Anyone else like to add to them. (I just know I'm going to regret putting that)
1.Half time Refreshment Bar closed at half time
2. Running out of pies etc
3. Number of till open
4.Running out of beer 40 minutes before kick off
5.Vending Machines
6.Slow staff at tills
7. Chocolate Bars
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Listed below are the issues I will be raising at the meeting. Anyone else like to add to them. (I just know I'm going to regret putting that)
1.Half time Refreshment Bar closed at half time
2. Running out of pies etc
3. Number of till open
4.Running out of beer 40 minutes before kick off
5.Vending Machines
6.Slow staff at tills
7. Chocolate Bars
Someone posted that one kiosk had no hot water for tea/coffee.This really is a basic thing and not having any is piss poor!
Also other posts say that except for the pies the quality of food is poor!
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Why does Dean not simply attend the next home game , spend time on the concourse and talk to people in the queues , no need for a meeting then , he will get all the info he needs and see the staff in action for himself.
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I think "Half Time Refreshment Bar closed at Half Time" is a very powerful statement.
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I wouldn't pay him in brash washers...I really wouldn't.....Frankly he should be embarrassed at having to ask....
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Why does Dean not simply attend the next home game , spend time on the concourse and talk to people in the queues , no need for a meeting then , he will get all the info he needs and see the staff in action for himself.
He does attend games. I spoke to him whilst stood in the queue before ko against Middlesborough.
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Why does Dean not simply attend the next home game , spend time on the concourse and talk to people in the queues , no need for a meeting then , he will get all the info he needs and see the staff in action for himself.
And he still needs supporters to tell him what the issues are???? Is he REAL???
He does attend games. I spoke to him whilst stood in the queue before ko against Middlesborough.
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Rovers should take it on themselves. Source everything locally. Create a micro economy. Be the first club to do it.
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Rovers should take it on themselves. Source everything locally. Create a micro economy. Be the first club to do it.
Completely agree PDX, I've said this in every 'supporter survey' I've filled in. Our views are valued by the club of course.
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I find this thread amusing, interesting, frustrating, annoying and promising... in equal measure.
Those of us who patronise the catering facilities at the KMS on a regular basis are probably 90% in agreement that it is not working satisfactorily. Personally, I've gone from finding the service mildly amusing, to rather frustrating, to very annoying and ultimately completely inept.
I'm one of those idiots who thinks that buying ANY product or service from my beloved club is ultimately benefitting that same beloved club.
OK, call me naive, but that's how I am.
But I have absolutely reached the end of my tether with the abjectly incompetent catering service on offer in the West Stand concourse........and believe me, I have a really long tether.
I wish I lived in Donny and could attend this meeting because I am prepared to put aside my total frustration with the inept catering service and offer my positive suggestions, but I can't make it as I live some distance away.
I can only hope that the catering supplier, along with our trusted representatives on the VSC, can have the goodwill and enthusiasm to really try and sort this out, because it is a serious failing in the club's attempts at customer satisfaction.
It really is just not funny anymore.
End of rant....
Im going and live in Leeds!
Bully for you.
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Well folks. I think at least we've identified why there are never any pies left.
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Surely there's a decent supply of quality stuff locally should Rovers take this in-house?
http://doncasterbrewery.co.uk/
http://www.toppingspies.co.uk/
http://www.piperscrisps.com/
http://amysmiths.co.uk/
Offer local shops an outlet on matchdays, for example: http://www.whitbysrestaurant.co.uk/doncaster
Curry wraps
Hog Roast
Cooplands
Bacon Butties etc.
As well as you usual fare (Mars bars, coca cola etc, tea, coffee etc).
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After seeing how well the catering was organised at the Amex Stadium, it really does show ours up (not that I was under any illusions).
One point for me - why can't we have card machines on the catering? They had them at Brighton, with 2 queues for cash only, the other four for card/cash. Worked quick and easy. There's literally no excuse.
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Rovers should take it on themselves. Source everything locally. Create a micro economy. Be the first club to do it.
Would be good if feasible ... and if we get the Knights into the "Club Doncaster" arrangement we could do worse than asking for their input
OK only 1200 there on Saturday (and everyone does not eat / drink) but they have it off to a fine art.
A bar that is 71 feet long helps and loads of people (efficiently) serving from 30 or more Pumps and doing a good job ... £3.10 for "real" Beer
They make their own Steak Pies and that come to £4.95 for a Cow Pie Chips Mushy Peas and Gravy. Personally I have Chicken Curry and Chips which is always very tasty very hot and a fair old portion for £3. Queues form of course especially at half time but they know its half time and are ready.
One takes your money up front and several dish out the grub (which also has Sausage Sandwiches Baked Spuds Chips and Gravy and lots more. It is a REAL pleasure to give them my money and I look forward to going there knowing I can get good quality food and drink - in fact I always PLAN to eat there - whereas at Rovers despite being a STH for many years I always plan NOT to eat / drink
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I think the fact that your happy to spend money at the knights,yet simply have given up on the service at Rovers should make those responsible embarrassed...As for the DIY argument,I think that whilst that's good in principal it would be a hard thing to implement from scratch without the experience to do it...
After all we are a football club and if a succession of companies who are so called market leaders in this field cant feed and water 6000 Donny fans to any kind of acceptable standard then what chance have we?? We simply shouldn't have to....The club not the fans should be having this meeting and be putting the pressure on to get it sorted out now......A quick question for anybody in the know but do the contracts we sign with these companies leave us with any redress when they fail to perform at this lot are now????
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I think the problem with the idea of switching catering companies is they currently run ALL of the catering, including for the premier lounge, the directors, the corporate boxes, functions etc. Maybe the current company is really good at catering upstairs and for more corporate type functions? Rovers might also be getting a great deal on that side of things?
Whether there is a possibility to split the contract and offer out the units in the concourses, I don't know, but I'm sure individual tenants in the concourses would have more impetus to offer a better service, products, pricing etc
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Rovers should take it on themselves. Source everything locally. Create a micro economy. Be the first club to do it.
Would be good if feasible ... and if we get the Knights into the "Club Doncaster" arrangement we could do worse than asking for their input
OK only 1200 there on Saturday (and everyone does not eat / drink) but they have it off to a fine art.
A bar that is 71 feet long helps and loads of people (efficiently) serving from 30 or more Pumps and doing a good job ... £3.10 for "real" Beer
They make their own Steak Pies and that come to £4.95 for a Cow Pie Chips Mushy Peas and Gravy. Personally I have Chicken Curry and Chips which is always very tasty very hot and a fair old portion for £3. Queues form of course especially at half time but they know its half time and are ready.
One takes your money up front and several dish out the grub (which also has Sausage Sandwiches Baked Spuds Chips and Gravy and lots more. It is a REAL pleasure to give them my money and I look forward to going there knowing I can get good quality food and drink - in fact I always PLAN to eat there - whereas at Rovers despite being a STH for many years I always plan NOT to eat / drink
Yes, the catering is pretty good at Castle Park. If we could get their people to look after the Keepmoat as well, I'd be more than happy.
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I see what your saying Bobjimwilly but this company provide this service for a lot bigger sporting arenas than ours...I bet when they were running the Etihaad they couldn't get away with the incompetent attitude they show to everybody from there own staff to us the fans.....After looking at there website they are happy to shout out there mission statement of "Treat guests like your business depends on it"...And just when I thought they simply couldn't make themselves look stupider.....
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Castle Park has the best grub I've ever had at a sports ground. Bar possibly Oldham Rugby Ground. Pies £1.50 there!
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The irony is I accept that your going to pay inflated prices,thats the nature of the beast when you have a lot of people locked in one place....wether it be stadiums,racecourses or music festivals...And in our case I think the food is pretty good when you compare it to others ive had at the above mentioned events..However if your going to lift my leg do it with efficiency,speed and politeness...Don't continually piss up my back then offer me a meeting to to tell me what anybody with a basic understanding of business knew 4 months ago when they were told the first time and they were....As for the clubs point of view...Gavins a very intelligent bloke so im sure he is aware of the problems himself and the reaction this farce of a fans meeting has generated....
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I see what your saying Bobjimwilly but this company provide this service for a lot bigger sporting arenas than ours...I bet when they were running the Etihaad they couldn't get away with the incompetent attitude they show to everybody from there own staff to us the fans.....After looking at there website they are happy to shout out there mission statement of "Treat guests like your business depends on it"...And just when I thought they simply couldn't make themselves look stupider.....
Like by putting ..... or "there" instead of "their"?
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Rovers should take it on themselves. Source everything locally. Create a micro economy. Be the first club to do it.
Would be good if feasible ... and if we get the Knights into the "Club Doncaster" arrangement we could do worse than asking for their input
OK only 1200 there on Saturday (and everyone does not eat / drink) but they have it off to a fine art.
A bar that is 71 feet long helps and loads of people (efficiently) serving from 30 or more Pumps and doing a good job ... £3.10 for "real" Beer
They make their own Steak Pies and that come to £4.95 for a Cow Pie Chips Mushy Peas and Gravy. Personally I have Chicken Curry and Chips which is always very tasty very hot and a fair old portion for £3. Queues form of course especially at half time but they know its half time and are ready.
One takes your money up front and several dish out the grub (which also has Sausage Sandwiches Baked Spuds Chips and Gravy and lots more. It is a REAL pleasure to give them my money and I look forward to going there knowing I can get good quality food and drink - in fact I always PLAN to eat there - whereas at Rovers despite being a STH for many years I always plan NOT to eat / drink
Fantastic. It can be done then.
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Yes ... it can be done and is done regularly and with extreme consistency.
The Cow Pies are legendary whether eaten in the West Stand or Clubhouse the beer is kept well and there is even a third Bar with adjoining Tea / Coffee Bar outside right by the Corner Flag
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I want a cow pie now.
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I want a cow pie now.
Your next chance would be March 1st unless you are a dyed in the wool Rovers fan and going to Bournemouth
Knights at home to Blaydon as they (hopefully) edge nearer Promotion and though I don't have a grasp on the Rules*** and nuances (and I have Chicken Curry and Chips) I will more than likely attend
In fact as I said earlier I always PLAN to go for the food and Beer !
*** I cant get over the Spectators calling the Ref "Sir" either !