Catering

[dickos1]

As a renowned “happy clapper” it’s very unusual for me to find something to moan about, especially after last night
But what is going off with the catering?
At the Crewe game there was no hot food left at all at half time, last night my lad wanted some chips at half time and the bloke told us there was a 20 min wait for chips.
What are they playing at?

[mugnapper]

My Grandson watches Rovers and Manchester City.
I asked which team he preferred watching.
He replied 'Rovers, cos the chips are better' lol.

[Bentley Bullet]

The attendance was up about 50% so perhaps the caterers got their figures wrong regarding demand.

Things can get difficult when the chips are down.

[Silkscarf]

I went down just after the goal and queued throughout half time for a pie and a drink and missed first 5 minutes of second half. People still queuing and eating when I went back to my seat.

Too much choice possibly and not able to fulfil orders in the available time? We don’t need people frying chips or whatever at that point, there isn’t time. Keep it simple. Ready-cooked pies, sausage rolls etc.

I don’t normally bother with it at half-time but I hadn’t eaten so I reluctantly had to stick with the queue. I won’t bother again.

[dickos1]

The attendance was up about 50% so perhaps the caterers got their figures wrong regarding demand.

Things can get difficult when the chips are down.

The Crewe game though at half time they had no hot food left at all

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I used the outside catering van at half time for a cup of tea. Served very quickly, went back inside to see the queues still very long.

I think the outside vans tend to alternate their location between South and West but for bigger games, it would be helpful to have both to elevate the pressure on the inside concourse bars.

No matter what, they can't be expected to cope with everyone in that 20 min HT period. Getting anything is a bonus really.

The quantity of food ordered to match demand is another issue, but maybe more folk should be aware of the vans outside.

[jmt23]

I posted this earlier in the week, but I went to Sheff U vs Fulham and they only had one kiosk open for the stand - bonkers, they ran out of food and some drinks, and only had 4-5 items to choose from anyway.the queue was still a mile long well after the second half kicked off. So not just a DRFC issue.

[Silkscarf]

I used the outside catering van at half time for a cup of tea. Served very quickly, went back inside to see the queues still very long.

I think the outside vans tend to alternate their location between South and West but for bigger games, it would be helpful to have both to elevate the pressure on the inside concourse bars.

No matter what, they can't be expected to cope with everyone in that 20 min HT period. Getting anything is a bonus really.

The quantity of food ordered to match demand is another issue, but maybe more folk should be aware of the vans outside.

I didn’t know you could leave and re-enter the ground. Is everyone allowed to do that? Is it for smokers? Doesn’t seem practical for more than a handful of people.

[Colin C No.3]

‘Speaking for the West Stand’, the club absolutely missed an opportunity for increased sales by not having both kiosks open.

The ‘call from the club’ was for Rovers fans to turn out in droves to support the team. The fans played their part & the club let them down.

Sorry for a negative post on what was a terrific game of football & a fantastic win for the boys but it is what it is.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I used the outside catering van at half time for a cup of tea. Served very quickly, went back inside to see the queues still very long.

I think the outside vans tend to alternate their location between South and West but for bigger games, it would be helpful to have both to elevate the pressure on the inside concourse bars.

No matter what, they can't be expected to cope with everyone in that 20 min HT period. Getting anything is a bonus really.

The quantity of food ordered to match demand is another issue, but maybe more folk should be aware of the vans outside.

I didn’t know you could leave and re-enter the ground. Is everyone allowed to do that? Is it for smokers? Doesn’t seem practical for more than a handful of people.

It's definitely not compulsory to smoke. There are non smokers who come out for a bit of fresh air too.

[IDM]

‘Speaking for the West Stand’, the club absolutely missed an opportunity for increased sales by not having both kiosks open.

The ‘call from the club’ was for Rovers fans to turn out in droves to support the team. The fans played their part & the club let them down.

Sorry for a negative post on what was a terrific game of football & a fantastic win for the boys but it is what it is.

Is it the club’s decision or the caterer’s.?

[drfcsteve]

Have to agree it’s another fail for the catering on an otherwise amazing night. 20 minutes to get a pint before the game meaning you have to neck it in record time to see kick off. You go for food 10 minutes before half time and they’ve got nothing left. The fancy new food never resembles what’s actually advertised.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Don't forget to fill in the match surveys when you get the emails.

Just a general observation about many cafe's/pubs these days  is it takes far too long to serve, even just single items. Everything is all very methodical. Even in pubs these days, when you get served at the bar, they expect you to follow them to the till to pay, rather than coming to you!!
Rarely can you ask for more than one item before they come back and ask you again. Multi tasking and teamwork is lacking.

Mass catering is never going to be perfect but we have to keep trying different things to speed up the service. 

[Silkscarf]

I used the outside catering van at half time for a cup of tea. Served very quickly, went back inside to see the queues still very long.

I think the outside vans tend to alternate their location between South and West but for bigger games, it would be helpful to have both to elevate the pressure on the inside concourse bars.

No matter what, they can't be expected to cope with everyone in that 20 min HT period. Getting anything is a bonus really.

The quantity of food ordered to match demand is another issue, but maybe more folk should be aware of the vans outside.

I didn’t know you could leave and re-enter the ground. Is everyone allowed to do that? Is it for smokers? Doesn’t seem practical for more than a handful of people.

It's definitely not compulsory to smoke. There are non smokers who come out for a bit of fresh air too.

Maybe so but it’s never going to be practical or safe to allow thousands (or even hundreds) of people to exit then re-enter at HT. Turnstile staff have mainly clocked off by then anyway.

So the task is to feed and water a few thousand people in 15-20 minutes. Therefore it has to be very simple and quick. The overall offer has expanded to make more money but it can’t be done in the time available at HT.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I used the outside catering van at half time for a cup of tea. Served very quickly, went back inside to see the queues still very long.

I think the outside vans tend to alternate their location between South and West but for bigger games, it would be helpful to have both to elevate the pressure on the inside concourse bars.

No matter what, they can't be expected to cope with everyone in that 20 min HT period. Getting anything is a bonus really.

The quantity of food ordered to match demand is another issue, but maybe more folk should be aware of the vans outside.

I didn’t know you could leave and re-enter the ground. Is everyone allowed to do that? Is it for smokers? Doesn’t seem practical for more than a handful of people.

It's definitely not compulsory to smoke. There are non smokers who come out for a bit of fresh air too.

Maybe so but it’s never going to be practical or safe to allow thousands (or even hundreds) of people to exit then re-enter at HT. Turnstile staff have mainly clocked off by then anyway.

So the task is to feed and water a few thousand people in 15-20 minutes. Therefore it has to be very simple and quick. The overall offer has expanded to make more money but it can’t be done in the time available at HT.

It wouldn't be thousands and it's nowt to do with turnstile staff. There's a couple of stewards who monitor the fenced off 'smoking' area by the exit doors.

All I'm suggesting is more folk could use it. Even if it's only 50 per stand, that's 50 less in the concourse queues.

We've touched on this many times and as said before, even taking the catering in house doesn't solve the logistics issues with sourcing and staffing etc. However, we should be able to put other measures in place a bit quicker.

[Pancho Regan]

As a renowned “happy clapper” it’s very unusual for me to find something to moan about, especially after last night
But what is going off with the catering?
At the Crewe game there was no hot food left at all at half time, last night my lad wanted some chips at half time and the bloke told us there was a 20 min wait for chips.
What are they playing at?

Totally agree dickos.

I've just completed the online survey and I'm afraid I had to be very critical again about the standard of service at the drinks kiosk in West Stand concourse.
I queued for almost half an hour to get drinks before kick off; unbelievably frustrating. Loads of potential punters had to give in and walk away as kick-off approached.

I'm sorry but there is only one word to describe the staff in that kiosk last night: inept.

Other than that, a fantastic night!

[ravenrover]

Oh for goodness sake it's catering at a 4th division football ground, get over it or don't use it

[karldew]

https://x.com/amorrisracing/status/1775213245529198609?s=46&t=NW2HQZbSZTCyeJVxHL-jUg

On the flip side it looks like this Wrexham fan was in early and enjoyed his food.

[NickDRFC]

Oh for goodness sake it's catering at a 4th division football ground, get over it or don't use it

This sort of attitude would cost the club thousands of pounds.

[Colin C No.3]

Oh for goodness sake it's catering at a 4th division football ground, get over it or don't use it

Wrong attitude.

Accept mediocrity & that’s what you’ll get.

Nobody’s asking for the earth here, just decent service & if that means more staff, more kiosks open, better staff training then that’s what needs looking at.

Queuing for 20 minutes for a pint 30 minutes before kick off to find part of the reason for the wait is that there are only 3 staff serving is unacceptable at any venue.

[McCammon egg n chips]

Going against the grain here but 9 out of 10 matches this season it's been pretty decent in South Stand.

Quality of food is one of the best in this league. Service has been pretty quick too. Night and day compared to last season. Always improvements to be made but from where I usually sit it's been decent.

Having said that the two times I've been in the west stand (pre-season and cup game v Accrington) the catering was a free for all, so maybe it's just a West Stand issue...

[EasyforDennis]

I would be quite happy if they opened all the west stand turnstiles. 

[dickos1]

Oh for goodness sake it's catering at a 4th division football ground, get over it or don't use it

Get over what mick?
It’s a nonsense, we got there just as half time whistle blew and they had just started the chips, surely someone with half a brain cell would realise they need to start cooking the chips before half time not as the whistle goes.
And not having any hot food left at all as the half time whistle blows it’s ridiculous

[ravenrover]

I find it hard to believe that people rely on catering at the ground for essential food or that someone can't go 110 -120mins without a pint especially at the prices they charge, maybe it's just me getting old but food beer at a football match doesn't go together, maybe it's just me getting old

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I find it hard to believe that people rely on catering at the ground for essential food or that someone can't go 110 -120mins without a pint especially at the prices they charge, maybe it's just me getting old but food beer at a football match doesn't go together, maybe it's just me getting old

Everyone has different match day expectations and there's no getting away from refreshments and food is part of many folks enjoyment.

I generally can take it or leave it . Sometimes I indulge and sometimes I don't, but you can understand those who might see it as more important like parents with kids who look forward to a treat at some point.

So, if we're going to do it, let's make a decent fist of it.

I just think if we could shift the basics quicker, tea, coffee, pop, crisps, etc, then there's more scope for the hot food etc, which are more complex to prepare, keep warm and serve while getting balance between quantity and quality.

The West stand can be a problem and rarely do we have all the counters open which can compound the frustrations.

[DRFCTom]

What about setting up some sort of app where we can order the food around 30mins in to be ready on the half time mark

[DonnyBazR0ver]

What about setting up some sort of app where we can order the food around 30mins in to be ready on the half time mark

We've done pre ordering before. I don't know what the current score is with that  but again, it's one of many things that could be looked at.

Not sure what the shadow board have on the agenda these days but normally catering is rarely off it.

[Colin C No.3]

What about setting up some sort of app where we can order the food around 30mins in to be ready on the half time mark

I ‘don’t do’ emojis but if I did I’d be searching for the one that has someone pi**ing their pants reading that post!

Sorry DRFCTom, but if someone (as happened last night) decides at 19.15 it would be a good time to start wiping the counter down & emptying the ‘overspills’ from glasses into a slop bucket whilst their two remaining colleagues continue to serve three queues that are now snaking past the concourse windows well, good luck with trusting anyone to ‘act’ on the app ordering.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Uber Eats?

[DRFCTom]

What about setting up some sort of app where we can order the food around 30mins in to be ready on the half time mark

I ‘don’t do’ emojis but if I did I’d be searching for the one that has someone pi**ing their pants reading that post!

And why’s that?