Bar service at CoMS

[bluemonkey71]

thanks for all your hard work mcfc_0k

 

[Mikeegrini]

MCFC_ok

The system as per Schalke works really well but obviously the cost is prohibitive especially if at some time the entire system will be ripped out and replaced with super duper Dolphins type kit. Couldn't we look at some sort system to pre-purchase some kind of voucher.Maybe some thing like casino chips different colours for different products, blue for Fosters etc.
There would be no need for a extra till,no need for maths and for those who English isn't there first language no miscommunication. Surely this could be implemented quickly and would speed up service and get around the councils objections.

 

[kippaxblue76]

Ok folks last night’s meeting went well. I met with 3 members of staff, 2 from the external catering firm and Neil Worcester, MCFC Catering & Operations manager.

Neil had read this thread yesterday morning when it was at around 3 pages long and had looked through the suggestions that some of you had made. He basically agrees with pretty much everything mentioned. They are fully aware of the issues, obviously my complaint wasn’t the first and no way will it be the last. Neil has his hands tied with this at the moment due to GMP & Manchester City Council (who own our ground). Neil also mentioned that this was recently brought up and discussed at Points of Blue, which Prestwich_Blue previously said.

Queuing – The council will not allow the club to put in queuing rails for health & safety reasons. However Neil insists they are doing their utmost to find an alternative that will be allowed by the council. They looked into installing state-of-the-art LED ‘runway-style’ lighting for queues but this couldn’t be implemented before the current season.

Extra staff/Tills/Pint-pourers – Again, health & safety. The space behind the bar is not big enough and the council are putting their foot down on this.

The staff – This is a concern for Neil as it seems a lot of the staff cannot speak/understand basic English. They are also aware that there are issues in certain instances with the speed and attitude of the staff and they are going to be having meetings with each member of staff to try and resolve this.

Bottles – There are, or were, current plans to introduce more bottle stations, however due to the events at the Arsenal match GMP have now put their foot down on this. I noticed last night the bottle bar near block 110/111 was closed.

Cellars – They have employed a full-time cellar manager to get the job done properly. He previously worked at Budweiser. This should prevent getting a pint of pipe-cleaner. I was actually shown one of the cellars, and I must say they are working in terrible conditions. A very small & cramped room with no floor space to move. This cellar fed 3 bars. The room was so narrow is was shocking, feel sorry for the guys who have to change a barrel at the back, means lifting the barrel over about 18 others to get to the back. Not practical at all. The cooling system is shite too, keeping the beer over the temperature it should be. Which is another reason why the beer isn’t perfect. They got people in to sort this out, however got pulled away due to H&S again. A joke really!

Backpacks – One thing we will hopefully see soon is what you see at the gigs/concerts, which has already been suggested. The guys topping up beer with their backpacks on. This hopefully should take some pressure off the bars. However again the council are holding us back on this. The club are just waiting for the green light.

Top-up system – This has been looked into. At Schalke last season, those of us who went, had to buy a Knapper card which was topped up with credit and was deducted at the bar when you bought some lager. Neil has been out to Germany and has been given the Demo’s and has even been given a quote. He is 100% all for it. However it seems the club aren’t so keen on the price. What’s £1m to city these days? This is something Neil is working on anyway, whether or when it happens, who knows....The club are also looking at going out to Miami to the home of the NFL team, the Dolphins, who apparently have ‘state of the art’ catering facilities. They are doing their research and are considering getting rid of each and every bar and food outlet within the stadium to replace it with state of the art, never seen before TOP NOTCH facilities. Obviously this will be a long-term goal and won’t happen overnight, the research needs to be done first so it’s done right.

So it seems the club are aware and are doing everything in their power to get this issue sorted. However seem to have their hands tied by various authorities which is the problem. The council seem to be the main issue, have any of you noticed that the hotdog stands have recently shut? Well, thats thanks to the council! The stadium was very badly designed as far as the catering side of things go and is causing many problems for us & the club. The obvious solution for me would be to buy the stadium off the council, job done. However I'm aware its probably not that simple! Definitely an argument FOR buying it though.

My girlfriend, Emily, who works on Blue Tuesday for BBC Radio Manchester was also with me last night. Neil agreed to go on the show to discuss these issues so that the fans can “hear it from the horse’s mouth”, as some may say. He is also asking Danny Wilson to appear with him.

I think I covered everything from last night, however there was a lot to cram into 25mins just before kick off! If I remember anything else relevant I will add it to the end of this post....

Thanks for all your effort. So it seems nothing will change any time soon then, was there any mention of the pricing and do we have any control over the staffing?

 

[Anonymous]

kippaxblue76 - it seems the club have an agreement with a catering firm, and the catering firm use agencies to recruit the staff

 

[Anonymous]

MCFC_ok

The system as per Schalke works really well but obviously the cost is prohibitive especially if at some time the entire system will be ripped out and replaced with super duper Dolphins type kit. Couldn't we look at some sort system to pre-purchase some kind of voucher.Maybe some thing like casino chips different colours for different products, blue for Fosters etc.
There would be no need for a extra till,no need for maths and for those who English isn't there first language no miscommunication. Surely this could be implemented quickly and would speed up service and get around the councils objections.

thats a good idea, that could work well.... i can suggest this idea to Neil if you wish....

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Don't like the sound of the police whingeing about the bottle bars. If they close them it will be a colossal step backwards.

Health and safety on the railings? Why are they ok in other grounds then?

 

[mancitymick]

MCFC_ok

The system as per Schalke works really well but obviously the cost is prohibitive especially if at some time the entire system will be ripped out and replaced with super duper Dolphins type kit. Couldn't we look at some sort system to pre-purchase some kind of voucher.Maybe some thing like casino chips different colours for different products, blue for Fosters etc.
There would be no need for a extra till,no need for maths and for those who English isn't there first language no miscommunication. Surely this could be implemented quickly and would speed up service and get around the councils objections.

thats a good idea, that could work well.... i can suggest this idea to Neil if you wish....

All well and good but you know as soon as it is implememnted we will employ staff who cannot only speak english but will be colour blind!

 

[kippaxblue76]

kippaxblue76 - it seems the club have an agreement with a catering firm, and the catering firm use agencies to recruit the staff

But surely if they are not up to scratch then find a firm who is or was it put out to tender and we are stuck with it for now? Also do you know if it is the club or the catering firm who set the prices?

Cheers.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't like the sound of the police whingeing about the bottle bars. If they close them it will be a colossal step backwards.

Health and safety on the railings? Why are they ok in other grounds then?

i can only assume these other grounds are owned by the clubs.... whereas ours isn't...

also, the beer backpacks are allowed at gigs at CoMS, but seems they have to cross many bridges for it to happen at football... the reason why... different licenses for football!

 

[Anonymous]

kippaxblue76 - it seems the club have an agreement with a catering firm, and the catering firm use agencies to recruit the staff

But surely if they are not up to scratch then find a firm who is or was it put out to tender and we are stuck with it for now? Also do you know if it is the club or the catering firm who set the prices?

Cheers.

no idea whether we are stuck with it, this wasn't discussed... not sure about the prices either, personally my guess would be that its the catering firm that set the prices and city get a cut of the profit! but dont quote me on it, thats just my opinion...

i'd probably guess the catering firm are under contract too, perhaps may have been renewed and we may be "stuck" with them for another few years... not sure, however i'm sure the club are probably aware that they dont HAVE to stick with them