Catering at BFC

[Nurse Betty]

In the great scheme of things, this is a minor grouch but I would be interested to know what catering facilities are available in the Braemar and Ealing Road areas? From a couple of postings on here, it sounds as though yesterday's Refreshing Solution was to bring sandwiches and a flask.

I hardly ever use the catering facilities at GP (or any other football ground for that matter) but yesterday was priceless. No chips at half-time (sold out, I think), no curry (only being sold during the winter months - fair enough, they may have found that it didn't sell well until the weather got cold) and about two pasties and a sausage roll left in the hot cabinet at 3.50pm. I was told by a burger muncher that their burger was cold. Small incidences but I am curious as to whether the Bill Axbey is suffering from a catering black hole or whether others are finding it inadequate and amateurish.

I've lost track of what happened with the catering contract. I read somewhere weeks ago that Azure hadn't signed up for another season but I don't know if that remains true. If they didn't sign another contract, who is responsible for the catering at the moment?

 

[homerbees]

It's awful at GP every year.

Ealing Road versus Mansfield only sold hot dogs when I went for a burger after 20 minutes....

I wouldn't mind but with several weeks notice, you'd think they'd stock up.

 

[Thorne In The Side]

This comes up time and time again, year after year.
Is it any wonder why my father looks at my brother and I when we moan and groan every single week with the expression that says "Why are you so surprised, it's Brentford and nothing will change?"
You say it is only a minor thing but all these minor things add up and have taken their toll. And people still wonder why this club finds itself having to dip into slush funds to keep the place afloat.

 

[porkk]

I had to eat my Chicken Balti pie with a ****ing lólipop stick yesterday! Bloody hell.

 

[nocoat]

If the catering had been done properly over the last decade we would have about £500,000 clear profit more as a rough guess. Complete shambles every year!! I could list countless personal incidences of bad food/no food etc etc. But I won't as they are all the same. It is better to sell a thousand burgers and throw away a hundred, than to sell 200 and throw away none!!

 

[walkerbee]

ealing road had virtually no queue (when i got there at the beginning of HT).. so it was no problem for me. there have been queues before though. the few times that ive been in braemer ive wondered how they coped.. and it seems they dont. simple as!

 

[didi]

a lot of people get there food outside the groud now days its hot and filling
the chippy/kabab/burger near the bookies or macdonalds
because of this reason

 

[Brentford Bob]

The catering was a farce in Braemar yesterday. My 7 year old wanted some chips at half time but we were both astounded to see the length of the queue for the "refreshments". If we'd joined the queue, we'd have missed a significant amount of the 2nd half, thus we didn't bother.

My lad, James, hasn't been to many games but at his age, it's things like this that will stop him wanting to come - as insignificant as it sounds.
Having just moved to Hampshire, we have Premier league and Championship football within easy reach of us. It will be quicker and cheaper to get there, the product is of significantly higher standard and the whole matchday "experience" (for my kids) will be better.

I'll always come to Griffin Park, I have Brentford in my blood, but my kids haven't caught the bug yet and I'm wondering how long it will be before their new peers at their new schools will begin to have a "football" influence on them.

As an aside - has anyone ever thought about approaching McD's about opening a small outlet at GP on a matchday? Is it viable? Could BFC use McD's staff from down the road to staff it?

 

[8 Bee]

I trust you will be supplying us with the chocolate cakes again this Christmas rather than relying on BFC catering to sustain us at H-T on a cold winters day!

Perhaps you should bring a bigger flask and start selling hot drinks as well.

In the great scheme of things, this is a minor grouch but I would be interested to know what catering facilities are available in the Braemar and Ealing Road areas? From a couple of postings on here, it sounds as though yesterday's Refreshing Solution was to bring sandwiches and a flask.

I hardly ever use the catering facilities at GP (or any other football ground for that matter) but yesterday was priceless. No chips at half-time (sold out, I think), no curry (only being sold during the winter months - fair enough, they may have found that it didn't sell well until the weather got cold) and about two pasties and a sausage roll left in the hot cabinet at 3.50pm. I was told by a burger muncher that their burger was cold. Small incidences but I am curious as to whether the Bill Axbey is suffering from a catering black hole or whether others are finding it inadequate and amateurish.

I've lost track of what happened with the catering contract. I read somewhere weeks ago that Azure hadn't signed up for another season but I don't know if that remains true. If they didn't sign another contract, who is responsible for the catering at the moment?

 

[walkerbee]

has anyone ever thought about approaching McD's about opening a small outlet at GP on a matchday? Is it viable? Could BFC use McD's staff from down the road to staff it?

BFC probably wudnt make as much money out of it... theyd prefere to sell their own stuff, but this is only a guess. plus, would a 'small' outlet be enough to cope with all the kids/adults on match day?

 

[hobbsy]

I had to eat my Chicken Balti pie with a ****ing lólipop stick yesterday! Bloody hell.

The exact reason I got a Hot Dog instead. I got caught out against Barnet and made a horrible mess with it.

 

[walkerbee]

well why dont we all bring our own forks and stage a demonstration infront of the kiosk next time...

imagine what we'd be saying if they served us kebabs!!

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I can't really comment on the catering as I don't usually bother but I do wonder whether anyone from the club does a "tour of duty" before, during and after the game. Surely it should be easy to spot the problems and mistakes that happen and make a point of rectifying them. Match day is, after all, the day that the admin side of the club gears up to all week. It's depressing that the same mistakes continually happen.

 

[moribee]

I can't really comment on the catering as I don't usually bother but I do wonder whether anyone from the club does a "tour of duty" before, during and after the game. Surely it should be easy to spot the problems and mistakes that happen and make a point of rectifying them. Match day is, after all, the day that the admin side of the club gears up to all week. It's depressing that the same mistakes continually happen.

Whilst those on £50-60000 a year sit up in their ivory towers,dont think this will happen. Good idea all bringing forks though,would give Gold Range or whatever a field day.

 

[mhead bee]

https://griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54945&highlight=catering


I see it was not just a rusty start then?

I thought last year with the burger vans it was OK, wht change it to this crap?

 

[Ace Face]

I really can`t be fecking arsed anymore with BFC.

The catering on the Braemar is a fecking joke and if the top brass don`t know it by now, then they shouldn`t be at the club.

BFC is losing ££££££££s because they don`t run it as a business, it`s run as a social club.

BFC can`t sort out the catering which is worth ££££££££s, yet some steward tells me to get my feet of the seat very quickly.

I have other leisure interests now, so is BFC keep annoying me then

 

[BoroBee]

Yesterday, thanks to the Braemar "food" counter I ate the worst cheeseburger I have EVER eaten in my life. Absolutely revolting - never again!

 

[TW3Bee]

I had to eat my Chicken Balti pie with a ****ing lólipop stick yesterday! Bloody hell.

What's wrong with doing a pig in a trough impression?

 

[HSBeeC]

Why don't you all e-mail the Managing Director with your complaints and then post again with the response?

He probably doesn't read the GPG so unless you tell him directly then how will he know about the problems?

 

[abee]

He probably doesn't read the GPG so unless you tell him directly then how will he know about the problems?

:mad1:

Through "Management By Walking About" (see abee passim).

If the Managing Director doesn't know about the "problems" without having to be told then we really are in the brown smelly stuff.

The first thing that I do when pitching up at a group/business in trouble is to cancel all Management privileges.....they got the business into a mess so the pain gets shared out. The executive dining room is closed ten minutes after I arrive and the "bosses" get to enjoy the food in the workers canteen and also to scramble for a car parking space and enjoy the other dubious benefits of the "experience" that they themselves created.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

The GPG is free customer feedback (albeit somewhat extreme at times). He'd be a fool not to read it - I don't believe he's a fool.

 

[JTofBFC]

I suggest that at the next home game at least one of the Directors of this club gives up the prawn sandwiches and takes a wander into the Braemar Rd forecourt to see how much money we are losing by failing to provide enough catering outlets for even half of those who want to spend money.

The van has gone, the beer kiosk has gone and they have been replaced by.............................absolutely nothing !!!!

I refuse to describe those in charge of this club as "management" when what they are doing is Mismanaging.

Is that enough free feedback Keith !!! Sort it out for gods sake.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I suggest that at the next home game at least one of the Directors of this club gives up the prawn sandwiches and takes a wander into the Braemar Rd forecourt to see how much money we are losing by failing to provide enough catering outlets for even half of those who want to spend money.

The van has gone, the beer kiosk has gone and they have been replaced by.............................absolutely nothing !!!!

I refuse to describe those in charge of this club as "management" when what they are doing is Mismanaging.

Is that enough free feedback Keith !!! Sort it out for gods sake.

I don't know what you're complaining about - its been like that on New Road forever. I don't even contemplate refreshments at half time.

 

[JTofBFC]

I don't know what you're complaining about - its been like that on New Road forever. I don't even contemplate refreshments at half time.

Nor do I but quite a lot of people do and believe it or not they actually want to spend money. We have endless rattling buckets surrounding us but when people actually want to give their hard earned to the club we don't want it.................err thats what I'm complaining about !

 

[moribee]

Why don't you all e-mail the Managing Director with your complaints and then post again with the response?

He probably doesn't read the GPG so unless you tell him directly then how will he know about the problems?

Strooth if they dont know by now,they spend enough time looking down from that the top of that bloody staircase

 

[Gee Bee]

The catering has never been great, but now there are limited option too. We now have one bar in the Braemear forecourt as opposed to 3 outlets. Even if there was a hut that just sold cold sandwiches, drinks and sweets you aid the option. The mark up on sandwiches can be massive too. Couple of slices of bread & butter with some cheese & pickle as an example can sell for £2 and cost about 30p to put together.

 

[Bigbee]

The catering has never been great, but now there are limited option too. We now have one bar in the Braemear forecourt as opposed to 3 outlets. Even if there was a hut that just sold cold sandwiches, drinks and sweets you aid the option. The mark up on sandwiches can be massive too. Couple of slices of bread & butter with some cheese & pickle as an example can sell for £2 and cost about 30p to put together.

Theres issues with Health and Safety when it comes to making and packaging sandwiches.The club could do a deal with a local supplier and buy them in.The markup would still be over 100%.A lot of people would prefer this healthier option to a gristle burger

 

[ianallon]

The exact reason I got a Hot Dog instead. I got caught out against Barnet and made a horrible mess with it.

Yeah, I had a hotdog for the first time this week. The bun is so small and dry it immediately broke into two, so there was no chance of any ketchup, otherwise it would have gone straight through the bottom. No onions of course. Never again.

At least the queues seem to be smaller than they used to be in the Ealing Road stand this season. Perhaps this is the benefit of serving crap food?

Also, I noticed loads of MK Dons fans getting served at the same food stall. They were sitting in the seats just above. So much for segregation!

 

[Nurse Betty]

The catering has never been great, but now there are limited option too. We now have one bar in the Braemear forecourt as opposed to 3 outlets. Even if there was a hut that just sold cold sandwiches, drinks and sweets you aid the option. The mark up on sandwiches can be massive too. Couple of slices of bread & butter with some cheese & pickle as an example can sell for £2 and cost about 30p to put together.

I don't know if you remember but there was a focus group of invited fans which took place under the Finch regime. I ended up going to it (I think I was on the BIAS Committee at the time) and when catering reared it's ugly head, the first suggestion was about selling pizza slices. That got shot down because of the cost of pizza ovens etc etc. I suggested that instead of making catering more complicated, why not make it simpler? Personally, I'd rather have a fresh crusty cheese roll with a cup of tea than a chicken curry with rice, fizzy drink and a Mars Bar.

Bigbee says that there are Health and Safety issues around us preparing our own food but also points out that we could buy in this stuff and sell it on. What about a deal with that fantastic greasy spoon cafe at the end of Layton Road?

 

[ChessingtonBee]

Are you allowed to bring your own food into Griffin Park ?

I know stewards remove tops from bottles. If you do get hungry during a match it would make sense to bring your own grub with you. At least you know it is acceptable quality and it saves queueing.

I wait till after the match and get chips from the place near The Magpie.

 

[Paul USA]

I mentioned this to senior BFC person before kick off at the first home game - I questioned why there was no catering other than the hole in the wall on the Braemer Forecourt - Was told it was due to changeover of the safety chap etc - Mentioned it to same person again on Saturday - Regretfully he had no idea why no other catering was still not in place but he has promised a response to me when the answer is available.

Still, it was probably only a few hundred we kissed goodbye to so no real problem.

 

[Gee Bee]

ce, fizzy drink and a Mars Bar.

Bigbee says that there are Health and Safety issues around us preparing our own food but also points out that we could buy in this stuff and sell it on. What about a deal with that fantastic greasy spoon cafe at the end of Layton Road?

There are health & safety issues, although they were selling cheese or ham rolls in stripes prior to the corporate set up and sandwiches are made already for the Vice presidents lounge.
All you need is plastic sandwich containers with a sell by and eat by date. I assume Brentford already have to adhere to health & safety standards in the kitchen. Although outsoursing to a local company could be an alternative.
Sandwiches could be made saturday mornings and sold same day. Any leftovers from the match could then go on sale at the PR in the evening.

 

[VTG]

Any leftovers from the match could then go on sale at the PR in the evening.

Or to the local homeless shelter in line with the club's supposed community spirit, which again could be a good PR move but THIS IS ALL SO BLOODY OBVIOUS THAT IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN! :mad1:

 

[Nurse Betty]

I trust you will be supplying us with the chocolate cakes again this Christmas rather than relying on BFC catering to sustain us at H-T on a cold winters day!

Perhaps you should bring a bigger flask and start selling hot drinks as well.

Will bring home-made chocolate chip muffins to next home game I attend. Have sent Dad to Woolies to get catering size flask.

 

[GP200]

............gourmet food for Mr Jol and Mourinho tonight then.............

 

[BoroBee]

Are you allowed to bring your own food into Griffin Park ?

I know stewards remove tops from bottles.

a) Yes you are - there's a chap who sits in front of me who brings sandwiches and soup in a flash sometimes and I always wish I had been better prepared. He ALWAYS does turkey sandwiches at Boxing Day matches and they always look delicious!

b) they don't do that any more, so obviously the terrorist threat of flying bottle tops has receded :shrug:

 

[Idaho Bee]

As an aside - has anyone ever thought about approaching McD's about opening a small outlet at GP on a matchday? Is it viable? Could BFC use McD's staff from down the road to staff it?

Flog the Princess Royal to McD's and thus rid ourselves of one millstone!

I have to agree that the catering in all parts of G.P has been cr*p for many years be it cold food, poorly stocked, long queues etc.

Same old gripes but nothing seems to be done about it. Contract caterers come, can't make a profit out of it and go!

 

[Gee Bee]

Flog the Princess Royal to McD's and thus rid ourselves of one millstone!

Fullers own the PR we only have a lease.

 

[hayes bee]

Fullers own the PR we only have a lease.

why did we get involed with a pub that loses money typical brentford

 

[Gee Bee]

why did we get involed with a pub that loses money typical brentford

Is it still losing money? We used to get regular updates from ROB, unfortunately we don't/can't get them anymore.

 

[Gee Bee]

As an aside - has anyone ever thought about approaching McD's about opening a small outlet at GP on a matchday? Is it viable? Could BFC use McD's staff from down the road to staff it?

The problem with a small franchise coming in from outside, be it McD's or one of the high street sandwich bars & coffee bars etc. Is can it be done within the terms and conditions of the current contract it has with the existing catering supplier. I would have thought it much simpler if that supplier just opened some extra outlets to serve sandwiches & hot /cold drinks & sweets. You could also have staff with baskets of sarnies & crisps walking the perimiter at half time.

 

[paulmaddy]

You could also have staff with baskets of sarnies & crisps walking the perimiter at half time.

Good idea and very simple to implement. Maybe the program sellers/turnstile operators could do this after finishing their initial work.

 

[wanderer paul]

Is it still losing money? We used to get regular updates from ROB, unfortunately we don't/can't get them anymore.

you could as he has logged on recently, but i suspect he's reluctant to answer questions. It was busy saturday. I'd say its more than likely breaking even now.

 

[SeatonBee]

Is it still losing money? We used to get regular updates from ROB, unfortunately we don't/can't get them anymore.

the PR now does food seven days a week as per the article on the OS recently.
It has a basic menu for matchdays of Fish, Scampi and Pies/Pasties with chips as well as home made baguettes.
Food sales are well up apparently so the quality must be okay but from what I have seen most of its food customers are away fans who come to the pub earlier than home fans who in the main arrive around 2pm. The pub is busier then obviously and tables are sparse so fewer Brentford fans eat.
The solution could easily be for those that want to have a meal to go to the PR a bit earlier, enjoy a nice lunch and whatever live game is on the telly before going into the stadium.

PS dont jump to conclusions or listen to the rumour mill, I am just the messenger!

 

[sussexb]

Catering on Braemar is a joke this season. Massive queues, crap food, overpriced. It's even making me seriously nostalgic for the burger vans they used to have there...

 

[abee]

Catering on Braemar is a joke this season. Massive queues, crap food, overpriced. It's even making me seriously nostalgic for the burger vans they used to have there...

I spoke to Bee H about this as I was concerned about a number of the comments.

He assured me that he checked out the Braemar forecourt both before the match and at half time last Saturday and apart from lots of people queuing and complaining about the food he couldn't see anything wrong.

 

[Bee H]

jeez, with friends like abee ........

I spoke to Bee H about this as I was concerned about a number of the comments.

He assured me that he checked out the Braemar forecourt both before the match and at half time last Saturday and apart from lots of people queuing and complaining about the food he couldn't see anything wrong.

The Supporters Director and I have both spoken with the Managing Director concerning the catering on Saturday.

 

[abee]

The Supporters Director and I have both spoken with the Managing Director concerning the catering on Saturday.

 

[hayes bee]

too be honest give megood football and success for the bees before wots to eat at gp we had crap food for yars its part of the fun being a bee

 

[hayes bee]

too be honest give me good football and success for the bees before wots to eat at gp we had crap food for years its part of the fun being a bee