Food and drink options at BCS

[Jay Bee]

Balti pie at the Forest Green game - I was quite impressed. Pastry nicer than what I remember from the pukka pie in a plastic wrapper at GP. Fairly filling despite looking a bit flat in this picture. In a decent state despite having presumably been sat there for an hour. £4.50. 8/10.

Decided to get one after the game when the west stand queues were virtually non-existent, to avoid the Kew Bridge station crowd. They also still had a veggie wraps at the next kiosk along but not the shawarma (£5.50). Ended up leaving just in time to go down the Kew Bridge tunnel and step straight on to the 22:16 fast train too.

They were gently encouraging people to finish up and leave at 10pm possibly the routine is more relaxed at afternoon games.

 

[BEEcool]

Was it the smell? W134/234 has has smelt like a pizza parlour at both night games so far and at least one of the friendlies! It wouldn't surprise me if the kitchen vents are somewhere nearby though...

Don’t mind the smell so much but any food sold at football should be capable of being handled, eaten from one hand and within 10 minutes. Fair play selling slices of it but people sat with massive boxes on their lap during the game? Not for me.

 

[sonofabee]

Don’t mind the smell so much but any food sold at football should be capable of being handled, eaten from one hand and within 10 minutes. Fair play selling slices of it but people sat with massive boxes on their lap during the game? Not for me.

Courtesy of Glory Hole catering company

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Are the outlets in all the stands open after the game? Have a beer in the North stand concourse after for example to let crowds die down? or is it just the dugout bar?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

Are the outlets in all the stands open after the game? Have a beer in the North stand concourse after for example to let crowds die down? or is it just the dugout bar?

All were shut post match.

 

[badgerbee]

Are the outlets in all the stands open after the game? Have a beer in the North stand concourse after for example to let crowds die down? or is it just the dugout bar?

Depends on the gam/kick off time (??) I think.....
West Stand was open after Valencia friendly......
East Stand was shut after Arsenal game.....

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

All were shut post match.

Think this is also a missed trick. Brighton had it spot on when i was last there, stayed open and put the late game on...................... Money money money. I would 100% grab a beer in the concourse after. Leave one outlet open in each stand.

 

[PhilE]

All were shut post match.

There was at least one open in West Stand after FGR.

 

[Jay Bee]

Are the outlets in all the stands open after the game? Have a beer in the North stand concourse after for example to let crowds die down? or is it just the dugout bar?

All were shut post match.

The west stand outlets have been open post-match at every game since, I believe, Valencia. See my positive experience of this at the Forest Green game in post #801 above.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

The west stand outlets have been open post-match at every game since, I believe, Valencia. See my positive experience of this at the Forest Green game in post #801 above.

Yes, apologies, I should have said North Stand.

 

[Jay Bee]

Yes, apologies, I should have said North Stand.

Understood.
It would make sense if they shut the north stand kiosks, but if they allowed north standers to drift to west stand lower for their post match refreshments - with appropriate signage to make people aware. Not sure if that is the case. A clear policy will encourage more people to stay - e.g. "CLOSED but further refreshments available in West Stand lower - stay until 6:30pm!"

 

[LingfieldBee]

Any alcohol free beer?

 

[PhilE]

Understood.
It would make sense if they shut the north stand kiosks, but if they allowed north standers to drift to west stand lower for their post match refreshments - with appropriate signage to make people aware. Not sure if that is the case. A clear policy will encourage more people to stay - e.g. "CLOSED but further refreshments available in West Stand lower - stay until 6:30pm!"

This seems so obvious it is amazing the club does not do it. I mean there may be legitimate reasons for no outlets remaining open in the North Stand but to not permit fans from North to migrate through the concourse doors to get a drink in West Stand (after it begins emptying out) seems a bit amiss.

 

[Banana]

Any alcohol free beer?

Heineken 0% is available.

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

This seems so obvious it is amazing the club does not do it. I mean there may be legitimate reasons for no outlets remaining open in the North Stand but to not permit fans from North to migrate through the concourse doors to get a drink in West Stand (after it begins emptying out) seems a bit amiss.

Mustn't need the money.

 

[LingfieldBee]

Heineken 0% is available.

Thanks Banana, guessing in bottles as didn't see it on tap.

 

[CheeseFarmW4]

Sausage roll... S**t

 

[TW3Bee]

Sausage roll... S**t

The one I had at the Arsenal game was alright.

 

[N5022N122]

Saw one of the pepperoni pizzas today and spoke to the owner. Looked congealed and not fresh. Hardly any pepperoni. Small for £9

 

[Houghton Bee]

The one I had at the Arsenal game was alright.

At £4+ a go you'd expect a better review

 

[Downbeat Bee]

This seems so obvious it is amazing the club does not do it. I mean there may be legitimate reasons for no outlets remaining open in the North Stand but to not permit fans from North to migrate through the concourse doors to get a drink in West Stand (after it begins emptying out) seems a bit amiss.

It would probably be a bit tight leaving the ground wouldn't it?

As others have said in most cases food at a ground is hardly a necessity but there appears to be quite a difference between the vision presented and the reality.

 

[CheeseFarmW4]

The one I had at the Arsenal game was alright.

Fair enough. I found it very dry and the taste made it hard to get through.

 

[PhilE]

It would probably be a bit tight leaving the ground wouldn't it

But they're already open in the West Stand. I don't see how opening the doors and allowing fans to move through the concourse to the West Stand would make it tighter anywhere.

 

[ruislip bee]

I had a Moroccan chick pea and tomato pie today. It was very nice if a bit small. Tasted fresh with nice pastry. Not overdone or mushy at all. North Stand.

 

[Stanley]

Gluten free Peroni in the Dugout bar, that’s a result for some of us….

 

[Babbelfish]

I had a Moroccan chick pea and tomato pie today. It was very nice if a bit small. Tasted fresh with nice pastry. Not overdone or mushy at all. North Stand.

Had the same. Thought it was fine but would have welcomed a bit more kick to the flavour. Just me being picky probably. No real queue at 14.40 though which was great.

 

[Houghton Bee]

Couple of ladies had the chickpea pies pregame stood next to me in the East Stand concourse, smelt great and they seemed happy enough with them.

The chicken burgers looked grim, the lamb thingy looks like its getting smaller each game. The cider is a lovely drop, at least.

 

[badgerbee]

Thought bars/food sales were meant to be open post match in West Stand.....??.....
Didn't seem to be today......
Or am I mistaken??

 

[bees1984]

Had a bite of a chicken Balti pie. It was very tasty

 

[Mikey Bee]

The way the queues are managed in the upper West Stand need to be sorted out. It was ridiculous today. My mate left at 40 mins to get beers. There was 4 mins (plus probably 2 more...?) before the HT whistle went. He eventually got served 2-3 mins before the second half started. That's worse than ER on a very busy day.

The first thing that needs to be addressed is the staff, I'm afraid. Disinterested is the most generous way I can describe them.

The second thing is that as soon as the HT whistle goes, it's everyone for themselves. There's no order. I can see it leading to trouble.

A simple queuing system like we had in ER is all that's needed. Some retractable crowd dividers and 4-5 stewards managing the queues would alleviate the problem.

 

[marvelous007]

Thought bars/food sales were meant to be open post match in West Stand.....??.....
Didn't seem to be today......
Or am I mistaken??

They was a couple of kiosks open near block W234 as I was leaving. Not sure if they remained open for long or if they showed the Chelsea match.

 

[badgerbee]

They was a couple of kiosks open near block W234 as I was leaving. Not sure if they remained open for long or if they showed the Chelsea match.

Ah, OK thanks.
Didn't notice them.

 

[johndub]

Busy early doors in the Dugout bar. No trouble getting in from the North Stand though. Guinness still watery and tasteless. Poured as if the place was on fire.
Shouts of “drink up please” from shortly after 7pm. Admittedly, it was thinning out by then.

 

[marvelous007]

Ah, OK thanks.
Didn't notice them.

I read somewhere that the kiosks will be open until 1 hour after the match finishes (not evening games). I will try the dugout bar next time in the South Stand but was driving today.

 

[PhilE]

Jr had the chicken burger and declared it a little better than the one I had 4 weeks ago...still looked somewhat dry...we really need a saucebar as sachets of ketchup are not great on many levels.

I had a lovely roast beef sandwich made by my own hands.

 

[Simon W]

The bar staff in S101/S102 really need training .. basic training. The girl who served me today didn’t know the difference between a bottle of cider and a bottle of Peroni and they really have trouble using the till so not surprised queues build up. The bottles of soft drinks were barely cold, obviously the fridge is only stocked shortly before the arrival of fans .. warm Coke
The policy of removing bottle tops (I know most grounds do it) is really annoying too

 

[Downbeat Bee]

The bar staff in S101/S102 really need training .. basic training. The girl who served me today didn’t know the difference between a bottle of cider and a bottle of Peroni and they really have trouble using the till so not surprised queues build up. The bottles of soft drinks were barely cold, obviously the fridge is only stocked shortly before the arrival of fans .. warm Coke
The policy of removing bottle tops (I know most grounds do it) is really annoying too

Given huge hospitality shortages at the moment why would you opt to work in a football ground for a few hours?

 

[GP200]

The bar staff in S101/S102 really need training .. basic training. The girl who served me today didn’t know the difference between a bottle of cider and a bottle of Peroni and they really have trouble using the till so not surprised queues build up. The bottles of soft drinks were barely cold, obviously the fridge is only stocked shortly before the arrival of fans .. warm Coke
The policy of removing bottle tops (I know most grounds do it) is really annoying too

...........trouble using the till???????...........it's cashless!!!!!!!!............

 

[marvelous007]

Given huge hospitality shortages at the moment why would you opt to work in a football ground for a few hours?

Alot of people who work in hospitality inside football grounds are agency or temps workers, paid minimum wage or just above. I'm not sure about Brentford but I know people who worked at Reading and Fulham.

 

[Simon W]

...........trouble using the till???????...........it's cashless!!!!!!!!............

You know what I meant!

 

[TW3Bee]

Had a bite of a chicken Balti pie. It was very tasty

Couldn't have enjoyed it that much, if you only had one bite.

 

[bees1984]

Couldn't have enjoyed it that much, if you only had one bite.

Haha it wasn't my pie and the owner looked starving

 

[Beesfan]

Queues for drinks/food at half time in the West stand at block 235 were ridiculous!! Not only was the service really slow but only 2 out of the 6 tills were working…

 

[Alex]

No food purchased today as we are now not planning on it as we would have at GP. Staff in S106 not really that interested in serving people just really slow in doing what they do.

why are there not people just pulling pints as this is what people are asking for rather than letting each server pull the pints as they are asked for them.

 

[moribee]

No food purchased today as we are now not planning on it as we would have at GP. Staff in S106 not really that interested in serving people just really slow in doing what they do.

why are there not people just pulling pints as this is what people are asking for rather than letting each server pull the pints as they are asked for them.

Can't go S106 anymore

 

[johndub]

Samosas in the Dugout bar excellent again.

 

[Downbeat Bee]

Can't go S106 anymore

Has anyone got any pictures of S106? I am curious to know what it is like out the back. As stated before that was where I was hoping to go.

 

[RAF_Patto]

First experience yesterday and I must say there are some basic operation practises that need looking at, especially for HT.

It is neither efficient or effective for the person serving at the till to then be collecting the food and pouring the drinks themselves for every order. Somebody needs to be serving at the till, with others just mass pouring drinks, especially popular options such as Pride. To wait nearly 20 minutes for a pint and a pie is ridiculous, especially when you consider the number of tills open at each kiosk, it took me as long at Villa Park and that was just 1 kiosk with 2 tills (although admittedly a lack of alcohol).

A more positive element was the chicken balti pie itself. I was pleasantly surprised at the size and content of it!

I am sure all of teething problems will get sorted, it's only their second full game so lessons to be learned.

 

[kewbee]

The bar staff in S101/S102 really need training .. basic training. The girl who served me today didn’t know the difference between a bottle of cider and a bottle of Peroni and they really have trouble using the till so not surprised queues build up. The bottles of soft drinks were barely cold, obviously the fridge is only stocked shortly before the arrival of fans .. warm Coke
The policy of removing bottle tops (I know most grounds do it) is really annoying too

Absolutely agree they are totally clueless about drink,one had no idea what a tonic water was.Samosa was excellent though.Given the fantastic choice of local pubs with beer around a pound a pint cheaper,they are not helping themselves.

 

[Rebel Bee]

i just find it poor that we’ve employed a massive world renowned company who specialise and works with numerous football clubs who haven’t trained the staff correctly or fast enough. To me it looks like the majority of staff were on their first day of training and looked clueless. I know they’re all getting the absolute minimum pay but still you’d think and hope they’d pick it up quicker which lets be fair isn’t that complicated. Fair enough if it takes a couple more games but if this is still the case come the end of the year then that’s not on.