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[Albion] Catering whinge-again



Super Steve Earle

Well-known member
Feb 23, 2009
8,887
North of Brighton
Why is the Albion so clueless now over getting food and drink in the West Lower? Arsenal match was abysmal. Wife fancied a pint, I wanted the fish sandwich with onion rings we were promised from indoor concession stand as the outlets outside would be closed. Failing that, a burger would do.
What was the reality before the match?
Started at the West Stand Tap - closed - out of order.
Tried the Moretti concession window - sorry, no Moretti
On to the auto beer machine - out of order

Gave up and waited for half time.
Obviously no trace of the fish sandwich and onion rings.
Asked for a burger - sorry sold out
Ended up with a last resort steak pie. Still nothing but boring old Yorkie chocolate for the non- vegan

For a professional outfit, Brighton have hit rock bottom in WSL. Really need a bit more variety, reliability and timely availability.

Before I get flack just for moaning about the food, it was a shitty night on the football front and I think Albion should write to PGMOL and refuse to accept John Brooke's on pitch or VAR. Irrational, but I can live with it.
 




dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Mar 27, 2013
55,318
Burgess Hill
Fish sarnie was sold out an hour before ko
No sausage rolls by then either
Then found out relatives I’d got tickets for in the south got a fresh pizza pre-match and easily got served at HT without missing any of the game

FML.
 


A1X

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 1, 2017
20,446
Deepest, darkest Sussex
WSL catering has got a lot worse since they put that stupid shop thing in, that can get in the bin
 


Gazwag

5 millionth post poster
Mar 4, 2004
30,693
Bexhill-on-Sea
Fish sarnie was sold out an hour before ko
No sausage rolls by then either
Then found out relatives I’d got tickets for in the south got a fresh pizza pre-match and easily got served at HT without missing any of the game

FML.
TBF there were only a couple of hundred of our fans in the south stand due to the full allocation for away fans
 














BNthree

Plastic JCL
Sep 14, 2016
11,432
WeHo
Just to point out the catering is outsourced to Sodexo. Each stand has a manager that predicts how much food is going to be needed and gets that cooked. Those managers are under huge pressure from their management to reduce wastage. So they’re more likely to under cater and sell out then over cater and have to throw fresh food away afterwards. Until the club tells Sodexo they’re not happy with with it nothing will change.
 


Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
24,751
GOSBTS
I have to say I don't understand why they offer different food and drink in each stand. Moretti and Heineken in WSL but WSU, Fosters? South Pizza but not anywhere else? Seems odd.
Moretti in the WSU self serve kiosks
 






The Fifth Column

Lazy mug
Nov 30, 2010
4,130
Hangleton
On the plus side, once they realised they couldn't get the tech to work in the self service West stand tap they had a load of pre poured beer they couldn't sell so gave it away for free, me and my lad copped a couple of pints each of free beer. It does seem an odd concept though?! Given the main premise is to have a minimally staffed outlet and high footfall and throughput of customers I counted at least 9 people involved in running and staffing it, May as well have left it as another normal food outlet
 


Daddies_Sauce

Falmer WSL, not a JCL
Jun 27, 2008
879
The good thing regarding the ‘Tap’ is that the food in the vending shelfs are served hot and at the correct temperature, the downside is the limited availability of products. in general. The remaining kiosks are clueless regarding the correct and safe serving temperature of the pies etc.

Another downside of the WSL concourse, is the amount of serving stations (manned or unmanned) that they are cramming in, even before closing the outside outlets due to the building works, thus reducing standing space availability and access through the concourse.
 










nicko31

Well-known member
Jan 7, 2010
18,483
Gods country fortnightly
Queued for 20 mins to get a pint at FT, within 6-7 mins of getting it I we were being forced out the door by staff (West Upper)
 


Milano

Well-known member
Aug 15, 2012
3,877
Sussex but not by the sea
You can trace the slow slide into catering shitness to the day Sodexo won the contract.
In the first few seasons (Championship) the standard of food was excellent. Burgers included luttece and fresh tomatoes!! The burger my son got on Saturday would have been unacceptable at a village fete for £3. The only product which is remotely as good as it originally was is the pie, because guess what, it's got FA to do with Sondexo.
Due to this I now normally do everything I can to avoid buying food at the Amex, which is why I HATE the Sat 5.30 slot so much, leave home at 4 and home about 8.30 means it's near impossible to not get food during this time for the kids. Now made 100% worse by the outside food stands gone.
Please God Sondexo don't get the contract for the Fan Zone but something tells me that they will :(
 




HeaviestTed

I’m eating
NSC Patron
Mar 23, 2023
2,080
You can trace the slow slide into catering shitness to the day Sodexo won the contract.
In the first few seasons (Championship) the standard of food was excellent. Burgers included luttece and fresh tomatoes!! The burger my son got on Saturday would have been unacceptable at a village fete for £3. The only product which is remotely as good as it originally was is the pie, because guess what, it's got FA to do with Sondexo.
Due to this I now normally do everything I can to avoid buying food at the Amex, which is why I HATE the Sat 5.30 slot so much, leave home at 4 and home about 8.30 means it's near impossible to not get food during this time for the kids. Now made 100% worse by the outside food stands gone.
Please God Sondexo don't get the contract for the Fan Zone but something tells me that they will :(
Can we start a SONDEXOOUT campaign?
 


Springal

Well-known member
Feb 12, 2005
24,751
GOSBTS
You can trace the slow slide into catering shitness to the day Sodexo won the contract.
In the first few seasons (Championship) the standard of food was excellent. Burgers included luttece and fresh tomatoes!! The burger my son got on Saturday would have been unacceptable at a village fete for £3. The only product which is remotely as good as it originally was is the pie, because guess what, it's got FA to do with Sondexo.
Due to this I now normally do everything I can to avoid buying food at the Amex, which is why I HATE the Sat 5.30 slot so much, leave home at 4 and home about 8.30 means it's near impossible to not get food during this time for the kids. Now made 100% worse by the outside food stands gone.
Please God Sondexo don't get the contract for the Fan Zone but something tells me that they will :(
Given I think Sodexo also run hospitality / event sales for the club now I doubt they are going anywhere anytime soon
 


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