I don't mean the football, that's generally fairly entertaining but everything else is just a half arsed.

The food is frankly shocking and in no way worth the cost, £3.20 for a bottle of coke is terrible and beyond the parmo in a bun (still poor but at least different) the food offer is soulless crap. No effort to even make decent hot drinks, just no effort anywhere.

It's like purgatory on a match day anywhere inside the stadium, if the game is poor it's no wonder it quickly turns toxic in a place where you just get rinsed with no effort made. Are most football clubs like this? I went to a Brentford game earlier in the season and the offer was so much better, even Hartlepool United offer food with a bit of personality 

That's my rant, we really deserve better

Edited January 11, 20251 yr by SzilardNemethsCurtains

11 hours ago, SzilardNemethsCurtains said:

I don't mean the football, that's generally fairly entertaining but everything else is just a half arsed.

The food is frankly shocking and in no way worth the cost, £3.20 for a bottle of coke is terrible and beyond the parmo in a bun (still poor but at least different) the food offer is soulless crap. No effort to even make decent hot drinks, just no effort anywhere.

It's like purgatory on a match day anywhere inside the stadium, if the game is poor it's no wonder it quickly turns toxic in a place where you just get rinsed with no effort made. Are most football clubs like this? I went to a Brentford game earlier in the season and the offer was so much better, even Hartlepool United offer food with a bit of personality 

That's my rant, we really deserve better

Maybe @boro-unger can take this up in the future meetings?

I don't go to the match for the food to begin with, but I can't say I've noticed anything impressive at any of the grounds I've been to.

It's all expensive Pukka pies and Rollover hot dogs.

Edited January 12, 20251 yr by TeaCider24

Take your own supplies or eat beforehand, it’s always going to be better than mass produced crap. 

Full english before the game, then a chocolate at half time, simples 

1 hour ago, Downsouth said:

Maybe @boro-unger can take this up in the future meetings?

We have had a meeting with the catering team and are supposed to be having another in the future (not planned in yet). Any constructive criticism or ideas welcome, but ideally I need more details. E.g. what good food do they have at Brentford and Hartlepool? (We've heard positive feedback about Hull's street food offerings at the KC for example), what is wrong with the hot drinks? Etc. 

 

I do think the chips have too much salt on them, but I don't get them often enough to want to complain in case others like them really salty. 😅

3 hours ago, TeaCider24 said:

I don't go to the match for the food to begin with, but I can't say I've noticed anything impressive at any of the grounds I've been to.

It's all expensive Pukka pies and Rollover hot dogs.

That might just be the case to be fair I am going off the fairly limited two grounds in the last year but the difference in quality was stark

1 hour ago, boro-unger said:

We have had a meeting with the catering team and are supposed to be having another in the future (not planned in yet). Any constructive criticism or ideas welcome, but ideally I need more details. E.g. what good food do they have at Brentford and Hartlepool? (We've heard positive feedback about Hull's street food offerings at the KC for example), what is wrong with the hot drinks? Etc. 

 

Thanks man, I'll try to get more specific details and examples to go with. The general quality of the food and the choice was the main difference but specifics would be helpful

2 hours ago, Swifty said:

Take your own supplies or eat beforehand, it’s always going to be better than mass produced crap. 

I do agree but it feels like a few clubs are changing their offer, we come across as being 20 years behind with essentially the same offer we had when the stadium opened

Some of the best food I have eaten at football is at non league grounds weirdly enough. I think every football fan knows what to expect food wise when they go to the match. Not saying it is acceptable but we are certainly not the only club that offers overpriced luke warm slop.

For variety and standards you can't fail at Bristol City's concourse

The Emirates stadium is the best I’ve been to for food and drink. You can get a decent red and the noodle bar is very good. 

I go for a Bovril and 3 points.

Anything less and my matchday experience is ruined. 

My matchday experience is enhanced by the people around me to be fair, they’re a good bunch. I don’t eat the fayre on offer, but I enjoy my free pre-match ritual of Bovril roulette.
 

Firstly can I get the requisite number of sachets of pepper (5) to add and stir in without being knocked by the next impatient customer . Secondly, will I find a plastic top that readily fits the cup handed by the staff? Next Can I get to my seat without the top popping off one side of the cup? Once safely sat down, the ultimate risk has then to be decided on. Dare I risk tilting the cup with cap on and drink from the opening, risking boiling hot beverages burning the skin from my body or, do I lift the lid on proceedings and drink direct from the cup lip like a wimp? So far I have taken the risk on 7 occasions and Boro are unbeaten, when the lid is removed the Boro’s chances head South with it sadly. Anyway, far more enjoyable risk based game than even that deployed by Carrick playing out from the back.