Getting a beer at half time at Reading

[The Kraken]

That's how it should be at footy. Plenty of tills, relatively quick service, and loads of people getting served with plenty of time to drink their pint before the second half. Added to which they had the beer-backpack lads wandering around, further reducing the queues.

 

Given the limited space of the Reading concourse, imagine the mayhem there would be if they the same ridiculous beer queues we get at St. Mary's.

 

So you have to ask; why on earth can't we sort this out? It can't be that difficult, surely?

[hamster]

One wasn't built in a day k, 1 thing at a time. We still havent replaced Pulis ffs.

[hamster]

ROME, Obviously

[cryoman1965]

They also had the exterior doors open with outside catering, and the smokers could smoke without the the fear of eviction. The whole half-time experience was alot more pleasant than what is currently offered at St Mary's.

[jam]

That's how it should be at footy. Plenty of tills, relatively quick service, and loads of people getting served with plenty of time to drink their pint before the second half. Added to which they had the beer-backpack lads wandering around, further reducing the queues.

 

Given the limited space of the Reading concourse, imagine the mayhem there would be if they the same ridiculous beer queues we get at St. Mary's.

 

So you have to ask; why on earth can't we sort this out? It can't be that difficult, surely?

 

Having backpack/mobile sellers seems like a no-brainer, especially if we are selling bottled stuff. That said I wouldn't be surprised if it was vetoed under the pretence of health and safety or similar as there seems to be some element within the club that uses this as an excuse not to do things.

[The Kraken]

Having backpack/mobile sellers seems like a no-brainer, especially if we are selling bottled stuff. That said I wouldn't be surprised if it was vetoed under the pretence of health and safety or similar as there seems to be some element within the club that uses this as an excuse not to do things.

 

I remember back in the PL days there used to be separate small bottle bars in the concourse; just half litre plastic bottles of lager, and it worked really well to both get served very quickly and also reduce the strain on the normal queues. A good idea, yet we seem completely intent on ignoring sensible ideas like this and the beer-backpacks in favour of having not enough pay-kiosks and stupidly long queues unless you leave your seat 5 minutes early. And this was an area that Cortese himself said the club needed to look at as it was an unaceeptably poor service they were providing.

[Fan The Flames]

Having backpack/mobile sellers seems like a no-brainer, especially if we are selling bottled stuff. That said I wouldn't be surprised if it was vetoed under the pretence of health and safety or similar as there seems to be some element within the club that uses this as an excuse not to do things.

 

I think the H&S gonks are getting better, they haven't for a while now tried to enforced the no standing at the bottom of the stands before the game ******** that they brought in under Lowe.

[The Cat]

Agree about that backpack people, they have them at Lords when England play and I've often thought football clubs should adopt the same idea.

 

Going out at half time is great. Derby did it too. Both clubs are probably run by smokers!

[Tamesaint]

I found it impossible to get a beer yesterday. I was stuck in a queue which didn't move for 10 minutes & in the end gave it up as a bad job.

 

Clearly I was in the wrong part of the ground ... but from where I was , we have nothing to learn from the Reading catering.

[saintoaks]

Had to chuckle at the numpty in the suit who refused to let the staff serve the food and drink until 10 minutes before half time !! no wonder people couldnt get served !!

[agboola]

Reading also hosts rugby where there is a shorter half time interval. They have the pumps that fill four (I think) pint glasses in one go.

[red&white56]

Was the beer quality any good - we heard lots about the good beer at Brighton's new ground?

[The Kraken]

Was the beer quality any good - we heard lots about the good beer at Brighton's new ground?

 

Fosters. So no, not really.

[Secret Site Agent]

Because SMS was built by a bunch of sweaty socks, and not me, where as TMS was built by a team of local Reading based constructors, and me.

 

Simple really.

 

It's me.

 

I'm the missing element.

[The9]

That's how it should be at footy. Plenty of tills, relatively quick service, and loads of people getting served with plenty of time to drink their pint before the second half. Added to which they had the beer-backpack lads wandering around, further reducing the queues.

 

Given the limited space of the Reading concourse, imagine the mayhem there would be if they the same ridiculous beer queues we get at St. Mary's.

 

So you have to ask; why on earth can't we sort this out? It can't be that difficult, surely?

 

Funnily enough Reading was where they took my tenner and tried to close the shutters with me leaning across trying to get it back after queuing for 25 minutes to get a pie at one of our preseason friendlies, so they don't always get it right. And a few of my mates were waiting for ages yesterday too.

 

Saints need more staff, better organisation, more pre-loaded beers and temporary ropes to sort out getting in and out of the queues as well.

[The Kraken]

Saints need more staff, better organisation, more pre-loaded beers and temporary ropes to sort out getting in and out of the queues as well.

 

I think the immediate thing that strikes me is that we just don't have enough pay kiosks behind the bars. I don't think there's a problem in pouring drinks fast enough, just that there's often only two kiosks to pay for a drink (at least it's been that way the last few times I've been there, admittedly in the Chapel so might be different in other parts of the ground).

 

A very simple way to halve the sze of the queues would be, instead of having just 2 tills behind the counter, have 4. The system of having people pouring is already there, just there's a massive bottleneck in not having enough pay points available.

[Barry the Badger]

A very simple way to halve the sze of the queues would be, instead of having just 2 tills behind the counter, have 4. The system of having people pouring is already there, just there's a massive bottleneck in not having enough pay points available.

 

The trouble is it's always very easy to assume something like that would be "simple", but if the infrastructure isn't there for more tills then it becomes a huge job to do it all around the ground. The club will look at how much money they are potentially losing, and it's probably not much because most people do get what they want even if it's a bit of a rush at half time.

[The Kraken]

The trouble is it's always very easy to assume something like that would be "simple", but if the infrastructure isn't there for more tills then it becomes a huge job to do it all around the ground. The club will look at how much money they are potentially losing, and it's probably not much because most people do get what they want even if it's a bit of a rush at half time.

 

I don't know how much the purchase and installation of a new till is, but I can't believe it's all that restrictive. And if clubs like Reading have them installed already we're only bringing our systems in line with our competitors rather than pursuing some form of innovative sales technique.

 

In any case, it's not just about the money, its all about enhancing the customer experience (as Cortese himself has claimed). He personally said that it was thoroughly unacceptable how long it took for the customer to get served, and that the club would be looking to rectify that as soon as possible. Given the significant sums being invested in the club, surely an upgrade of sales kiosks is very much small potatoes?

[Barry the Badger]

I don't know how much the purchase and installation of a new till is, but I can't believe it's all that restrictive. And if clubs like Reading have them installed already we're only bringing our systems in line with our competitors rather than pursuing some form of innovative sales technique.

 

Ok, as an example, where would the power for all these magical new tills come from? Are they networked? If so, where will the network connections come from?

 

I don't disagree that it needs improving by the way, just pointing out that if it was that simple they probably would've done it already.

[The Kraken]

Ok, as an example, where would the power for all these magical new tills come from? Are they networked? If so, where will the network connections come from?

 

I don't disagree that it needs improving by the way, just pointing out that if it was that simple they probably would've done it already.

 

Well, there is already power there supplying the tills that are there. No idea if they're networked, and yes I agree, there probably is a reason that I haven't considered as to why it hasn't been done. I just find it disappointing that Cortese himself identified beer queues very early on as a singificant problem, and vowed to fix it as soon as possible. Yet here we are a year or two down the line and seemingly absolutely nothing has been done to improve the situation. As we've seen, Reading had the beer-backpack lads, we previously used to have bottle bars, just 2 measures that would go a good way to making the situation better.

[Barry the Badger]

Well, there is already power there supplying the tills that are there. No idea if they're networked, and yes I agree, there probably is a reason that I haven't considered as to why it hasn't been done. I just find it disappointing that Cortese himself identified beer queues very early on as a singificant problem, and vowed to fix it as soon as possible. Yet here we are a year or two down the line and seemingly absolutely nothing has been done to improve the situation. As we've seen, Reading had the beer-backpack lads, we previously used to have bottle bars, just 2 measures that would go a good way to making the situation better.

 

Whereabouts do you usually sit out of interest? In the Northam the bottle bar has made a recent comeback and has helped somewhat, although it's still not great.

[The Kraken]

Whereabouts do you usually sit out of interest? In the Northam the bottle bar has made a recent comeback and has helped somewhat, although it's still not great.

 

Chapel.

[Huffton]

It doesn't help using a contracted out company that pays peanuts and employs monkeys. A couple of weeks ago I bought a round that came to something like £12.20. I gave the lad serving a £20 note and the odd change to try and save a bit of time. It took him a full 30 seconds and me telling him twice that he needed to give me a tenner back. Idiots like this are one of the reasons its so slow.

[Dr Who?]

All to do with cutting costs, but I suppose they could shift more bill = more profits even if they did hire a few more staff!!

[1960saint]

Beer tokens the way forward .

pay for a token before the match starts then at half time hand over token at the token only bar, in exchange for a beer of your choice. stand back and enjoy.

[ericofarabia]

Not being an uberfan, I had no problem .... walked into the kitchen opened the fridge and voila my choice of Old Speckled Hen, London Pride or Heineken ... and no spotty **** trying to work out how much change to give me or ask if I want fries with it .... ~~

[eelpie]

That's how it should be at footy. Plenty of tills, relatively quick service, and loads of people getting served with plenty of time to drink their pint before the second half. Added to which they had the beer-backpack lads wandering around, further reducing the queues.

 

Given the limited space of the Reading concourse, imagine the mayhem there would be if they the same ridiculous beer queues we get at St. Mary's.

 

So you have to ask; why on earth can't we sort this out? It can't be that difficult, surely?

 

They took ages to serve me. And three people behind the bar chatting, doing nothing. Which end were you at?

[hamster]

We already all carry beer tokens iirc.

 

Seperate bar for ale drinkers. We want a beer worth waiting for, none of your rubbish that you digestive system can't wait to get rid ff. A decent drink should be detectable in one's stools not in their emergency toilet visits, many up against my garden fence. Worry no more, The Fleming Arms has closed. Boohoo..

[scotty]

Oddly, at the WHU game I wandered down from kingsland corner on the off chance, not expecting to get anywhere near the bar during the half time break, (full stadium and all that,) and got served within a minute.

 

Had to lamp a couple of blokes to shove into the queue though.

[hamster]

Evening games are great for proper beer drinkers. Early kick off's too. No lager drinkers in the decent pubs

[hamster]

Oddly, at the WHU game I wandered down from kingsland corner on the off chance, not expecting to get anywhere near the bar during the half time break, (full stadium and all that,) and got served within a minute.

 

Had to lamp a couple of blokes to shove into the queue though.

 

You'd not be welcome in The Fleming Arms.

[dune]

The bloke who served me was English so I didn't have to give him my order twice or say it slowly.

[hamster]

Word dune. I too found their british accents offensive, that's why this country needs to focus on literacy, numeracy and IT mate.

 

HLAS

[saintwiz]

£3.70 for Fosters, £4 for Strongbow - not good.

[Sour Mash]

St Marys is an absolute joke when it comes to trying to get a beer or something to eat at half time, particularly in the Northam. I don't like having an easy pop at those in "lesser" jobs, the kids they employ to serve at St Marys are seriously slow, they take 5 mins over even the most basic of orders, never have enough beers waiting and ready.

[JRM]

Reading also had a good selection of wines at £3.20 -probably due to them being sponsored by waitrose. would be nice if they also had a deli counter for half time snacks.

[the saint in winchester]

Reading also had a good selection of wines at £3.20 -probably due to them being sponsored by waitrose. would be nice if they also had a deli counter for half time snacks.

 

That's much more like it. A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and a selection of smoked salmon whirls - right up my street.

[ericofarabia]

That's much more like it. A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and a selection of smoked salmon whirls - right up my street.

 

Puts the Prawn sarnie oiks at Old Trafford in their place, what oh!!

[Golden Balls]

Strange. Took me bloody ages to queue and when I got to the front basically everything had sold out, except noodles which tasted of cardboard.

[Colinjb]

St Marys is an absolute joke when it comes to trying to get a beer or something to eat at half time, particularly in the Northam. I don't like having an easy pop at those in "lesser" jobs, the kids they employ to serve at St Marys are seriously slow, they take 5 mins over even the most basic of orders, never have enough beers waiting and ready.

 

Ah, so that's where they sent them! They had some seriously 'basic' employees in the Family section corner last year, but this time around is a lot better. They have even done the sensible thing and re-opened the little bottle bar. It usually is dead easy to get a beer at half time now!