Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Des Little on September 20, 2015, 05:59:03 PM
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Did anyone else have the misfortune of being in there after the match yesterday? The levels of sheer incompetence and general inability to cope with demand was unbelievable. To have to wait 25 minutes for a drink is inexcusable, which is what people were doing. So many people gave up and walked out - which of course is everyone's prerogative - but the club really need to be better equipped to cope with demand better than they did.
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I don't even bother going in there, for this reason. Waste of time.
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Yeah, there was 4 of us trying to get a beer at half time, and none of us could get close. Just had to give up.
The only chance of getting a drink at half time is by missing 5 minutes of the game, not that thats a problem.
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
It probably numbs the pain.
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I've never understood why for so many, going to the football = having to get absolutely wankered. Take Leicester last week, pools of puke in the concourse, pools of piss in the bogs as they just decide to piss up the wall. Baffling.
Just to add, that's not aimed at Des, whenever I see us away i'm amazed at the state a number of our support are in.
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
this plus the need for obscenely priced shit chips
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
There is also the odd few who stay in the Upper North bar area all through the second half presumably having loaded up before the bar shuts. They watch the match on TV of course!
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
There is also the odd few who stay in the Upper North bar area all through the second half presumably having loaded up before the bar shuts. They watch the match on TV of course!
Seeing that at away games never ceases to amaze. I swear some never leave the concourse. Why pay all that money to travel for a few hours just to watch it on TV and get pissed?
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
There is also the odd few who stay in the Upper North bar area all through the second half presumably having loaded up before the bar shuts. They watch the match on TV of course!
Seeing that at away games never ceases to amaze. I swear some never leave the concourse. Why pay all that money to travel for a few hours just to watch it on TV and get pissed?
I went for a piss on 20 minutes at Palace and there were a few still in the concourse drinking. I don't get it either. Some just go away to get as drunk as humanly possible and totally forget the game. It's pointless.
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
this plus the need for obscenely priced shit chips
The "food" at Villa Park, at least in the Upper Trinity, has a unique smell that I have never encountered anywhere else.
What is it? Do they fry (I say fry, that's probably overstating it as they're usually uncooked) the chips in some sort of piss-augmented fat? It really is an incredibly distinctive smell, one which I have never smelt anywhere else.
You could lock me up in a room and expose me, one after another, to the smells of the concourses at 1000 sporting arenas, and I would pick Villa Park out every single time.
I like a pint, but I can't think of any level of desperation for drink - even the colossal amount generated by watching the shite on the pitch - that would encourage me to get into a 25 minute ruck for a pint of shit lager at the Holte Suite.
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
i like a drink but cant understand the mad rush just after half 3 or ten minutes before half time every home match in the lower holte
does my head in having to keep getting up and down to let them past
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I suspect there is a direct correlation between the spiralling levels of alcohol consumption and our declining form over the last 5 years.
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Moral high
I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
The OP clearly stated that it was a problem after the match. You may be paragons of virtue, but some people enjoy a pint or two after the game and would rather not be subjected to the utter shiteness of service that was on display yesterday.
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Once they are all on the Working Wage it will all be fine.
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I don't get the rush for beer at half time. Unless you have a drink problem.
This. I can't get why people can't go an hour and a half without a beer.
There is also the odd few who stay in the Upper North bar area all through the second half presumably having loaded up before the bar shuts. They watch the match on TV of course!
Its the Villa equivalent of 60s/70s kids watching Doctor Who from behind the settee*
[*what's the difference, if there even is one, between a settee and a sofa ?]
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we got to the Holte Suite at 1.30 on Saturday, big queue to get in, one out one in rules so gave up and went to the Holte Pub. 4 bar staff in there, 4 deep at the bar. Anysmal
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I find it quite strange that people choose to watch the Villa sober. I certainly haven't done that for a few decades.
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I find it strange that the bars are so badly run. Do the club not realise (or care) how much money is simply walking away? I went to Derby years ago - not long after Pride Park opened - and their bar staff started pouring pints 5 minutes before half time so they had a large bank of pints ready to go. Whatever your thoughts on pre/during/post match drinking, this really isn't rocket science when it comes to meeting supply with demand.
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I find it strange that the bars are so badly run. Do the club not realise (or care) how much money is simply walking away? I went to Derby years ago - not long after Pride Park opened - and their bar staff started pouring pints 5 minutes before half time so they had a large bank of pints ready to go. Whatever your thoughts on pre/during/post match drinking, this really isn't rocket science when it comes to meeting supply with demand.
I remember the Reading game a few years ago ( Harewood winner? or was I pissed?) when they had staff with those jet-packs full of beer, spraying it into folks' glasses.
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I find it strange that the bars are so badly run. Do the club not realise (or care) how much money is simply walking away? I went to Derby years ago - not long after Pride Park opened - and their bar staff started pouring pints 5 minutes before half time so they had a large bank of pints ready to go. Whatever your thoughts on pre/during/post match drinking, this really isn't rocket science when it comes to meeting supply with demand.
I remember the Reading game a few years ago ( Harewood winner? or was I pissed?) when they had staff with those jet-packs full of beer, spraying it into folks' glasses.
They have had them at the Villa, in the holte concourse.
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Apparently, we can't do that because the Council (?!) won't allow us....how true this is I don't know.
Edit - I stand corrected!
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A very good friend of mine was punched in the face in the Holte Suite at half-time whilst queuing for a pint. completely unprovoked, with witnesses. The attacker was quickly ejected, and the police asked my friend if he wanted to press charges.
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I've never understood why for so many, going to the football = having to get absolutely wankered. Take Leicester last week, pools of puke in the concourse, pools of piss in the bogs as they just decide to piss up the wall. Baffling.
Just to add, that's not aimed at Des, whenever I see us away i'm amazed at the state a number of our support are in.
Even more bizarre when these same people film themselves and then upload the videos onto youtube.
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A very good friend of mine was punched in the face in the Holte Suite at half-time whilst queuing for a pint. completely unprovoked, with witnesses. The attacker was quickly ejected, and the police asked my friend if he wanted to press charges.
According to the Meaning Evil two blokes were arrested in the Holte Suite for assault on Saturday? Also a 20 year old Albion fan for entering a Villa stand at the end of the game goading home fans?? I assume the latter was the Lower North?
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I find it strange that the bars are so badly run. Do the club not realise (or care) how much money is simply walking away? I went to Derby years ago - not long after Pride Park opened - and their bar staff started pouring pints 5 minutes before half time so they had a large bank of pints ready to go. Whatever your thoughts on pre/during/post match drinking, this really isn't rocket science when it comes to meeting supply with demand.
I went to Aussie rules a few times in Oz...their system for maximising profits during break periods was outstanding - They had machines that when loaded up poured 6 pints in one go. Staff were behind a counter, using said machines to pour the 3-4 various beer/cider options and stockpiling pints onto a counter in clearly annotated sections. people queued in single file, a security man controlled flow into the drink collection area, you could get a maximum of 4 pints in one go and they then had 4 staffed checkout counters where you paid on your way out. Honestly, the whole process couldnt have taken more than 2minutes, queues included.
Granted, food, hot drinks and soft drinks were still purchased in a standard fashion from a separate area but its amazing how much quicker it moves when you havent got someone ordering 9 pints of carling in one go...
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Even if we can't won't invest in the technology to install such pumps, the very least we should offer is an orderly queuing process, sufficient staff to cope, with specific jobs...ie. one taking the order, one fetching the beer and one taking the money. It's painfully basic.
I don't know but I'd guess that any aggro in the Holte Suite on Saturday was linked to the frustrations being aired over the bar. There were arguments aplenty after the game.
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I was in the Holte Suite before the game on Saturday, and gave up trying to get served after about 20 minutes, despite making eye contact with the nearest 'barman' on several occasions, and saying either, 'Yes please', or 'Pint of Carlsberg please'. Surely it's part of the job working behind a bar to be aware of who is next (though I appreciate that the Holte Suite gets busy).
Another thing.....why are drinks more expensive at half-time? Is it because it's season ticket holders only before the game? If that's the case, then why are we charged to get in?
Another moan......cans of Tetley (440ml) for £3.80?????? They had cans of Carlsberg Export for sale at the Man U game for £4.00 each......disgraceful.
It's about time that they employed more staff (who spend less time chatting to each other) and reduced the prices....
Four cans of Carlsberg Export (440ml) at my local Bargain Booze are £2.99, yet the club wanted £4 for one can? I totally understand that they have to make a decent sized profit, but that's just taking the piss.
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I was in there before the game and we waited around 3-5 minutes to get served each time. Maybe we were lucky.
It is pricey in there but the answer to that is not to go in if you consider it too much.
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I was in the Holte Suite before the game on Saturday, and gave up trying to get served after about 20 minutes, despite making eye contact with the nearest 'barman' on several occasions, and saying either, 'Yes please', or 'Pint of Carlsberg please'. Surely it's part of the job working behind a bar to be aware of who is next (though I appreciate that the Holte Suite gets busy).
Another thing.....why are drinks more expensive at half-time? Is it because it's season ticket holders only before the game? If that's the case, then why are we charged to get in?
Another moan......cans of Tetley (440ml) for £3.80?????? They had cans of Carlsberg Export for sale at the Man U game for £4.00 each......disgraceful.
It's about time that they employed more staff (who spend less time chatting to each other) and reduced the prices....
Four cans of Carlsberg Export (440ml) at my local Bargain Booze are £2.99, yet the club wanted £4 for one can? I totally understand that they have to make a decent sized profit, but that's just taking the piss.
when its 4 deep at the bar and people are fighting to get served
they will charge what they like
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Was in the Holte Suite at half time sat and it was ridiculous.The ruck such as it was, I would say was indirectly caused by the frustrations at the bar.
One chap had been served and the barman was serving someone else when the chap butts in to question the price of a Kopperberg.Barman stops to check price at a till with several mutterings at the bar.Chap eventually leaves bar to another bloke saying something to the effect ffs mate, we're all waiting.Then it's a bit cloudy, original bloke says 'what did you say?" several times, after which a bloke at the bar leaves the queuing to have a word with the other one.After heated words, the second bloke gives the first bloke what I can only describe as what Benny Hill used to do to his small bald sidekick-the headslap.
This is then a cue for a younger chap to lamp the head slapper and then mingle in the crowd at the back.
I saw no more as I was at that point "in" at the bar.
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There was a queue to get in the holte suite at 11-50 am I thought sod that and went in the holte pub
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A very good friend of mine was punched in the face in the Holte Suite at half-time whilst queuing for a pint. completely unprovoked, with witnesses. The attacker was quickly ejected, and the police asked my friend if he wanted to press charges.
I've not seen that. Must be him.
According to the Meaning Evil two blokes were arrested in the Holte Suite for assault on Saturday? Also a 20 year old Albion fan for entering a Villa stand at the end of the game goading home fans?? I assume the latter was the Lower North?
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The service was particularly appalling all over the Holte for the Albion game. Took over 20 minutes for the hatch in the left lower concourse to serve about 12 people before the game.
At half time I got into The Holte Suite & it took about 10 minutes to get served. I felt sorry for the staff - they were at least moving with some sense of urgency, but every last one was clueless. When the taps stopped pouring (clearly because the barrel had gone) they just kept trying a different glass!
If it hadn't been for the complete clarity of their ineptness, I would have thought the club were deliberately trying to serve less beer for this game after last season's shenanigans. For our bigger attendances, there are usually smaller 'stalls' selling beer around the concourse, but not this time, so I think there was maybe some degree of planning for the lower Holte to imbibe a little less this time around!
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It seems the Holte Suite is our very own version of Dismaland. I wonder do they slow the whole flow of alcohol down on purpose.
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It seems the Holte Suite is our very own version of Dismaland. I wonder do they slow the whole flow of alcohol down on purpose.
probably
the best bet is go out earlier and drink more before you get to the ground
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It seems the Holte Suite is our very own version of Dismaland. I wonder do they slow the whole flow of alcohol down on purpose.
probably
the best bet is go out earlier and drink more before you get to the ground
Like teenagers having "pre's" before a party
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It seems the Holte Suite is our very own version of Dismaland. I wonder do they slow the whole flow of alcohol down on purpose.
probably
the best bet is go out earlier and drink more before you get to the ground
Like teenagers having "pre's" before a party
good idea yeah ,,,,drink a few cans before the pub ,,,,,wish i had thought of that
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I find it quite strange that people choose to watch the Villa sober. I certainly haven't done that for a few decades.
I drink at football mainly because I'm a nervous spectator - unless I've had a few drinks I'm generally too tense to enjoy the game. Once my sensory perception has been dulled down a bit I can follow what is going on without getting so wound up.
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Apart from the Quarter Final last season I have always just strolled into the Upper Holte 45 minutes before ko, wandered to the beer counter (it's not a bar is it), purchased a pint of cold fizz and joined the folks I always meet up with for a leisurely chat and a perusal of the live match if it is on. I know it's not particularly plush but it sounds much better than what you poor sods are putting yourselves through.
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It's usually like that in The Lower Holte - Saturday was bizarre. I've never known it to be so difficult to get a drink in there! The Holte Suite is usually a good option too, but managed to be as bad if not worse than the concourse.
The other thing is that they do employ a fair few students, and they haven't gone back to university til this week, so maybe that left them a bit under staffed.
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They have changed things pre-match in the Holte Suite as last season you paid for the food up front and then collected. Now you pay after getting it (where all the meals are laid out in a line) which results in a long queue of people some waiting to pay and others who haven't yet got to their choice...not very efficient. Also noticed the bar staff seem new and pretty clueless. They just need a few experienced/manager types to guide them. The half arsed approach will cost the club money ultimately and is not particularly business like. Will give it another try this evening.
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They have changed things pre-match in the Holte Suite as last season you paid for the food up front and then collected. Now you pay after getting it (where all the meals are laid out in a line) which results in a long queue of people some waiting to pay and others who haven't yet got to their choice...not very efficient. Also noticed the bar staff seem new and pretty clueless. They just need a few experienced/manager types to guide them. The half arsed approach will cost the club money ultimately and is not particularly business like. Will give it another try this evening.
The only worrying thing is that this type of situation has been going on all over the ground for the past 15 seasons!