Quote from: amfy on August 15, 2022, 11:07:36 AMHaving read elsewhere that there was possibly a 90p charge for tap water I am also going to put this here.https://www.popall.co.uk/news-publications/news/another-article-on-free-drinking-waterIt not only illegal for licences premises to charge for tap water, it is a legal requirement to supply it on request. I know this from working for Shelter (Avalon bars) at Glastonbury - a bar that is a tent in a field, with customers 5 deep for 8 hours solid - we managed this!Villa Park’s issue for many of the bars is that not enough consideration was given to the space needed to adequately equip and staff them. We seem to have loads of tiny booths that aren’t designed for many staff or multi pour and lining up pints. Something to consider in the North Stand re-design.They are also expanding the range and throwing in stuff like wine when they would be better just sticking with basics and doing it well. You could take those little booths with minor re-design & make them a simple ‘pints bar’ with a multi pourer for lager, bitter, cider and just bang them out with only 2 staff at a faster rate than the current 4 pissing about trying to pour on order.Anything more complicated - go to the larger food bar. If you are there with kids, & need soft drinks, you’ll probably be there for a hot dog anyway.......& honestly, who is going to a football match and not going to buy anything if they can’t have wine?I’ll also go a bit Flin5tone here and say there is no point in putting up season ticket prices and then throwing away thousands of pounds with terrible catering. Catering can be a massive moneyspinner when done right, and can lose customers when done badly. The problem with staffing is that it’s a VERY part time job and as such you won’t get a great level of skill or experience, but it is likely to improve a little when students return next month.I'm sure I read that while the water has to be free, an establishment can make a charge to cover other costs, eg the glass, washing it up, rent, staff time etc.
Having read elsewhere that there was possibly a 90p charge for tap water I am also going to put this here.https://www.popall.co.uk/news-publications/news/another-article-on-free-drinking-waterIt not only illegal for licences premises to charge for tap water, it is a legal requirement to supply it on request. I know this from working for Shelter (Avalon bars) at Glastonbury - a bar that is a tent in a field, with customers 5 deep for 8 hours solid - we managed this!Villa Park’s issue for many of the bars is that not enough consideration was given to the space needed to adequately equip and staff them. We seem to have loads of tiny booths that aren’t designed for many staff or multi pour and lining up pints. Something to consider in the North Stand re-design.They are also expanding the range and throwing in stuff like wine when they would be better just sticking with basics and doing it well. You could take those little booths with minor re-design & make them a simple ‘pints bar’ with a multi pourer for lager, bitter, cider and just bang them out with only 2 staff at a faster rate than the current 4 pissing about trying to pour on order.Anything more complicated - go to the larger food bar. If you are there with kids, & need soft drinks, you’ll probably be there for a hot dog anyway.......& honestly, who is going to a football match and not going to buy anything if they can’t have wine?I’ll also go a bit Flin5tone here and say there is no point in putting up season ticket prices and then throwing away thousands of pounds with terrible catering. Catering can be a massive moneyspinner when done right, and can lose customers when done badly. The problem with staffing is that it’s a VERY part time job and as such you won’t get a great level of skill or experience, but it is likely to improve a little when students return next month.
Quote from: amfy on August 15, 2022, 11:07:36 AMHaving read elsewhere that there was possibly a 90p charge for tap water I am also going to put this here.https://www.popall.co.uk/news-publications/news/another-article-on-free-drinking-waterIt not only illegal for licences premises to charge for tap water, it is a legal requirement to supply it on request. I know this from working for Shelter (Avalon bars) at Glastonbury - a bar that is a tent in a field, with customers 5 deep for 8 hours solid - we managed this!Villa Park’s issue for many of the bars is that not enough consideration was given to the space needed to adequately equip and staff them. We seem to have loads of tiny booths that aren’t designed for many staff or multi pour and lining up pints. Something to consider in the North Stand re-design.They are also expanding the range and throwing in stuff like wine when they would be better just sticking with basics and doing it well. You could take those little booths with minor re-design & make them a simple ‘pints bar’ with a multi pourer for lager, bitter, cider and just bang them out with only 2 staff at a faster rate than the current 4 pissing about trying to pour on order.Anything more complicated - go to the larger food bar. If you are there with kids, & need soft drinks, you’ll probably be there for a hot dog anyway.......& honestly, who is going to a football match and not going to buy anything if they can’t have wine?I’ll also go a bit Flin5tone here and say there is no point in putting up season ticket prices and then throwing away thousands of pounds with terrible catering. Catering can be a massive moneyspinner when done right, and can lose customers when done badly. The problem with staffing is that it’s a VERY part time job and as such you won’t get a great level of skill or experience, but it is likely to improve a little when students return next month.For some people it's excessive pricing, for others it's coked-up head cases, a while back it was Doug Ellis, but for me, I will never darken the doors of Villa Park again until I am assured of a decent Châteauneuf-du-Pape. End of.
Quote from: Bent Neilsens Screamer on August 14, 2022, 09:38:52 AMIs there any health and safety or other regulation that stops them pre pouring loads of drinks ready to hand over?I'm sure I've seen that operation at other grounds but can't remember where
Is there any health and safety or other regulation that stops them pre pouring loads of drinks ready to hand over?
The article I linked to lists some possible exceptions, none of which apply to this situation, and makes no mention of a charge. If you can find reference to the legality of such a charge somewhere on google, then please link. I don’t believe it exists, as the cost of supplying water can clearly be absorbed elsewhere if the person meets the criteria of being a ‘customer’ as outlined in the possible exceptions above.
Quote from: amfy on August 15, 2022, 12:03:54 PMThe article I linked to lists some possible exceptions, none of which apply to this situation, and makes no mention of a charge. If you can find reference to the legality of such a charge somewhere on google, then please link. I don’t believe it exists, as the cost of supplying water can clearly be absorbed elsewhere if the person meets the criteria of being a ‘customer’ as outlined in the possible exceptions above.A firm of solicitors writes:"It is open to a licensed premises to make a charge for the glass that the water comes in, to charge if it is filtered water or to charge for their service."https://www.hospitalitylaw.co.uk/free-tap-water-pubs-restaurants/
If you want to let the club know of your gripe, there's an email address just for it. If one was to use the reply my brother's received in order to judge the club's awareness of what many of us seemed to experience on Saturday, I'd suggest it's somewhere around "this is all news to us" fancomplaints@avfc.co.uk
Quote from: Rory on August 15, 2022, 12:18:52 AMQuote from: dave.woodhall on August 14, 2022, 10:31:21 PMI'd be interested to know how we compare with other older grounds such as Anfield and St James, and how they compare with the new grounds.I'm sure it happens everywhere, but one thing that bothers me is the seemingly thousands of people who spend the whole time milling around the concourses, watching the TVs. My Dad will disappear on 30 minutes, buy two or three pints, pretty much neck them, then return on about 50 minutes. What's the point?If I could have a pint in my seat, I might consider queuing for 5 minutes or so to get two before kickoff, but I've paid to watch the game. If I wanted to get drunk and watch it on a screen I'd stay at home or go to the pub.It's about choice. You pays yer money you takes yer choice. It's about having a catch up with old friends who you only ever see on match days. Your dad and many like him (me included) should be able to do this without the excruciating experience of trying to get served. It hasn't improved at all in the 40 odd years I've been going to Villa Park. That's the issue here and for all the good work that's been done by the owners I find it incredible that this hasn't been addressed.
Quote from: dave.woodhall on August 14, 2022, 10:31:21 PMI'd be interested to know how we compare with other older grounds such as Anfield and St James, and how they compare with the new grounds.I'm sure it happens everywhere, but one thing that bothers me is the seemingly thousands of people who spend the whole time milling around the concourses, watching the TVs. My Dad will disappear on 30 minutes, buy two or three pints, pretty much neck them, then return on about 50 minutes. What's the point?If I could have a pint in my seat, I might consider queuing for 5 minutes or so to get two before kickoff, but I've paid to watch the game. If I wanted to get drunk and watch it on a screen I'd stay at home or go to the pub.
I'd be interested to know how we compare with other older grounds such as Anfield and St James, and how they compare with the new grounds.