Darren from ICT has contacted us and asked us to run a poll/survey about the fans' concerns over the Lindley Catering services within the Caledonian Stadium. We have added a few general areas of concern as a poll (which is multiple choice so you can choose more than one answer) but would ask that those with issues please detail them clearly and concisely below.

This is your chance to list your concerns or comments about the catering in an official capacity and have Darren raise them with the company. Darren is keen to listen to the grumbles and sit down with the company and see if they can be addressed.

Please note: As this is an 'official' request from the club, we want to make sure it stays on-topic and within the range of the question being asked. Because of this we will summarily delete any comments that are off-topic or seek to drag the topic away from the question.

• If you have an issue please show it in your response by typing ISSUE near the top of your response.
  
• If you have a suggestion on how to improve one or more aspects, please show it in your response by typing IDEA near the top of your response.
  

The original "who ate all the pies thread" that has led to this action by the club can be viewed here

http://community.caleythistleonline.com/in...showtopic=15885

NOTE: This topic will only remain open for issues/ideas until FRIDAY 12th MARCH @ 12PM (UK Time) as Darren meets with the area manager of Lindley that afternoon.

Issue - Never been to a stadium where I've had to wait so long in queues, went in at the start of half time and moved forward 3 steps before I left with a couple of minutes before the team came back out. A coupld behind me, and I'd imagine a lot of others did the same.

ISSUE: Service.

As has been pointed out by many on this subject, my own experience of the service from this new company is not great. The bottom line is at half time, they have to deal with a lot of customers, yet seem totally unprepared for this. On many an occasion ive almost been tempted to tell folk at the back of the queue to not bother.

Solutions: On more than one occasion ive seen folk in the catering area just standing about, how about pouring a few drinks in advance, and being a bit more alert. I get the impression that they simply dont care, and with no manager type there to push them, they all move at 1mph. By having the girls on the tills also be responsible for the getting of food and drinks, it doesnt help the speed of the whole process. If they leave the till folk to take orders and get some runners to fetch pies and drinks, it should help in some way.

I appreciate that Darren is maybe responding to correspondance from some disgruntled fans, but if he is keen to know what its like, he should try buying a pie like the rest of us at the catering.

From their website: "As the UK's leading specialist in sports stadia and venue catering, Lindley Stadia's ability to provide a fast and efficient food and beverage service for thousands of hungry sports fans and concert goers in a very limited space of time is second to none."

Indeed.

Having tried out the grub tonight for this first time in a while (went straight from work) was disappointed with macaroni pie both in terms of quality and price.

Hardly any filling, looked totally unappealing

Bovril was ok, but just ok, as on a very cold night could have done with being a bit hotter

The vote thing tells me I have voted already on this thread I don't believe I have.

My main issue is the lack of food hygiene awareness. I think the pies should not be handled by the same person dealing with the money if they are not using tongs or paper. I dont want to see them touching their faces and then the food either. I may buy drinks but will be avoiding the dry pies from now on.

Prices we paid 7.40 for two pies a warm tea and a cola drink last night.

I can only echo what others have said already. I don't normally buy food at the game but accopanied one of the boys i take to get a burger at half time last night. Arrived in the queue just after half time whistle went, couldn't have been more than people in front of us. We got served about 2 minutes after the whistle went to start the 2nd half - and this at the kiosk in the unused stand.

If Darren is keen for feedback I would agree with a previous suggestion - that he joins the queue at half time and experiences it for himself.

Think the quality of the pies is ok actually, but both the balti and the steak pie I bought last night were lukewarm - and that's being charitable. Not acceptable at these prices.

I can only echo what others have said already. I don't normally buy food at the game but accopanied one of the boys i take to get a burger at half time last night. Arrived in the queue just after half time whistle went, couldn't have been more than people in front of us. We got served about 2 minutes after the whistle went to start the 2nd half - and this at the kiosk in the unused stand.

If Darren is keen for feedback I would agree with a previous suggestion - that he joins the queue at half time and experiences it for himself.

He was briefly in the que last night but I would say that it was far less congested than a normal saturday game.

I have to say that I am not too concerned at all about the standards of catering at the stadium, I have never witnessed unhygienic practices, I find the food to be of a reasonable quality in comparison to outlets in a similar environment (the steak pies are great) and if you compare the prices to the prices you find at events like agricultural shows, Highland games, fun fairs, Safari parks and many other "family days out" there cannot be too many complaints really. Last time I went to the food outlet I used the one opposite side to the Main Stand and due to knowing when the busy times are and timing correctly found there to be no more than a five minute wait I also noted that the pies were only a matter of 30 to 50 pence more expensive than the chilled ones from our local supermarket (term used loosely) in Dornoch.

Darren, if you read this, I believe that our fans are always wanting that little bit extra but in reality there are no major concerns really. If people want use the football as somewhere to eat out as well as watch a match then they are getting a far better price than if they were to go to a pub or restaurant in the town, if not a bit of pre planning would save them cash by buying their picnics before entering the stadium, freeing up queues for those of us who just need a munch after a pre match pint or six.

Edited March 11, 201016 yr by Revbirdog

I did go down on Tuesday night with the intention of buying a pie and drink, I left my seat on the stroke of HT and by the time I got down to the Servery (North End of Main Stand), the queue was already such that I knew I would not be served before 2nf Half kicked off so didn't bother.

I did take a note of who I would have been behind in the queue and as I was standing talking to some friends kept an eye on how far they had progressed before returning to my seat...and I imagine the person who would have been in front of me missed at least 6 or 7 minutes of the game.

I deliberately chose the busiest servery as that will be the one with the most problems with queues etc. Whilst the queue was a problem, I didn't witness any trouble with the service being provided. Staff seemed to be working at a reasonable pace, nobody appeared to have any need for complaint and the queue, although long, seemed to be orderly and people would have had space to pass if the concourse had not been used as a storage area for what looked like a water/catering delivery that was sitting in the corner making the entrance at the North End very congested.

People seem to have developed a habit over the years of congregating towards that one concourse from both the Main Stand and the North Stand and I am assured by others who went to other servery points that queues were far smaller and people managed to leave seat at HT whistle, get a pie and drink and get back to seat in time for second half.

Perhaps part of the problem, certainly with the queues, needs to be addressed by encouraging people to make more even use of all serveries. The club could erect some signs pointing to recommended servery, but this would also need to be communicated more directly and fans would need to be willing to take the recommendation and walk the few extra steps if need be in order to help resolve the problem.

Of course, this doesn't resolve issues with price & quality, but when people are hacked off by having to wait so long and possibly missing part of the game then, IMO, the frame of mind when they do get served will be to find further fault and perhaps be more critical than is normal/fair about the product they are getting.

Just one other point of note. I grabbed a coffee on the way in to the game and it was plenty hot. I did notice that they weren't using the hot water tap on the counter at that time (was a problem with it overflowing or something) and wonder if this is where the issue may lie in terms of complaints about luke warm as opposed to hot drinks?

Revbirdog, glad to see you are the self appointed "voice of the people" and the 80 or so others who voted are merely wasting everyones time...

There is clearly an issue with the queues, and has been for many moons. It affects the matchday atmosphere dramatically. Nobody is saying they expect haute cuisine, or rely on their pie as their main meal of the week. What they are saying is that there are people who spend all of half time waiting to get some food/drink and can't. That's unacceptable, by anyones standard.

Revbirddog is just trying to be contoversial. I'm sorry but 1.60 Or however much they've increased it to now for a lukewarm bovril is a disgrace.

Whoa there guys, everyone else may have issues but I do not. Whether that is because I have lower standards or whether that is because everyone else's standards and expectations are so high I do not know but is there any need for these personal attacks when all I am doing is giving feedback? I personally feel that when you put context to what you would expect to pay and receive at similar eateries at similar events then we are not too hard done by. I have never witnessed any of the faults posted by others so I have no issues at the moment. I felt that in the interest of fairness I would share this within the thread, sorry about that.

Edited March 11, 201016 yr by Revbirdog

Don I think you have it spot on, in 26 years of going to matches from every division in Scotland and the top two in England I can safely say that one thing I have learned is that if you want a pie at half time you either send the wife half an hour into the game or you miss 10 to 15 minutes yourself. What you say about the psychology of people being pissed off due to their impatience when queueing is probably bang on, you never enjoy something when you are wound up.

I have to say that I am not too concerned at all about the standards of catering at the stadium, I have never witnessed unhygienic practices, I find the food to be of a reasonable quality in comparison to outlets in a similar environment (the steak pies are great) and if you compare the prices to the prices you find at events like agricultural shows, Highland games, fun fairs, Safari parks and many other "family days out" there cannot be too many complaints really. Last time I went to the food outlet I used the one opposite side to the Main Stand and due to knowing when the busy times are and timing correctly found there to be no more than a five minute wait I also noted that the pies were only a matter of 30 to 50 pence more expensive than the chilled ones from our local supermarket (term used loosely) in Dornoch.

Darren, if you read this, I believe that our fans are always wanting that little bit extra but in reality there are no major concerns really. If people want use the football as somewhere to eat out as well as watch a match then they are getting a far better price than if they were to go to a pub or restaurant in the town, if not a bit of pre planning would save them cash by buying their picnics before entering the stadium, freeing up queues for those of us who just need a munch after a pre match pint or six.

I'm glad you pointed out you were getting served opposite the main stand.

I go to the one to the north side of the main stand, this attracts people from the main stand and north stand for the pies, chip van and toilets.

CDs idea of guidance signs would be good to get a better ballance of fans to each kiosk for maximum return and reduce congestion.

Edited March 11, 201016 yr by 12th Man

I'm glad you pointed out you were getting served opposite the main stand.

I go to the one to the north side of the main stand, this attracts people from the main stand and north stand for the pies, chip van and toilets.

CDs idea of guidance signs would be good to get a better ballance of fans to each kiosk for maximum return and reduce congestion.

The kiosk opposite the main stand has everything with the exception of the burger van, perhaps the location of the van being changed would easy congestion in that area. I have to admit that my seat is far closer to the Main stand but I have learned that it is easier to go to the other one, a lot of the congestion and resulting issues could well be helped if people used common sense ie spread the queues over the available kiosks and go to the kiosk at a time when it will be less busy.

So what we're saying is that the catering is perfectly adequate and that all is fine?

I've not been to any Home games this season so i can't comment but how is the general standard compared to other first division clubs? Surely the quality of pies etc can't be any worse off. How much is it for a pie and juice? However i do always remember waiting ages for pies whenever i've been in the past but i thought this may just be down to the fact at away days there is alot less customers.

Ayr - long queues and not a lot of stock. Decent pie though.

raith - ok.

partick - decent.

Dunfermline - cheap and decent quality.

county - decent pies, lukewarm drinks served by kids.

dundee - awful. Expensive and terrible quality.

Haven't made it to a QoS, Morton or Airdrie game away this season through circumstances.

So what we're saying is that the catering is perfectly adequate and that all is fine?

We are not saying that at all, I am saying it, the needs and desires of others are not under my control but I think that with a wee bit of tweaking of a couple of issues on the side of ICT and a bit more understanding from the support then somewhere in the middle there will be an answer, of course there will always be those who can never be satisfied.

So if you think there are no problems or issues with the catering why are you posting on this thread?

Right guys, the topic is headed as 'official' for feedback to enable everybody to move forward.

Off to PM for your discussion over the merits of each others posts.

There are two serveries in the uncovered stand, but the one that is used is the smallest most cramped one. Surely it would make sense to use the larger one or indeed both of them?

IDEA- Shut the fire exit which leads from under the main stand to the exits at the North stand, this would force people in the north stand to use the serveries situated at the west side of the North Stand reducing queues in the congested main stand area.

IDEA- create a smoking area along the same lines as the access to the burger van (outside the stadium, even though it is not technically illegal to smoke within the stadium as it is not a fully enclosed space, nor is it against SFL rules to allow smoking), reducing peoples need to satisfy nicotine cravings by eating also reducing the frustration which goes along with cravings which might just relieve the moaning about catering and other issues.

I know this is not a discussion thread but feel I have to reply. Revbirdog you are entitled to your opinion and if you are perfectly happy with the catering then thats fine but please dont presume to speak for the rest of us. Everyone is entitled to their opinion good or bad and In sure that not everyone is unhappy but the concerns of those of us who are are important as well.

as for the safari park comment well when I take my kids out for the day I can take food with me including hot drinks and bottled pop a choice not available to me at a game.

Personally I used the west side severy on tuesday got served by a pleasant young lady and also got hot coffee so credit where its due. Also didnt wait as long as usual.