Catering at the Madejski

[STAR Liaison]

STAR have been asked to ask its members about which food products they would like to see on sale next season - so how about some suggestions of what of the current range should be kept and what should be added?

Any (sensible) ideas will be channelled back to Compass.

Addition suggested so far are curries and indiviual pizzas - any more?

[Tinrib]

I would like to see a Kebab van outside the East stand.

[Dirk Gently]

I would like to see the return of the Yorkie King-Size ("It's not for girls").

A cardboard sign taped to the front of the counter all season talking about supply problems and a supply of Chunky Kit-Kats is not an adequate replacement.

[Platypuss]

A cardboard sign taped to the front of the counter all season talking about supply problems .

Probably still more edible than the pies.

[cheeryoleary]

Pukka Pies, and I would like a zig zag queuing system to free up the concourse.

[Crasher]

1. More staff who are capable of (a) speaking english, (b) able to operate the till with out resorting to getting assistance from at least 2 other members of staff, and (c) fully conversant with all of the 'meal deal' promotions that are displayed.

2. Pre-pouring of Guiness 5-10 mins before HT, so that all they require is a quick top-up squirt and you're done

3. One of those machines capable of dispensing 4/6/8 pints in one go (like they have at Cardiff/Twickenham etc etc)

The zig-zag queueing system would be an excellent idea as well.

[Zammo]

I would like staff to speak English. On Tuesday I asked for a pasty, was then given a Chicken & Mushroom (so I was told), opened it up to find a Balti Pie.

[Royalshow]

Read bull

[Huntley & Palmer]

A range of spirits like Derby have, oh and Marstons

[Turns8]

how about some proper pizza...bring back dominos but sell it rather than flog it at halftime...

[The Surgeon of Crowthorne]

Just having staff competent enough to sell their current range of food would be good enough for me.

[RG30]

I anticipate sales will be down if the club and Compass press ahead with plans to introduce the "payment via member card" only scheme.

[PieEater]

Pies that do not come in a plastic bag.

[SpaceCruiser]

Could they do something about the South Stand halftime crowd queuing up that blocks the entrance from the seats? Always is bloody difficult to get in and when you do finally get in you have precisely 5 minutes before you get back out in time for the second half.

[North Somerset Royal]

Electronic payment card machines have been installed in the Upper West concourse. Last time I looked they were not operational but a steward told me that the idea is to do away with cash payment for refreshments. The machines dispense or top up cards in £5 & £10 units. Can you confirm this and explain the thinking behind it and when it is to start?

[RoyalBlue]

Electronic payment card machines have been installed in the Upper West concourse. Last time I looked they were not operational but a steward told me that the idea is to do away with cash payment for refreshments. The machines dispense or top up cards in £5 & £10 units. Can you confirm this and explain the thinking behind it and when it is to start?

The thinking is no doubt that thousands of supporters will end up having to put more on their cards than they actually want to spend and Compass/RFC will make the interest on your money. (If they wanted to avoid this happening, card loaders are available that allow people to charge up their cards using coins and/or notes.)

However, the financial gain to RFC/Compass will conveniently be forgotten about when they explain that the change is solely to speed up service times.

Incidentally, having run such a system now for over 5 years it is reasobaly reliable technology. However, it can be fun (not!) when the loader breaks/crashes and god help you if you have a software glitch (can you imagine that on a match day?!!). Sods law dictates that such things will happen at the busiest times.

Also the note loaders aren't overly reliable and even when working can often spit your note back at you several times before finally accepting it and charging your card (if you are lucky!).

Out of interest do the machines have VMC and/or Metro Manager on them?

[premiership_bound]

They use this in the Alliance Arena in Munich. Does speed up time at the counters but the queues for the payment machines were huge.

[shadesrwrf]

Sounds like a bloody nightmare.

[mx]

Could the club be encouraged to speak to a couple of local breweries (Lodden/West Berks eg) about them supplying a couple of barrels of proper beer to the North Stand?

Or to Sweenies about taking over the pie contract?

[Dirk Gently]

Electronic payment card machines have been installed in the Upper West concourse. Last time I looked they were not operational but a steward told me that the idea is to do away with cash payment for refreshments. The machines dispense or top up cards in £5 & £10 units. Can you confirm this and explain the thinking behind it and when it is to start?

Last I hear this was to be trialled in the Upper West. As everyone already has a member card there's no need to issue cards, so the idea is that your member card will double as your payment card - like Oyster.

Yes loading cash up can be done on site at the machines, but I also think it can be done via the ticketing website - the idea is you add 20 or 30 quid to last you a run of matches, rather than load up 3.50 or whatever for a single match.

It's a very similar system to that used in countless schools, colleges and company canteens.