Azure need to booted out.

[rool]

Hmmm picture fail ha ha

 

[Superphil]

, they are in place to facilitate timely & efficient delivery of the above which they are NOT.

Well they are a lot of the time, I have used WSU, WSL, NS and ES, I've had a bit of a queue on Occasion, but 9 times out of 10 it's been more than acceptable. My biggest gripe was with the condition of the food when I got it, but that seems to be ironed out now in the main too. Once the additional equipment goes in the stock issue should be gone.

Sorry for not adding anything to the debate, but I think people should put some of the issues into perspective, the club has been a victim of its own success, if they'd taken on Pukka pies, watered down lager and Booker C&C burgers there would be no problem, as very few people would buy them. As it is, the success the club has experienced since the opening of the Amex has probably had a bit to do with why we have been able to sign a number of premiership class players this transfer window, rather than trawling around League One for a bargain/gamble.

 

[honey boy zimba]

I have a mate you used to be Exec Chef at spurs the fast food stuff was a knightmare for him and the co. he worked for . In the end the job was split one co. did hospo and non m,atch day the other who specialised in fast food did the concorses .May be the way foward in the future .Both co.s are still there 10 years on

 

[The Large One]

sorry TLO you posted earlier that RH was catering .

Yep. Just listened back through the Roar from when Elliott and Richard were on. I seemed to recall Richard being responsible for having Elliott report into him (hence it come under RH's wing). He didn't say that at all, my mistake.

However, I do know Richard and Elliott (among others) do work closely together on a whole host of stuff all the time.

 

[Rich Suvner]

At the risk of sounding like I'm defending everything Azure does (I certainly wouldn't), you appear to be criticising the very people who bring you the local ales, pies and open concourses.

Or rather, it seems you're congratulating them and criticising them in one go.

It feels a little like you've not understood my post TLO. The decisions I applaud were in motion before Azure were procured as catering delivery agent. The best elements of the catering and beverages have nothing to do with them.

In contrast with the big successes championed by fans (as listed previously) what have Azure delivered in their capacity as an expert in this field that has met the lofty vision for the amex experience? I would venture nothing. I think they have failed in their brief. Pies and beer choice aside the offer is limited and slow.

 

[Greavsey]

I have to echo previous comments, many congratulations should go to the club for their choice of local, high quality suppliers for pies and ales. A fantastic product. However, it is Azures' role to then ensure that customers receive the product that they require and in a timely manner. Which to be fair, I thought they had finally cracked for the games in December and Stains match. In the West Upper though the last three matches have been an absolute joke, and the worst experience of the whole season. Can't be bothered to list the problems. For Newcastle game, despite the addition of the Dark Star stands the only 'beer' I could get through the whole match was fcking Fosters, in west upper and then lower post match.
For the Saints game there were mobile pie and hot dog sellers which were an excellent idea, and meant you could get a pie and then queue for a Harveys, but for the last two matches these disappeared. WHY!? Such an easy solution.
You would expect teething problems initially, but I just feel frustrated that when I thought they had sorted things, it is now worse than ever. The inconsistency of stock levels and service is baffling. I just want to give the club my money and have a nice sociable time at the match, before, during and after (all those saying it's just about the match, you're wrong, for those of us who do have real friends it's a great afternoon out)!
I've met Elliot several times in a business capacity and the guy doesn't come across as the most passionate and professional individual. So shouldn't be surprised I suppose. I wish the club would somehow rid themselves of Azure and employ professional in-house staff who are accountable and actually give a sh1t about customer service.

 

[rool]

Elliott deals with the catering.

Here he is restocking the WSU

I shouldn't have bothered

 

[WATFORD zero]

So far in the 17 matches i've been to, I reckon my son and I have consumed approx 40 pies, 15 hot dogs, 45 pints and 17 bottles of Fanta. During that time, my son had one Chicken and Ham pie that was lukewarm and couldn't get a hotdog on one occasion, so had a pie instead. I had one occasion where i couldn't get a chicken balti and had to have a steak pie and at one of the very early games the concourse bar had run out of Harveys and i had to re-queue at one of those mobile vendors instead. The majority of these have been in the North Stand before the match and half time with occasional pints in the East Stand afterwards.

Against Newcastle i even managed a pint and a piss at half time without missing a minute of the game !

Have i just been really lucky (and probably quite fat !) as i really struggle to see what the problem is ?

 

[Rich Suvner]

I take your opint and understand it so the obvious answer is why cant the club employ even on short contract or on a consultancy basis some body with the required knowledge. I am sure that ther are many suitably qualified people about possibly early retired not an OAP like me but somebody who has been made redundant by a large commercial catering company in his early 50s. I am sure an advert in the Hotel and Caterer would soon bring forward a number of suitable applicants.

Why should the club pay? They are already employing experts! You would hope their contract with Azure has some form of service level agreements that aren't too lenient.

 

[honey boy zimba]

Dont think your being fare to Elliot think Azure have hung him out to dry and dont understand the needs and expectation of the Amex ,yes eventually the club needs to go in house to maximise all the revenue but this will take time,

 

[BensGrandad]

If they employed an independant consultant it would give the club grounds to go to Azure with any complaints and expect them to be rectified and we the customers to benefit and the club to earn more money from increased sales.

 

[honey boy zimba]

You forget that the Exec Chef Fred Tobin was Tony Blooms choice and he has gone as he didnt hve the experience of large match day catering.. like I said its a learning curve for all involved

 

[Greavsey]

Dont think your being fare to Elliot think Azure have hung him out to dry and dont understand the needs and expectation of the Amex ,yes eventually the club needs to go in house to maximise all the revenue but this will take time,

You may be right. Wasn't he recruited from the O2 arena as some kind of kiosk guru though!? The buck ultimately stops with him as manager.

 

[Rich Suvner]

I see your point BG.

 

[honey boy zimba]

yes he is from retail background but he also has been at the emerites with delware north im sure he knows what it takes ,but do Azure lets face it most of their other grounds are scotish and their happy with anything as long as its deepfried

 

[Greavsey]

I have dealt with Elliot and trust me, he's not the sharpest tool in the box.
It's the lack of consistency from one game to the next which is frustrating. You could sort of forgive it if our crowd numbers fluctuated massively. It's an embarrasment, and I still have bad guts from having to drink Fosters!

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

On Saturday we stopped in WH Smith at Brighton Station to get some cough sweets as my little girl was struggling a bit. Whilst paying the guy said "any offer from the counter?" and indicated an array of goods that were, supposedly, at some sort of special price.

The last big retailer to "upsell" at the till was Woolworths , until they went tits up.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

To be honest I do not think the problems with catering are really that serious. People are being served food and drink in huge numbers, from the club perspective things are going pretty well.

For sure, 'people are being served food and drink in huge numbers', but people are also being DENIED the opportunity to purchase food and drink in huge numbers. Hopefully the club are not as blase about the catering situation as you seem to be.

 

[TheJasperCo]

They ran out of forks when I was (eventually served) by Azure in the East Stand. THEY RAN OUT OF FOORRRRRRKKKKKSS!!!

For fork sake.

 

[The Large One]

For sure, 'people are being served food and drink in huge numbers', but people are also being DENIED the opportunity to purchase food and drink in huge numbers. Hopefully the club are not as blase about the catering situation as you seem to be.

You don't normally come across as a Daily Mail reader.