On Wednesday 4 April, THST Board Member and catering lead, Rachel Martin, met with David Peskett and Antonio Sellecchia from Compass (Levy Restaurants) and Jonathan Waite, Head of Supporter Services at THFC, for a scheduled update on the general admission catering offering in the new stadium.
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While ticket pricing and sales at the new stadium are understandably the areas fans are focusing on now, work in other areas is continuing. One of those areas is the regular meetings about the catering offer in the new stadium the Trust has been holding with the Club and Compass, the catering firm.
The Trust represents a broad range of fans and, whatever people's views of the ticket pricing, we have a responsibility to ensure the offer inside the ground is as fan-friendly as possible – especially given the amount of mail we get about catering. And we will obviously be making the point that if tickets are priced as they are partly because of an improved catering offer, we don't expect fans to be charged again for that offer through top-end pricing for food and drink.
Notes from the meeting are as follows.
It’s clear that the catering operation is progressing well behind the scenes and that the quality of provision in general admission areas throughout the stadium is likely to be very high. The range of product and the speed of service have always been top priorities for the Club, while endeavouring to keep the prices affordable.
Speed of service
Purpose built stalls mean that service will be much easier than in our much loved but antiquated White Hart Lane. Initiatives to speed up service and ensure people have time to purchase and consume refreshments before the game, during half time and after the game include:
Staffing
There are now 12 full time staff and this will rise to 40. Match day and event staff vacancies are being promoted and there will be mass recruitment nearer the time. If anyone is interested in applying for positions the link to register interest is here.
Approximately 600 people have registered an interest so far, through recruitment fairs etc.
Range of food
Feedback from fans at White Hart Lane and Wembley has been taken on board and accommodated wherever possible. Provision will include a wide range that will include selections to cater for dietary requirements. As with everything, sales figures will be assessed and the offer can be changed to meet demand and to reflect feedback.
There will not be concessions to high street brands, all stalls will be branded in relation to THFC.
On the concourses each stall will be clearly identified as having a food emphasis (with drinks) or a drinks emphasis (with snacks) by the colouring of the tiles.
We have asked for a catering map of the stadium to be made available to all supporters.
Beer providers
We did try to find out whether our local craft beers were going to be available in the new stadium but, of course, all brewery contracts are commercially sensitive and will be announced in due course!
The Club will provide fresh drinking water fountains around the stadium for no charge.
Environmental Issues
The Club is looking to be a responsible consumer and is committed to phasing out single-use plastics across all Club operations. From opening day, our new stadium will eliminate use of plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and all plastic disposable packaging that accompanies these items. More information can be found here.
Feedback
Once in our new stadium, we will be asking for supporters from different areas of the ground to form a small, regular feedback group. We're confident that the Club want to provide the very best service and to compete with the high street before and after the game, but we really need your knowledge and help to make sure that these high aims become a reality for everyone.
Rachel Martin
THST Board Member
26 April 2018
The Trust represents a broad range of fans and, whatever people's views of the ticket pricing, we have a responsibility to ensure the offer inside the ground is as fan-friendly as possible – especially given the amount of mail we get about catering. And we will obviously be making the point that if tickets are priced as they are partly because of an improved catering offer, we don't expect fans to be charged again for that offer through top-end pricing for food and drink.
Notes from the meeting are as follows.
It’s clear that the catering operation is progressing well behind the scenes and that the quality of provision in general admission areas throughout the stadium is likely to be very high. The range of product and the speed of service have always been top priorities for the Club, while endeavouring to keep the prices affordable.
Speed of service
Purpose built stalls mean that service will be much easier than in our much loved but antiquated White Hart Lane. Initiatives to speed up service and ensure people have time to purchase and consume refreshments before the game, during half time and after the game include:
- Pre-ordering food - the plan is that new technology will enable us to pre-order food and drinks and select our chosen collection point for pre match and at half time. We will also be able to identify where we can access different stalls and make sure that they serve food that meets any specific dietary requirements
- Bottoms-up beer pouring system, meaning beer will be freshly and very speedily poured to order
- Cash free payment system with contactless payment points
- Hugely increased numbers of staff and payment points
- Mercifully we will not be having refreshments delivered to our seats – no mugs of cocoa and Bovril scaling the heights of the South Stand!
Staffing
There are now 12 full time staff and this will rise to 40. Match day and event staff vacancies are being promoted and there will be mass recruitment nearer the time. If anyone is interested in applying for positions the link to register interest is here.
Approximately 600 people have registered an interest so far, through recruitment fairs etc.
Range of food
Feedback from fans at White Hart Lane and Wembley has been taken on board and accommodated wherever possible. Provision will include a wide range that will include selections to cater for dietary requirements. As with everything, sales figures will be assessed and the offer can be changed to meet demand and to reflect feedback.
There will not be concessions to high street brands, all stalls will be branded in relation to THFC.
On the concourses each stall will be clearly identified as having a food emphasis (with drinks) or a drinks emphasis (with snacks) by the colouring of the tiles.
We have asked for a catering map of the stadium to be made available to all supporters.
Beer providers
We did try to find out whether our local craft beers were going to be available in the new stadium but, of course, all brewery contracts are commercially sensitive and will be announced in due course!
The Club will provide fresh drinking water fountains around the stadium for no charge.
Environmental Issues
The Club is looking to be a responsible consumer and is committed to phasing out single-use plastics across all Club operations. From opening day, our new stadium will eliminate use of plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and all plastic disposable packaging that accompanies these items. More information can be found here.
Feedback
Once in our new stadium, we will be asking for supporters from different areas of the ground to form a small, regular feedback group. We're confident that the Club want to provide the very best service and to compete with the high street before and after the game, but we really need your knowledge and help to make sure that these high aims become a reality for everyone.
Rachel Martin
THST Board Member
26 April 2018
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