An interesting discussion

What we really need is 2 bars for supporters.

The first for the Fan Fests and a second showing whatever the early kick-off game is. Each of these needs to be external to the ground so that they are accessible by anybody who might want to use them and are specifically not some sort of Members Only (interpret that how you like) enclave.

The Fan Fests are great for those who like that sort of thing but in my experience they aren't really much cop for anybody turning up with a kid. Unless you are of a certain age the act doesn't appeal at all and pretty soon boredom kicks in and nobody wants a bored and energetic 7 year old or a moaning teenager to ruin either their own or anybody else's pre-match socialising.

If people do feel we need some sort of Members Only bar to replace the FPC then we need 3 bars.

Sadly I'm not expecting there to be one at all.

It's been suggested on here somewhere and it's been mentioned to me elsewhere that for Akkeron to sell the units underneath the grandstand they might have had to agree to not having an open supporters bar in the grandstand because it would be in direct competition with these catering / drinks outlets.

I hope this is not correct as it would be another slap in the face for the ordinary fans, who want to come to the club and spend their money for the benefit of the club and not give it to someone else.

A members only club may be acceptable as it may not be seen as direct competition for passing custom. BUT a 150 member club is no where near acceptable and is liable to be priced out of the reach of the average fan.

I can't see anywhere for the fansfests. The corporate diners  are not going to want to hear a couple of hundred Janners singing the Janners Song somewhere near them while they munch their 3 course meal. Especially the ones who have only turned up as guests or employees of the sponsors and are only there because it is a freebee. 

If memory serves, before the Far Post club lounge was closed ( due to falling down) the membership of the Far Post was closed at something like 350 members. The suspicion is any members club in the stand will be so small, the yearly membership will be set too high and the club will be the exclusive domain of the ex Vice Presidents and the better off ex members of the Far Post. That's of course if the well off members of the current Business Lounge don't take all the spaces first.

In my opinion if there is to be a Members Bar, spaces should be offered to ex Far Posters first. As SFD says though, it would be nice to have an open Supporters Sports Bar but I also think that the ordinary fan is going to be sacrificed on the altar of the corporate pound.

Three course meals are a thing of the past. Now it's a buffet with a choice of Thai chicken curry or lasagne. I went for the lasagne because I didn't fancy the foreign muck.

Do you remember all the fuss when Shepherd's Pie got served? This doesn't seem much different but not a peep anywhere.

If was doing a spot of corporate schmoozing I'd expect rather more than that.

If that's what they are serving now, it would make more sense for it to be one big Sports bar with some reserved tables at a posh end for the sponsors and that sort of food served along with the usual burgers, pasties etc. on an extensive menu with food at varying levels of cost in the rest of the bar.

Some of the things I'm hearing suggest that isn't likely to happen though.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Three course meals are a thing of the past. Now it's a buffet with a choice of Thai chicken curry or lasagne. I went for the lasagne because I didn't fancy the foreign muck.

Do you remember all the fuss when Shepherd's Pie got served? This doesn't seem much different but not a peep anywhere.

If was doing a spot of corporate schmoozing I'd expect rather more than that.

I didn't realize that Lasagne was a British dish ?

I think he was joking ZYPH

Is it not???   

Lasagne and chips is British

 

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and one at peterboro - cant find a link -

both of these offer beer and entertainment and forest have a diner in the same section of stand, with no reported problems. its simple really. even visiting supporters are allowed. how very civilised.

Mapperley, darling wrote:

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and one at  peterboro - cant find a link -

both of these offer beer and entertainment and forest have a diner in the same section of stand, with no reported problems.  its simple really.  even visiting supporters are allowed. how very civilised.

Looks very nice! Starts at £40 a package and you get the option to order food from the menu ( at extra cost)! That's a hospitality package of sorts and doesn't even look like a members club. It certainly isn't an open bar for ordinary fans.

Richard Blight wrote:

It's been suggested on here somewhere and it's been mentioned to me elsewhere that for Akkeron to sell the units underneath the grandstand they might have had to agree to not having an open supporters bar in the grandstand because it would be in direct competition with these catering / drinks outlets.

I hope this is not correct as it would be another slap in the face for the ordinary fans, who want to come to the club and spend their money for the benefit of the club and not give it to someone else.

A members only club may be acceptable as it may not be seen as direct competition for passing custom. BUT a 150 member club is no where near acceptable and is liable to be priced out of the reach of the average fan.

I can't see anywhere for the fansfests. The corporate diners  are not going to want to hear a couple of hundred Janners singing the Janners Song somewhere near them while they munch their 3 course meal. Especially the ones who have only turned up as guests or employees of the sponsors and are only there because it is a freebee. 

If memory serves, before the Far Post club lounge was closed ( due to falling down) the membership of the Far Post was closed at something like 350 members. The suspicion is any members club in the stand will be so small, the yearly membership will be set too high and the club will be the exclusive domain of the ex Vice Presidents and the better off ex members of the Far Post. That's of course if the well off members of the current Business Lounge don't take all the spaces first.

In my opinion if there is to be a Members Bar, spaces should be offered to ex Far Posters first. As SFD says though, it would be nice to have an open Supporters Sports Bar but I also think that the ordinary fan is going to be sacrificed on the altar of the corporate pound.

I see you have posted on the farm Richard.
It will be interesting to see if firstly the club responds and if it does what provisions are being made for the ordinary fan.
As you said I fear the ordinary fan is just a nuisance and will be scarificed.

Oops
I meant to write sacrificed but scarified might be better.

The customers of the new developments are far more significant in the land of profit making than a community asset.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Three course meals are a thing of the past. Now it's a buffet with a choice of Thai chicken curry or lasagne. I went for the lasagne because I didn't fancy the foreign muck.

Do you remember all the fuss when Shepherd's Pie got served? This doesn't seem much different but not a peep anywhere.

If was doing a spot of corporate schmoozing I'd expect rather more than that.

As a corporate regular I now feel like Oliver Twist going up with my plate to be served my meal.Its not ideal at all and several others on our table were pretty pissed off as well.I can assure you SFD that a few complaints,not peeps,were made.

You're obviously not mixing with the right mob GS  

Let them eat Prawns...

Just goes to show what a mockery the planning process is, if after being approved Brent still can't say what is going to be built.
Planning - "sorry James but we simply cannot agree to the plans"
JB - " mmmmm, well what if I was to take that Civic Centre of your hands"
Planning - "well if you put it like that"  

The fact that there has been no definate answer means it is not part of the plan, unless of course the chosen few ask, but that isn't going to happen as long as they think they have a place with the messiah.
Just to add that Citybus Social club provides food on a match day and have football showing (if there is a game being shown) plus some real ales  
As for Brent not having experience in such a development, it could be the case as it has been with other sites recently, that once the planning has been granted that he will sell. Here's hoping

Greensleeves feels like Oliver Twist? Handy really seeing as he's in Fagins mob.

Fagin is Newell, Bill Sykes is Brent and Webb is the artful dodger.

I can just see all the peasants like Al lining up for their bowl of gruel.

"Consider yourself at home park, consider yourself one of the family"

greensleeves wrote:

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Three course meals are a thing of the past. Now it's a buffet with a choice of Thai chicken curry or lasagne. I went for the lasagne because I didn't fancy the foreign muck.

Do you remember all the fuss when Shepherd's Pie got served? This doesn't seem much different but not a peep anywhere.

If was doing a spot of corporate schmoozing I'd expect rather more than that.

As a corporate regular I now feel like Oliver Twist going up with my plate to be served my meal.Its not ideal at all and several others on our table were pretty pissed off as well.I can assure you SFD that a few complaints,not peeps,were made.

Is it your business that is paying for your place in corporate? Or is it just a regular scrounge invite you manage to blag?

If it's the former rather than the latter, I'd say you'd have every right to complain.

Greenjock wrote:

Greensleeves feels like Oliver Twist? Handy really seeing as he's in Fagins mob.

Fagin is Newell, Bill Sykes is Brent and Webb is the artful dodger.

I can just see all the peasants like Al lining up for their bowl of gruel.

"Consider yourself at home park, consider yourself one of the family"

Foreshorely Webb is Nancy?

Fookin sloooot.

If Webb is Nancy then maybe Jones is the Artful Dodger....... err no - silly me - the Artful Dodger was likeable  

Czarcasm wrote:

greensleeves wrote:

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Three course meals are a thing of the past. Now it's a buffet with a choice of Thai chicken curry or lasagne. I went for the lasagne because I didn't fancy the foreign muck.

Do you remember all the fuss when Shepherd's Pie got served? This doesn't seem much different but not a peep anywhere.

If was doing a spot of corporate schmoozing I'd expect rather more than that.

As a corporate regular I now feel like Oliver Twist going up with my plate to be served my meal.Its not ideal at all and several others on our table were pretty pissed off as well.I can assure you SFD that a few complaints,not peeps,were made.

Is it your business that is paying for your place in corporate? Or is it just a regular scrounge invite you manage to blag?

If it's the former rather than the latter, I'd say you'd have every right to complain.

Nope paid for it this year.as every other year.Not a fan of Lee Jameson(green jock's snooper hirer lest people forget) so the further away from him is money well spent,and a bonus despite the food,which it has to be said is pretty lasagne.You wouldn't call it a la carte.

Ah right. How much is that per season then? It must be a pretty swanky lasagne for you to want to be in the business lounge when you don't have a business to promote/network?

Genuine question - What's the attraction?

You've gone up in my estimation anyway greensleeves. Didn't know you were in the Jameson's a wanker club.