Food & Beverage: The Aramark Era begins

[dave___]

One doughnut burger would be fine as a novelty item as almost all menus have this sort of wacky thing nowadays. Dedicating a whole menu section and not offering just a bread bun is pretty far out there though. It’s the sort of thing that would make for more sense in one of those shiny caravans they had last year rather than their “pub” which you’d expect to be able to get a ham, egg and chips type meal at.

Even just having it on the menu at the burger kitchen would make more sense, like when they didn’t one with the black bread bun.

I will say the hanging skewers do look pretty good to me though.

 

[Plastic Person]

I will say the hanging skewers do look pretty good to me though.

Yes, this is exactly what I would happily pay to eat at a sit-down meal within the confines of a theme park. Simple and desireable, but not Greggs-tier in taste or presentation.

 

[pluk]

I passionately hate a 'themed' menu that just clumsily plonks words in front of a dish that is entirely unrelated to the theme in either ingredients or presentation. What has a doughnut burger got to do with anything?

Something like the gloomy wood treats with their extravagant decoration work, this doesn't at all. It's insulting that they think that'll do, especially if it is part of what they are trying to convey adds value to justify silly prices. Give me something that looks like a branch, give me a dish with a lid if I'm excavating, have some actual theatrics.

 

[Mick]

So if you want a burger on the park now you either have to sacrifice the bun for a doughnut in new-Woodcutters, or sacrifice your health by visiting the burger kitchen.

Why they can’t just offer a solid pub-grub menu is beyond me, even with a simple menu - beef burger, chicken burger, steak, fish and chips etc, cater for the masses rather than the niche tastes.

 

[dave___]

So if you want a burger on the park now you either have to sacrifice the bun for a doughnut in new-Woodcutters, or sacrifice your health by visiting the burger kitchen.

Why they can’t just offer a solid pub-grub menu is beyond me, even with a simple menu - beef burger, chicken burger, steak, fish and chips etc, cater for the masses rather than the niche tastes.

I imagine they’ve probably seen the feedback about the pub grub being low quality for the price and kneejerked themselves into doing something a bit different despite it being easier to just get some slightly better quality steak and frozen chips

 

[jon81uk]

sacrifice your health by visiting the burger kitchen.

I ate in Burger Kitchen last year and it was fine. Exactly what I expected for a fast food burger. Although I think I had the chicken strip with onion rings one, it was hot and tasty.

 

[Smiley]

It's not rocket science! Five Guys/Shake Shack/Honest Burger, etc, etc can all manage a decent burger for £10-12 (with high street rents). Just deliver a decent burger and fries for £15 and enjoy the 200% margin. Instead of the 500% margin of £0 you get from me.

 

[GaryH]

Can’t think of anything worse than a donut burger. The food is unhealthy and full of calories as it is let alone making it even worse with a donut

 

[jon81uk]

The Chicken and Waffle sandwich at Universal's Simpson's food court is decent. the iced donut at Woodcutters definitely looks worse.

 

[Dave]

What I don’t get is the self ordering in the coffee shops.

Like it or loath it the fast food outlets can sustain that model as everything is ordered off a menu, and the mainstream fast food vendors have proven it works.

But coffee shops a whole element of their income is someone going to grab a coffee and whilst paying seeing a tasty cake and impulse buying, which is now not happening as they have removed the fridges and the items selectable on the self serve screens are severely limited. Yes some Costa coffees and Starbucks have added self serve screens but they have kept their counters and that must be for good reason.

Aramark seem to lack the strategy to actually generate interest in the luxury brand market (theme parks are sold as luxury even if the reality is not the same), they think the staff/ hospital canteen model works in theme parks and it just doesn’t.

Very baffling.

 

[Ash]

It's not rocket science! Five Guys/Shake Shack/Honest Burger, etc, etc can all manage a decent burger for £10-12 (with high street rents). Just deliver a decent burger and fries for £15 and enjoy the 200% margin. Instead of the 500% margin of £0 you get from me.

The thought of any of them at Towers brings me great joy.

 

[Smiley]

Never understood how UK theme park operators don't understand people, in the same way Disney do... Or just normal people
1. In a queue - not spending money
2. Poor food - not spending money
3. Hot and nowhere to get a drink - not spending money
4. Need the loo. Not thinking about spending money

Do you want to spend £40 on FP for your group??? NO! Do you want to spend £10 on churros and a drink whilst in the queue - you betcha! Or to be more blunt....

Ask anyone in Merlin marketing the last time they "enjoyed" a theme park as a normal punter. I guarantee - none of them!

 

[Benzin]

Shame Five Guys would be a no go for any nut allergy sufferers. And also comes under over priced but we threw lots of fries in your bag so you'll think you got more value out of your expense cliché.


Would the "Disney Way" work on the UK market? Paris operates very differently to its American cousins, and all operate differently to the Asian parks. Indeed part of the initial issues with DLP were down to arrogance of it just working because Disney.

Especially when the UK tends to be more: Get in, get on rides, queue, complain in general about queuing, leave at 5 even though the park is open later to be home in time for BGT.

It's probably best to actually treat people like customers rather than walking wallets (like Disney seems to). I'll spend money if I want to, not because I feel like I have to.

 

[Smiley]

Shame Five Guys would be a no go for any nut allergy sufferers. And also comes under over priced but we threw lots of fries in your bag so you'll think you got more value out of your expense cliché.

Shame Five Guys would be a no go for any nut allergy sufferers. And also comes under over priced but we threw lots of fries in your bag so you'll think you got more value out of your expense cliché.

You missed the point - customer paying a premium for quality, consistency, and mostly because they know what they're going to get for their £20pp. See KFC at TP.

You can pay £15 for your Five Guys, or £8 for your KFC, or £5 for your McD. Thing is, you know what you are paying for, and you get what you expected. And then there's Amarak. Who, BTW, probably can't guarantee there are no nuts.

 

[Loliver]

Gone are the days of entering MAP20 on the self service machines for the discount then I guess?

Don't think I have ever been checked once at AT or Chessington on the self service ones


This I just don't understand. POS systems have been around for decades in the leisure industry, it's really not reinventing the wheel.

You can still get discount, but you must go and order at till rather than the screen. Naught that Alton don't tell you this and I got caught out by it at Costa near nemesis at the weekend .

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

What I don’t get is the self ordering in the coffee shops.

Like it or loath it the fast food outlets can sustain that model as everything is ordered off a menu, and the mainstream fast food vendors have proven it works.

But coffee shops a whole element of their income is someone going to grab a coffee and whilst paying seeing a tasty cake and impulse buying, which is now not happening as they have removed the fridges and the items selectable on the self serve screens are severely limited. Yes some Costa coffees and Starbucks have added self serve screens but they have kept their counters and that must be for good reason.

Aramark seem to lack the strategy to actually generate interest in the luxury brand market (theme parks are sold as luxury even if the reality is not the same), they think the staff/ hospital canteen model works in theme parks and it just doesn’t.

Very baffling.

You've hit the nail on the head here. Aramark have heaps of experience running canteen like experiences, places where you're served food, but not much experience in selling it. They're caterers.

Whilst it may seem as though the two are fundamentally the same thing, building a business around selling food directly to customers is very different from serving food to another business's customers.

 

[tayspru]

For what it’s worth, the ingredient quality in Oak in Chains is much higher than I remember there ever being in Woodcutters. The burger patty is high quality especially. I have no issue with the unusual items, you’re at a theme park, it’s a great chance to do something out of the ordinary

 

[flyingguitar]

I am curious about the market for these style restaurants in a park.

like people are coming to a theme park to ride rides, on a non scarefest / after dark day the park is closing at between 4 and 6, typically the restuants also close at park close so they are expecting people to spend 1 hour or more sitting down in a restaurant rather than ride rides. rollercoaster resturant gets an exception due to its location allowing for hotel guests, but the oak in chains and pizza pasta always confuse me as why do people come to a park, then spend like 1/10th of the time sat in a resturant.

I understand the need for a break, but to me a full sit down meal seems way too long.

Disney, with the exception of a few parks or attractions (e.g the pub in epcot) mostly have quick service resturants, which to me makes more sense as it is quick and easy to get food. even with the added resturants though it makes sense for them as they are open untill like 11, after the typical dinner time and the whole day is very tiring where you need just an hour to relax.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

I am curious about the market for these style restaurants in a park.

like people are coming to a theme park to ride rides, on a non scarefest / after dark day the park is closing at between 4 and 6, typically the restuants also close at park close so they are expecting people to spend 1 hour or more sitting down in a restaurant rather than ride rides. rollercoaster resturant gets an exception due to its location allowing for hotel guests, but the oak in chains and pizza pasta always confuse me as why do people come to a park, then spend like 1/10th of the time sat in a resturant.

I understand the need for a break, but to me a full sit down meal seems way too long.

Disney, with the exception of a few parks or attractions (e.g the pub in epcot) mostly have quick service resturants, which to me makes more sense as it is quick and easy to get food. even with the added resturants though it makes sense for them as they are open untill like 11, after the typical dinner time and the whole day is very tiring where you need just an hour to relax.

People much older than yourself, but not likely to be found on this forum, have less of a tolerance for coasters and rides than you. They're after a wholesome day out, a whole package, not all of it spent inside queues.

@rob666 will happily regale you with tales of lapping Corkscrew, whilst his mother had tea in the Swiss Cottage.

Many other parks also have full restaurants within the park, especially on the continent where mealtimes are sacred and extended affairs.

A true family theme park caters for (and entertains) everyone, the whole family, not just people who want to go on rides.

 

[flyingguitar]

People much older than yourself, but not likely to be found on this forum, have less of a tolerance for coasters and rides than you. They're after a wholesome day out, a whole package, not all of it spent inside queues.

@rob666 will happily regale you with tales of lapping Corkscrew, whilst his mother had tea in the Swiss Cottage.

Many other parks also have full restaurants within the park, especially on the continent where mealtimes are sacred and extended affairs.

A true family theme park caters for (and entertains) everyone, the whole family, not just people who want to go on rides.

I understand that, but I feel like those types of restaurants don't suite them selves to that style, for instance the quick service at disney you can sit at a large table with your food, paid for if the others finish early they can come in and sit with you, if you finish you can stay at the table on your phone, but waited tables, etc doesn't lend its self as well as there is more set times.

if it were a cafe, tea room etc I would understand as people can just sit there and wait for as long as needed.