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Food & Beverage: The Aramark Era begins

AT86 said:
Following the introduction of dining plans for hotel guests, they have now been launched for day guests too:

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I don't completely hate this. I think it's a logical addition in to include, especially when people are booking their tickets and the price point isn't horrendous for a theme park.

I am deliberately choosing to ignore, or rather engage in, the usual Aramark jibes as I don't think it's particularly constructive. That being said, Aramark do need to improve the overall consistency and operations of food and beverage though at Alton Towers specifically.
 
Take this with a pinch of salt… HOWEVER…

Our new I say knew he’s been here over a year now but our F&B manager came from Merlin. I got talking to him for the first time and he said he used to run down south so Lego Land, Chessington, Thrope etc and I said oh I presume you’ve heard about Aramark and he replied he was there whilst negotiations were on going and he said that Aramark have screwed themselves over with the pricing as the whole formula they used was based off Lego Land and didn’t take into account any discounts. As apparently Lego Land is one of the biggest discount cards/codes used what ever in the group. Also said that Aramark have to pay X amount to Merlin per guest aswell as other fees on top.

Obviously I don’t know if any of this is true as don’t really know the guy that well however surely would make sense given that a Scarefest burger was £20 last year and so on?!
 
From what he said it was as soon as they stepped in the park they had to pay X amount per guest. However not entirely sure how true that is. I think he said it was around 60-90p per guest.
 
Excalibur said:
From what he said it was as soon as they stepped in the park they had to pay X amount per guest. However not entirely sure how true that is. I think he said it was around 60-90p per guest.
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That's bananas if so. I can understand a fixed commission per cover, a fee per entrant is a very significant commitment tho. Especially when non-Aramark dining options, even hot food ones, exist on park!
 
I dunno, makes a lot of sense to me (from Merlin's perspective at least). You charge per the captive market available - so if you have a small number of guests on park, there's limited potential business, and you charge low. Large number of guests on park, high potential for business, charge high.

It's then in Aramark's interest to create an offering compelling enough to 'convert' that potential business into spend - better they do, more money they get. In theory.
 
Ordering at the Oak and Chains is still the most ridiculous, protracted process.

I tried to order at the bar and was told they don't serve at the bar. Here, take this tablet and order on that. I ask how I get the annual pass discount, and with a completely straight face they said "bring the tablet back to the bar".

So can't you just serve me here, now, at the bar? No...
 
I was told to get the attention of a member of staff and they will apply the discount. At best periods this is somewhat difficult. Still. - if people today are happy with the roll out of self service checkouts and not having to interact with others what do we expect?
 
GaryH said:
I was told to get the attention of a member of staff and they will apply the discount. At best periods this is somewhat difficult. Still. - if people today are happy with the roll out of self service checkouts and not having to interact with others what do we expect?
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That’s not the point though. I’d be happy if it was 100% self-ordering and the tablet scans the annual pass. Or 100% staff ordered for those who want it or need it for the discounts. But this weird mix isn’t helping passholders.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
You have me very concerned... The Instagram post is only suitable for those 18+, which leads me to ask, a pasty what/whom is being sold for £12?
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It’s the Towers Street Instagram account. A pint of beer (maybe cider) and a pie (but pictured is a pasty) is £12 from the Courtyard bar.

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Hid said:
£7.50 For the pint and 4.50 for the pasty not bad price for the pasty but not for me as I don't drink
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Can confirm £7.50 is not a good price for a pint in general, and certainly not for the drinks they serve in the Courtyard!

I'd also be stretched to call £4.50 good value for the pasty pictured. It looks pretty small for that price. And you can see them in the heat box in the background, confirming they are actually small.

Also, they continue to be... not a pie.
 
Squiggs said:
Can confirm £7.50 is not a good price for a pint in general, and certainly not for the drinks they serve in the Courtyard!
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£7.50 is fairly normal in London, now even in a paper cup. So I assume Alton Towers expects the same “tourist” prices. I agree that £4.50 isn’t a great price for a pasty either!
 
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