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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Aug 6, 2024 10:42:42 GMT 1
Regarding the pigeon muck I spoke to someone ITK and they reckon part of the problem is that the club feed the pigeons and they sometimes feed the sparrows too. Apparently it gives them a sense of enormous wellbeing. Would be good to find out if there is any truth to this given the problems it’s causing. Feed them by spreading grass seed on the pitch? |
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Post by mullersalopian on Aug 6, 2024 10:43:28 GMT 1
Having themed nights on the restaurant or just offers would get people in
Smithys have quiz nights? Live football? Even bingo in hanwood gets a packed pub mostly younger ones 20-35 every Wednesday
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Post by The Shropshire Tenor on Aug 6, 2024 10:46:28 GMT 1
The restaurant...the club need to throw themselves at it if they want it to work. Advertise everywhere, put on offers, get the punters in. If they are half-assed, they have to expect a half-assed attendance 🤷♂️ We used to have Sunday lunch there regularly and it was always well attended, what happened to put people off going? |
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Post by Exkeeper on Aug 6, 2024 10:53:17 GMT 1
The restaurant...the club need to throw themselves at it if they want it to work. Advertise everywhere, put on offers, get the punters in. If they are half-assed, they have to expect a half-assed attendance 🤷♂️ We used to have Sunday lunch there regularly and it was always well attended, what happened to put people off going? COVID, maybe? |
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Post by ssshrew on Aug 6, 2024 11:29:42 GMT 1
So the hand rails are expensive. Not as expensive as what will happen if someone falls I would think. Still their choice. They either care or they don’t.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2024 11:34:16 GMT 1
I'm under no illusions that the hospitality trade is having a difficult time and it's not easy for the club to attract people but at the moment there seems little to no effort to do that. Smithys is never going to become somewhere where people drink in as a regular venue but at least try and make the best of it, for example I occasionally play 5aside on a Friday night at the club, after it we go for a couple of pints somewhere but can't do that at Smithys because it's not open. As I've said it's never going to be a 7 days a week venue but as things stand its 2 hours every 2 weeks between August and May, definitely seems under-utilised. T
As for the restaurant, this was something the club seemed proud of when we first opened, now it's just a handful of times a year and when they do it, it's with minimal effort.
We have a hospitality manager and a business development manager, I'd be expecting them to be looking what opportunities & improvements could be made
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2024 11:37:05 GMT 1
I might be wrong but have not supporters been asked for their ideas before in terms of revenue making opportunities?
There must be ideas to generate more income from Smithy's for example.
Our local pub runs a monthly quiz night and is packed out each time.
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Post by mattmw on Aug 6, 2024 11:37:26 GMT 1
We used to have Sunday lunch there regularly and it was always well attended, what happened to put people off going? COVID, maybe? I'd imagine the cost of living issues have reduced the demand for sunday lunches too. I went a couple of times and its was a perfectly nice meal but not cheap and unless you are a dedicated town fan and know the venue exists wouldn't suggest it offers much different in terms of Sunday lunch to one of the many pubs and resturants in Town. Due to its location there isn't the general tourist footfall that the town centre resturants get. I imagine the costs and profit are much different for the club as well as they don't have the staff and set up of a 7 day a week operation where cost savings and bulk orders can be made. I often wondered if a less "high end" meal experience - particuarly on match day might be a better option for making money? Rather than a high end meal at £20 plus lasting a couple of hours, a higher turnover burger and beer offer with 2-3 sittings between 12 and 3pm for say £12 a head might work better. Smaller profit on each meal, but a higher overall use of the facility? Even then I'm not sure its necessarily a massive money making operation as the margins on food sales are relatively low, but more footfall through the restuarant facility might help people stay longer on match day and increase spend elsewhere such as the club shop or other facilities on the site |
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Post by talkingoftheshrews on Aug 6, 2024 11:49:32 GMT 1
I'm under no illusions that the hospitality trade is having a difficult time and it's not easy for the club to attract people but at the moment there seems little to no effort to do that. Smithys is never going to become somewhere where people drink in as a regular venue but at least try and make the best of it, for example I occasionally play 5aside on a Friday night at the club, after it we go for a couple of pints somewhere but can't do that at Smithys because it's not open. As I've said it's never going to be a 7 days a week venue but as things stand its 2 hours every 2 weeks between August and May, definitely seems under-utilised. T As for the restaurant, this was something the club seemed proud of when we first opened, now it's just a handful of times a year and when they do it, it's with minimal effort. We have a hospitality manager and a business development manager, I'd be expecting them to be looking what opportunities & improvements could be made On Smithys, it's being used by the academy and foundation during the daytime. Whilst that's not a revenue driver, it's saving the club money. I think Andy Cooke's role as Business Development Manager is pretty much solely focused on sponsorships etc, rather than having a wider scope to involve hospitality. On a broader level, I'm slightly sceptical about what can be achieved within hospitality at the club - prior to an ownership change. Although there's Sutton Farm and some new build developments nearby, the ground is still a fairly isolated and reliant on people driving. Its the same issue with the fanzone on matchdays (ie., you're either driving and can't drink, or you're using public transport and have to leave the ground on the coach asap). The way to break that most likely is to massively increase the quality on offer: ie you'll drive out to the restaurant because its the best Sunday lunch in Shrewsbury. But that requires upfront investment, which the club has made clear it cannot afford to do. It's frustrating but I just can't see a workaround that's realistic |
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Post by davycrockett on Aug 6, 2024 11:56:14 GMT 1
I might be wrong but have not supporters been asked for their ideas before in terms of revenue making opportunities? There must be ideas to generate more income from Smithy's for example. Our local pub runs a monthly quiz night and is packed out each time. Yes at length and advice given as mentioned above... The fact we've just had the Euros and apart from one advertised event nothing! Morecambe's facilities were open for every game as you'd expect... Need a professional events organiser not ex footballers 🥺 |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2024 11:57:44 GMT 1
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Post by sheltonsalopian on Aug 6, 2024 12:09:02 GMT 1
I echo the above, I've booked hospitality for business/games in the past and it feels like I have to do so much extra work to book it, usually by emailing Andy Tretton and having a few back and forths.
I've already looked at booking hospitality tickets for the new season but the only ones you can look at actually booking online are Arthur Rowley Lounge tickets and if you actually go to book it says no fixtures available, the season starts on Saturday!
They don't half make it hard to give them your money
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Post by Mediolanum Shrew on Aug 6, 2024 12:12:23 GMT 1
I echo the above, I've booked hospitality for business/games in the past and it feels like I have to do so much extra work to book it, usually by emailing Andy Tretton and having a few back and forths. I've already looked at booking hospitality tickets for the new season but the only ones you can look at actually booking online are Arthur Rowley Lounge ticket and if you actually go to book it says no fixtures available, the season starts on Saturday! They don't half make it hard to give them your money Always been the way. Disappointed that as a football club we are still making the same mistakes. Lots to do and it must be like turning a tanker around at times. But the Hospitality Website is quite honestly shocking. |
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Post by horse01 on Aug 6, 2024 12:51:27 GMT 1
With regards to Smithy’s, why not have a monthly quiz with 1st prize being a pair of season tickets?? Chuck in the odd signed shirt etc as runner up prizes.
It wouldn’t cost the club anything to give them away, they’d be filling empty seats and probably making money off the back of it through people purchasing food/drink etc on a matchday. The winners would feel like they’re getting a decent prize that is worth a bit.
I must admit that I only ever visited the restaurant on two occasions and on both found the experience to be very underwhelming, hence why I didn’t return. If it was similar for others, it’s not difficult to see why it struggled to attract repeat custom.
We appear to be well behind the times with most things we do at the club and it all just feels very meh and stagnant.
We are in desperate need of fresh investment, fresh ideas, fresh faces and some forward thinking. But how long have we been saying that now?
The ground move was supposed to be the kick start to better things - 17 years on and all seems to have ground to a halt and it all looks a bit out dated and tired - including the stadium!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2024 13:01:52 GMT 1
With regards to Smithy’s, why not have a monthly quiz with 1st prize being a pair of season tickets?? Chuck in the odd signed shirt etc as runner up prizes. Last year I approached the club to host a pub quiz in Smithys as a one off to raise money for a charity I was supporting, I had a rough idea of numbers but they weren't willing to use Smithy's until I could guarantee a higher number of people turning up. Instead, I held it at a social club where we had a large turn out, raised thousands for charity as well as making it a profitable night for the social club. For a bit of balance, the foundation were fantastic in supporting me with my fundraising |
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Post by mullersalopian on Aug 6, 2024 13:15:09 GMT 1
With regards to Smithy’s, why not have a monthly quiz with 1st prize being a pair of season tickets?? Chuck in the odd signed shirt etc as runner up prizes. It wouldn’t cost the club anything to give them away, they’d be filling empty seats and probably making money off the back of it through people purchasing food/drink etc on a matchday. The winners would feel like they’re getting a decent prize that is worth a bit. I must admit that I only ever visited the restaurant on two occasions and on both found the experience to be very underwhelming, hence why I didn’t return. If it was similar for others, it’s not difficult to see why it struggled to attract repeat custom. We appear to be well behind the times with most things we do at the club and it all just feels very meh and stagnant. We are in desperate need of fresh investment, fresh ideas, fresh faces and some forward thinking. But how long have we been saying that now? The ground move was supposed to be the kick start to better things - 17 years on and all seems to have ground to a halt and it all looks a bit out dated and tired - including the stadium!! With the quiz it's what I was going say .onthly quiz have a current player old player anyone with the club to give prizes etc pubs do weekly ones why can't the club do 1 |
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Post by Pilch on Aug 6, 2024 13:26:22 GMT 1
The restaurant...the club need to throw themselves at it if they want it to work. Advertise everywhere, put on offers, get the punters in. If they are half-assed, they have to expect a half-assed attendance 🤷♂️ We used to have Sunday lunch there regularly and it was always well attended, what happened to put people off going? Brian sacked the very popular chef because he asked a member of staff to wear longer shirts and she cried , I don't think they could replace him and or the ceo didn't care as he was never there , that's the Chinese whispers anyway |
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Post by Pilch on Aug 6, 2024 13:30:15 GMT 1
Having themed nights on the restaurant or just offers would get people in Smithys have quiz nights? Live football? Even bingo in hanwood gets a packed pub mostly younger ones 20-35 every Wednesday Smithy's was once probably the cheapest place in town , it's now like £5.90 for a pint , they might have a captive audience on a Saturday and that's fair enough but no one is going out of their way to drink there any other time unless the price is made competitive , my opinion anyway |
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Post by davycrockett on Aug 6, 2024 13:52:36 GMT 1
I'm under no illusions that the hospitality trade is having a difficult time and it's not easy for the club to attract people but at the moment there seems little to no effort to do that. Smithys is never going to become somewhere where people drink in as a regular venue but at least try and make the best of it, for example I occasionally play 5aside on a Friday night at the club, after it we go for a couple of pints somewhere but can't do that at Smithys because it's not open. As I've said it's never going to be a 7 days a week venue but as things stand its 2 hours every 2 weeks between August and May, definitely seems under-utilised. T As for the restaurant, this was something the club seemed proud of when we first opened, now it's just a handful of times a year and when they do it, it's with minimal effort. We have a hospitality manager and a business development manager, I'd be expecting them to be looking what opportunities & improvements could be made On Smithys, it's being used by the academy and foundation during the daytime. Whilst that's not a revenue driver, it's saving the club money. I think Andy Cooke's role as Business Development Manager is pretty much solely focused on sponsorships etc, rather than having a wider scope to involve hospitality. On a broader level, I'm slightly sceptical about what can be achieved within hospitality at the club - prior to an ownership change. Although there's Sutton Farm and some new build developments nearby, the ground is still a fairly isolated and reliant on people driving. Its the same issue with the fanzone on matchdays (ie., you're either driving and can't drink, or you're using public transport and have to leave the ground on the coach asap). The way to break that most likely is to massively increase the quality on offer: ie you'll drive out to the restaurant because its the best Sunday lunch in Shrewsbury. But that requires upfront investment, which the club has made clear it cannot afford to do. It's frustrating but I just can't see a workaround that's realistic The ground isn't isolated though, there's around 17,000 people in Meole and Sutton wards Inc bayston hill with many more houses being built and a business park right next door about to open.... These are just excuses, The Myton and Mermaid reopened recently always busy and pretty well everyone drives there. Just need the right attitude and person to make it succeed |
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Post by Mortgagehound on Aug 6, 2024 14:01:10 GMT 1
Our previous Head Honcho stated that we were maximising our revenue from the Stadium - nobody believed him when he said that and we now know the extend of the issue since he picked up his P45.
Smithys Bar with good management and marketing is a venue that should generate regular income throughout the week given the significant population that has popped up within walking distance of the ground in recent years. Theme nights / competitive pricing and tapping into local associations looking for venues are a must. All this on top of Saturday and Tuesday night game nights. It needs a good Manager with some vision
The Restaurant. I have only eaten on game days in the hospitality rooms and the food and Bar was very average. In addition to Match day Food and Sundays - the Wedding and Wake market for example is a constant source of business - are we talking to wedding planners?. The free and ample parking gives the venue a head start over many competitors. Again a great chef alongside a Manager with vision will turn this business around. I would suggest the Restaurant focuses on a theme for the type of food it delivers eg Italian, Spanish French etc rather than bland middle of the road fayre
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2024 14:02:38 GMT 1
I think Andy Cooke's role as Business Development Manager is pretty much solely focused on sponsorships etc, rather than having a wider scope to involve hospitality. I agree with some of your other points but thought I'd pick up on this one. Andy Cooke is our business development manager, I'd imagine his role is looking across the entire business of STFC and seeing how we can maximise our revenue. We have a bar, restaurant and a variety of suites which sit largely empty, personally I'd say that these are obvious opportunities to develop your business and bring in additional income As for sponsorship, we have Andy Tretton as Commercial Manger who I would assume his responsible for overseeing that |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2024 14:22:57 GMT 1
This is very frustrating.
We desperately need to increase our revenue yet I get the feeling that we are falling short in so many areas.
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Post by belfastshrew on Aug 6, 2024 14:32:09 GMT 1
Morgagehound for Manager 💪
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Post by mullersalopian on Aug 6, 2024 16:14:18 GMT 1
Having themed nights on the restaurant or just offers would get people in Smithys have quiz nights? Live football? Even bingo in hanwood gets a packed pub mostly younger ones 20-35 every Wednesday Smithy's was once probably the cheapest place in town , it's now like £5.90 for a pint , they might have a captive audience on a Saturday and that's fair enough but no one is going out of their way to drink there any other time unless the price is made competitive , my opinion anyway That is true but most places people go have similar prices but have events or even the football on I don't know if you can watch games at smithys when town aren't playing |
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Post by davycrockett on Aug 6, 2024 17:58:02 GMT 1
Smithy's was once probably the cheapest place in town , it's now like £5.90 for a pint , they might have a captive audience on a Saturday and that's fair enough but no one is going out of their way to drink there any other time unless the price is made competitive , my opinion anyway That is true but most places people go have similar prices but have events or even the football on I don't know if you can watch games at smithys when town aren't playing I bought this up when Smithys was first re opened when pricing was being discussed. We charge the same in the Sovereign Suit as Smithy’s (hardly any seating) and the fan zone, a bit like The Comet charging the same as The Prince Rupert. There’s a group do walking football every Monday then go to The Belle Vue Tavern for a drink and sandwiches to pay pub prices. Not so sure they even have the bar open when the pitches are fully booked. This makes it difficult to arrange quizzes or even watch big games. which just can’t be right. |
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Aug 6, 2024 18:47:52 GMT 1
Lots of For and against being discussed here.
But without a doubt we are missing a fair revenue stream by not maximising the opportunities available with the bar and catering facilities.
But it would need much more forward thinking to do a good job than we are currently doing.
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Aug 8, 2024 8:48:57 GMT 1
I do think its easier said than done though. The club just isn't in a position to put something out there that might end up losing them money as much as making it. I do think we're guilty at times in thinking that everyone in the town and surrounding area is as interested in the club as much as we are, that they have as much affiliation towards the club as we do. Despite attendances and season ticket numbers increasing I'm not sure that really is the case.
I mean when you look at the stadium, the location, Smithy's itself and then you have Shrewsbury on your doorstep. I can see why Smithy's is an attractive destination for those who follow the club closely but for anyone else? I'm sure there are much better options available to people to visit. I mean Smithy's or The Myton and Mermaid? There's only one winner isn't there.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2024 9:23:50 GMT 1
I mean Smithy's or The Myton and Mermaid? There's only one winner isn't there. I don't think aynone is suggesting that Smithys should be competing with the Mytton. But could it be completing with the likes of the Charles Darwin, Brooklands, Grove, Belle Vue Tavern in terms of a place to drink post match, a place to hold a pub quiz, a place to watch a singer, a place to hold a private party, etc. There have been suggestions that Smithys could become somewhere that people could drink in each night, get darts/dominoes teams, that just isn't realistic and it's never going to happen. But I see no reason why it can't be like a social club/village hall which opens for ad-hoc events. As for the restaurant, I believe there is a market for it but the problem is the club don't market it. I suspect they are the only restaurant who open a handful of times of year and when they do open, don't tell customers what the menu is. It's not really rocket science to work out why the current approach is failing |
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Post by Pilch on Aug 8, 2024 9:28:14 GMT 1
It is bizarre to compare smithy's with the mytton and mermaid
one is still a novelty after a £5 million refurbishment , full of brand new luxury seating and decor ,amazing choice of drinks and food , scenic surroundings , the other is small square room , with no view , seats like your average cafe and a limited choice of drinks , and Lidl next door , smithy's is more expensive too
yes there could be events held there but good luck to anyone who can arrange it and make it work
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Post by stuttgartershrew on Aug 8, 2024 9:40:01 GMT 1
I mean Smithy's or The Myton and Mermaid? There's only one winner isn't there. I don't think aynone is suggesting that Smithys should be competing with the Mytton. But could it be completing with the likes of the Charles Darwin, Brooklands, Grove, Belle Vue Tavern in terms of a place to drink post match, a place to hold a pub quiz, a place to watch a singer, a place to hold a private party, etc. Isn't it already an option for a post match drink? Although how does it work with the Smithy's being located behind the away end? How easy and how quickly would it be to get there after a game? As I have always questioned the setup, to have the supporters bar located directly behind the away end wouldn't seem to be the best option. Take your point about a place to hold a quiz and what have you though. Although again, I'm sure there are plenty of venues in and around Shrewsbury offering the same (that might well be considered more attractive venues). |
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