New Bar Manager

[Gone_Shrimping]

We have a new bar manager and on Facebook he has put an announcement on that JB's will be open on Saturday 9th at 4pm for the England game versus Ukraine which kicks off at 5pm. Also opening on Tuesday 12th at 5pm for the England game versus Scotland which kicks off at 7.45pm

There will be food available and drinks offers.

Nothing on the OWS yet unfortunately but it needs pushing because a few of us have thought that JBs bar should be more of an asset than it is to the football club.

[marky No.1]

Yes, he also mentions bigger tv screens (about time) and possibility of a dartboard and a pool table.

Must be making the space bigger?

[BerlinWaller]

It's not fit for purpose. Be better off spending a bit of money on the facilities behind the goal and renting out JB's to a fast food company to generate regular income.

[Old Man Kensey]

Yes, he also mentions bigger tv screens (about time) and possibility of a dartboard and a pool table.

Must be making the space bigger?

You'd think they would invest in a few more chairs first.
It is a poorly worked space and doesn't feel quite right, not sure how it can be improved really without a major refit.

It hasn't become a space where everyone gathers pre and post match, which given its size is just as well.

The area behind the home end is coming on but still needs a few tweaks.

[RedRedWine]

It's not fit for purpose. Be better off spending a bit of money on the facilities behind the goal and renting out JB's to a fast food company to generate regular income.

I think the idea is to try and utilise JBs on a non-match day more - there's been a big improvement behind the goal since the introduction of the additional kiosks were installed, and the roof for when bad weather arrives. Other than a matchday though, there isn't really an opportunity to use this area.

I do agree it will be difficult to operate JBs as a pub - its just not a space that lends itself to easily be used as such, especially when you have an actual sports bar 100 yards away.

[BerlinWaller]

Nobody is going to walk past the Hurley and go to JB's to watch live footy. It is great to see somebody showing some iniative and wanting to improve JB's but it was doomed from day 1 sadly.

I hope i am wrong and it is a massive success.

[Billy bodger]

Yes I agree with those saying it’s about time that space was used to try and generate income, been to f few Christening do’s there. Limited space is the big problem and with the Hurley flyer across the way in competition. I enjoy a few after march pints now and again. I think it will be down to promotion of the venue and why can it not show away matches on those Saturdays and midweek matches. It has a chance to grow let’s see how it goes. Good luck to them but it has to make money.

[Old Man Kensey]

Showing away games is a good shout.
Short sited to allow a chain pub to be built so close to the ground. That killed it as a pub.

Members club could be an idea. With discount cards and such could be an idea?

It's no good as a clubhouse, bar or pub so maybe that could be explored. £20 a year membership with money back on drinks.

[Wild Bill]

Personally I'd never put money in the till of the hurley flyer over MFC. I think there's plenty that could be done to bring in fans pre and post match. A membership discount is a good idea. How about also giving a half price drink voucher to anyone who buys a pre match or half time pint to use after full time in JBs? A outdoor seating area at the front is definitely worth investing too. Hopefully a manager can push some good good ideas through

[glagys]

Trust members get 20% off food at the Hurley

Perhaps the bar should offer trust/season ticket holders money off drinks prices,
I know they offer happy hour on selected drinks after the game but I have never seen a sign saying which drinks are included in happy hour

[Gone_Shrimping]

I hope a good number of fans will go to JBs tonight and support the club. Anything which puts money in has got to be good.

Surely JBs could undercut The Hurley on beer prices. Make a special offer , Pie Peas and a pint for a price The Hurley can't beat.

[BerlinWaller]

It is a step forward having a Bar Manager who will have new ideas and plans to improve JB's but without any investment or backing from the club, they will soon become disenchanted.

There have been lots of good ideas put forward but they have always been rebuffed by the club citing lack of funds. The match day experience is poor to say the least. An inflatable goal and a bloke singing is the best we can offer pre match and there is nothing after the match.

Is there any point throwing money at JB's when we have the suite upstairs, an improving area behind the goal and a pub that has nailed it 100 yards away?

There is the land to the side of the HF that is owned by the club. It is ideal for a fan park with pop up food and bar outlets.

[Wild Bill]

My brother made it down and reckons there were only nine customers and three staff in the bar. Three pound a pint too. Sad that with 2200 season ticket holders, many local to the ground will still go to the hurley flyer or other pubs. Maybe they can try and plug the next game a bit more but hopefully those close by will chose to walk past that chain pub and put a few quid into MFC instead.

[KenH]

My brother made it down and reckons there were only nine customers and three staff in the bar. Three pound a pint too. Sad that with 2200 season ticket holders, many local to the ground will still go to the hurley flyer or other pubs. Maybe they can try and plug the next game a bit more but hopefully those close by will chose to walk past that chain pub and put a few quid into MFC instead.

Sadly, poorly marketed/communicated as normal. I thought we had a "fan's engagement officer" now or some similar. Just putting up a pretty bland "news" item on the website and a couple of posts on social media is nowhere near enough of an effort on the club's part. As usual, the board will blame lack of interest/support from the fans! Proper marketing is a lot more than short posts on the internet and needs to be built up over time. I hope the Board don't make any knee jerk reactions and decide not to try it again - ideally, we need to be opening JB bar for live matches far more often to try to build up a regular clientele, rather than try one-offs!

[Old Man Kensey]

If they want to be taken seriously as a venue to watch live sport in, they have an awful lot of work to do.

Far better promotion needed
More and bigger TVs
A better seating plan with definitely more seats
Advertising what the promotional offers actually are
Invite ex-players to draw in more people

As it currently stands it is an awful space to watch football in.

[redrobo]

Money will only be spent IF the fans demand an improvement and the only way that will happen in my opinion if fans actually turned up .

Typical catch 22 for me.

The fans have moaned about it almost since day 1 but nothing of magnitude happens AND let's be honest with finances in such a delegate position who can blame the BoD for being cautious in spending money that may never see an increase in foot flow.

[Wild Bill]

Yes, it needs a long term strategy but shouldn't cost the earth. A bit of a promotion campaign and regular Saturday opening is a good start. Make it clear that spending your weekly beer money helps the playing budget. Show all away games and have a lit up sign at the front letting folk know it's open. Have some bands or DJ nights. It's only small, so 30-40 in and it will feel lively. I am sure all sorts will be tried if there's a new manager. The important thing for us fans is to support where we can.

[Redalert1970]

Maybe people don`t have the money to go out drinking other than a match day

There is much more important things to spend money on right now like food, rent / mortgage and bills etc

[Old Man Kensey]

I don't want people to think that I'm being negative about this.
I'd love the place to work, especially as I live a 5 minute walk from the place.
But there is so much wrong with the bar, going all the way back to the stadium build.
It really annoys me how wrong the club has got this.
We should have a central point for all to meet before and after a game.
It should be the venue of choice to watch away games/Liverpool/Utd and the rest.

But the space just doesn't work and hasn't done from the get go.

[BerlinWaller]

I don't want people to think that I'm being negative about this.
I'd love the place to work, especially as I live a 5 minute walk from the place.
But there is so much wrong with the bar, going all the way back to the stadium build.
It really annoys me how wrong the club has got this.
We should have a central point for all to meet before and after a game.
It should be the venue of choice to watch away games/Liverpool/Utd and the rest.

But the space just doesn't work and hasn't done from the get go.

You are bang on, the space does not work. You could have the biggest TV on the market with the highest screen definition and the best sound quality but it will always be rubbish because there will always be somebody stood in your way. It doesn't matter where you stand, somebody always wants past and good luck trying to get a seat. It was designed poorly and chucking more money at it won't change anything.

The people in charge were on an ego trip and chasing the big money with the suite and boxes. They forgot about the bread and butter and gave us a waiting room sized bar.

[marky No.1]

.... and said the Hurley will have a different clientele and won't affect the football club and that's well before the 2 big houses block the view

[Gone_Shrimping]

.... and said the Hurley will have a different clientele and won't affect the football club and that's well

before the 2 big houses block the view

2 big houses ? Is there a house going on the land between the Hurley and the new houses ?

[BerlinWaller]

.... and said the Hurley will have a different clientele and won't affect the football club and that's well

before the 2 big houses block the view

2 big houses ? Is there a house going on the land between the Hurley and the new houses ?

No, the club own and have a Mortgage on that land