Do you think the council would allow a burger van parked outside the shay given the fact they have an interest in takings inside the stadium?

Its great to see pubs like the three pigeons thriving as a result of these prices in my opinion, nothing to worry about here

Do we actually know for certain if the council get a share of the takings or do they simply charge EMC a set amount for the catering franchise?

My major beef in all of this is that I could live with increased prices if the proceeds were benefitting Halifax RLFC and FCHT or even Calderdale MBC to help them recoup cost of the East Stand development but not just to line the pockets of some faceless corporation.

Why did the council not put the catering out to local tender and keep any benefits in the town? There are enough pubs going out of business. Surely someone would have jumped at the chance to run the bars at the Shay and likewise for the food side of the business.

They put it out to open tender and I dont think any local company showed any interest.

One of the Biggest Losers here though is the Supporters Club

Whereas the SSL used to be packed after a game, with many people staying back buying raffle tickets, Club 1873 membership ect, that was a small but steady stream of revenue which has now been cut massively.

Not really surprising, i think theres still many bridges to rebuild for both Football and Rugby, we've annoyed plenty of people over the years with administrators using revolving doors, even if the council controlled the contract, the track record of the sports clubs probably needed a bigger company that could take a hit if it went pearshaped.
Lets see what happens in the future, see if someone cant be a bit braver than the EMC deal.

Unlike the trend that seems to be for Clubs to tender out matchday catering to outside concerns.. The Cougars have gone the other way and booted out the overpriced Burger van and brought all the matchday food back under the control of the club,with great success.

A week a Sunday you'll find reasonably priced burgers ,hot dogs , chips n bacon butties ,as well as tea n coffee (£1) on sale at the back of the main stand at' Freddies Grill' plus an outlet selling local butchers pies n home made soup ( produced inhouse by our Aussie Prop Brendon Rawlins)
by the Hall of Fame Bar.

Plus our beers only £2.55 for lager and £2.35 for Worthies...

See you all there

I've always enjoyed Trips to Keighley, and was sad that i'm missing this years due to been on Holiday, but now you've told me that i'm totally gutted, Think a special trip over the hill is gonna have to be organised now

Half a season too late for us!


The Cougar pies (I hope they weren't the main ingredient, by the way!) were beltin' but that burger van had bugger all left just after half-time and was charging a fortune for the slim pickings available, so I'm glad that you've booted them out!

One of my favourite away trips but Worthies no thanks prefer the cricket club

Probably be some ' proper ale' on as well if you aint a Worthies Fans...

Also forgot to add that its kids for a quid in ,so long as they have an adult with em

Hardly comparing apples with apples there. The Cougars haven't got a new £5 Million stand that someone has to finance have they!

Get real people. As I understand it, the deal with the catering company, the Council and the clubs is quite unique - not a simple franchise operation, but a case where the Council purchases the service from the catering company at a set price which THE COUNCIL then 'sells' to the clubs in order to make a return on the investment.

As that success grows (through functions, seminars, dinners, private hire as well as matchdays,) there is an agreement in place for some of the money to come back to the stadium/clubs, which wouldn't ever happen in a straight franchise.

And if your retort is "well why don't the clubs publicize this?" it\'s a commercial arrangement between the council and the caterers therefore not the Club's job to divulge sensitive confidential details and pander to the lynch mob.

I'm pretty confident beer and burgers [iare[/i cheaper at Keighley and St Helens and Batley and Workington and Whitehaven and Barrow and Oldham, but dearer at Leeds, Huddersfield, Warrington, Hull, Leigh and loads more... oh wait! They're all clubs with modern facilities and new stadia aren't they?!!!??!?!

Which do you want?