Course Lunches
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2010-05-27 06:48:39 - Graham EllisThere's the Art House Cafe, and Ashers. There's Lee's (Chinese) and The Refa (Indian). There's the Tavern and the West End. We can pop out to the Wayney Edge, or to the Three Magpies, to McDonald's or to Subway. Or we can provide Baguettes, salads, sandwiches at the training centre. That's not to mention Fish and Chips, Pizza, Kebabs...
There is plenty of choice in what we offer for lunch on our courses - a whole load of options are offered to delegates in an early group discussions, and we'll "go with" what people want - eliminating quickly any of the options that anyone's adamantly against / unable to eat at, then coming up with a variety that's far more enjoyable that any one single source could be for each of the days.
Typically, we're looking for a lighter lunch (so that delegates don't end up feeling that they need a siesta to sleep it off) that's of high quality, where service is prompt so that we can spend time doing what are delegates are in Melksham to do - which is to learn Open Source Programming - rather than have an extended business lunch. There are occasional exceptions - courses where everyone would like a slightly longer break, and then have the course run into the early evening, for example.
There's a number of places you can eat in Melksham which are NOT listed above - we have the luxury of a wide variety, and can provide lunches that are different every day of the week without having to go to places which, perhaps, aren't ideally suited for our needs. What makes places less suited? Well - I've played down over the years some places - and amongst the reasons:
• Slow service (and out of order service, where regulars are looked after to the exclusion of less frequent users)
• Establishments where the staff try to "sell up" - pushing the desert menu, the full menu rather than the lunch special
• Places where the food is simply standard stuff that we could unwrap, heat, and plate up at home.
• An ambiance and / or seating which is likely to make my customers uncomfortable
• Prices which push the cost up beyond our budget (there's a huge difference between £6 and £10 a head when you're looking at 30 head a week!)
A regular discount card is welcomed and logical - and does the establishment that provides it far more good than just the money saved... and an establishment that can't get the VAT receipt right, overcharges, fails to serve what is ordered, rapidly falls out of favor.
In summary - we're spoiled for choice. We can, and do, pick and choose to suit our customers and provide a lunch that will enhance the course experience - that is the primary goal.