I visited the ground today

[C Block]

Firstly let me just quickly say that I visit the ground about every three weeks during the close season, something I've done for years, walking from Hammersmith to Bishops Park via Charlie's Barbers and The Half Moon Cafe,
So I'm familiar with The Riverside from inception to what you see today, on the way to the ground I had to pass both The River Cafe and The Crabtree and I must say that both establishments were absolutely packed, standing room only, so I was quite surprised to find what could be best described as a smattering of people and a lot of them were wearing Fulham lanyards,
If other venues within 10 minutes of the ground are packed and we're not then surely we are doing something wrong are we not ?
Every time I visit I struggle to see exactly what audience we are trying to attract, there's no restaurant there, at least not downstairs, where you can have a meal with a menu and a knife and fork, or a cafe style scenario with comfy chairs and cakes and sandwiches etc ,
There is no way that costs were being covered today, certainly not in the 90 minutes or so that I was there,
Plenty of people with laptops though,"working from home " using the WiFi but not spending any money, every time I visit there never seems to be anyone in charge just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated, I visit because I love the Club and the area ,if I didn't I wouldn't have a single reason to return as customer service is pretty lousy.
There was though plenty going on on the pitch with what looked like the entire pitch being re laid , also lots going on with the wall at the back of The Hammersmith End it looked like some kind of cosmetic work,
If ever there was a day designed for an outdoor swimming pool then this was the day, how long has it been now, seven years  ?
Oh and I met Alec McLeish on the tube, a bit of a legend of mine.

[The Cravenette]

Strangely enough, I was also there today as I had arranged to meet some old friends and it seemed like a good place to do that.

It certainly wasn't packed,considering it is a decent location. We were not looking to eat but there is taco or pizza available, or cake/pastries with the coffee. I think if you wanted a sit down meal you would need to book the restaurant upstairs.

I agree, there were a lot of laptop users who did not appear to be buying anything. It does make you wonder if it is making money during the weekdays but there were definitely more people turning up around 5 as I was leaving using the bar. And the DJ started around that time too so I would assume the evenings get busier.

A lot of work going on with the pitch, as you say, and still some builders working around the Bishops Park exit (would that be the hotel?) I  like that we can pop along and see the old place during the summer. I even managed to point out my actual seat in the Hammy End as it is slightly discoloured so stands out!

[Jim©]

just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated

Why would Fayed not have tolerated them? Seems a very misplaced and strange statement.

Re the ground, it'll take a bit of time- you're comparing it to two very established businesses with (cafe especially) a load of big company offices close by.

[sarnian]

Strangely enough, I was also there today as I had arranged to meet some old friends and it seemed like a good place to do that.

It certainly wasn't packed,considering it is a decent location. We were not looking to eat but there is taco or pizza available, or cake/pastries with the coffee. I think if you wanted a sit down meal you would need to book the restaurant upstairs.

I agree, there were a lot of laptop users who did not appear to be buying anything. It does make you wonder if it is making money during the weekdays but there were definitely more people turning up around 5 as I was leaving using the bar. And the DJ started around that time too so I would assume the evenings get busier.

A lot of work going on with the pitch, as you say, and still some builders working around the Bishops Park exit (would that be the hotel?) I  like that we can pop along and see the old place during the summer. I even managed to point out my actual seat in the Hammy End as it is slightly discoloured so stands out!

The hotel which is open is at the Hammersmith End.

[SP]

Give the people what they want, the world's biggest Spoons.

[alfie]

Firstly let me just quickly say that I visit the ground about every three weeks during the close season, something I've done for years, walking from Hammersmith to Bishops Park via Charlie's Barbers and The Half Moon Cafe,
So I'm familiar with The Riverside from inception to what you see today, on the way to the ground I had to pass both The River Cafe and The Crabtree and I must say that both establishments were absolutely packed, standing room only, so I was quite surprised to find what could be best described as a smattering of people and a lot of them were wearing Fulham lanyards,
If other venues within 10 minutes of the ground are packed and we're not then surely we are doing something wrong are we not ?
Every time I visit I struggle to see exactly what audience we are trying to attract, there's no restaurant there, at least not downstairs, where you can have a meal with a menu and a knife and fork, or a cafe style scenario with comfy chairs and cakes and sandwiches etc ,
There is no way that costs were being covered today, certainly not in the 90 minutes or so that I was there,
Plenty of people with laptops though,"working from home " using the WiFi but not spending any money, every time I visit there never seems to be anyone in charge just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated, I visit because I love the Club and the area ,if I didn't I wouldn't have a single reason to return as customer service is pretty lousy.
There was though plenty going on on the pitch with what looked like the entire pitch being re laid , also lots going on with the wall at the back of The Hammersmith End it looked like some kind of cosmetic work,
If ever there was a day designed for an outdoor swimming pool then this was the day, how long has it been now, seven years  ?
Oh and I met Alec McLeish on the tube, a bit of a legend of mine.

Hmm that's interesting, I live 10 minute walk away and go there quite a lot for lunchtime coffee and it's always been busy, although I haven't been for couple of weeks due to health, but will be back strolling down there again soon.

[Dodgin]

Four of my family nave arrived from Australia, a visit to Craven Cottage is on their itinerary

[bill taylors apprentice]

I wrote a piece saying much the same thing a few weeks ago, including the poor customer service.

It was suggested here that the changeable weather may have been a factor on my visit but it's disappointing to hear on a day like today.

If FFC employees are taking their break elsewhere there's a problem.

It's really not rocket science to get someone in to improve the layout etc etc and make the place more appealing.

[MickTheBeard]

If my memory serves me well did they not have someone full time on 50 grand to run it,surely he would have informed chief executive of improvements needed obviously you can't see a lot from Motspur park and more so even harder from usa.

[C Block]

just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated

Why would Fayed not have tolerated them? Seems a very misplaced and strange statement.

Re the ground, it'll take a bit of time- you're comparing it to two very established businesses with (cafe especially) a load of big company offices close by.

I don't know what it's like now but under Al Fayed I can give you a cast iron guarantee that you would never ever see a member of staff looking at a phone ,but it was prevalent everywhere at Fulham yesterday,
The kid in the club shop huffed as he had to stop looking at his phone for a minute to serve me,
I'm fairly sure the level of service in the many lounges on match day will be top notch but that level of service wasn't on show yesterday, more Lidl and Aldi as opposed to Harrods.

[Jim©]

I don't know what it's like now but under Al Fayed I can give you a cast iron guarantee that you would never ever see a member of staff looking at a phone ,but it was prevalent everywhere at Fulham yesterday,

Not everything was that rosy working for Fayed it would appear.
Just seems an odd thing to moan about IMO.

[perry geyton]

just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated

Why would Fayed not have tolerated them? Seems a very misplaced and strange statement.

Re the ground, it'll take a bit of time- you're comparing it to two very established businesses with (cafe especially) a load of big company offices close by.

It's 2026
Times have changed unfortunately for the worse,,,
Must be The Khans fault

[cmg]

...just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated

I'm sure he would have instructed someone to bring them to his office. Wherein the duties expected of them would be clearly indicated.

[HobGoblin]

...just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated

I'm sure he would have instructed someone to bring them to his office. Wherein the duties expected of them would be clearly indicated.

Brutal, but true

[Somerset Fulham]

Hmm that's interesting, I live 10 minute walk away and go there quite a lot for lunchtime coffee and it's always been busy, although I haven't been for couple of weeks due to health, but will be back strolling down there again soon.

Hope you're on the mend mate. 

[alfie]

Hmm that's interesting, I live 10 minute walk away and go there quite a lot for lunchtime coffee and it's always been busy, although I haven't been for couple of weeks due to health, but will be back strolling down there again soon.

Hope you're on the mend mate. 

Oh yes no problem, just been a bit under the weather.thanks 🥵

[cookieg]

I wrote a piece saying much the same thing a few weeks ago, including the poor customer service.

It was suggested here that the changeable weather may have been a factor on my visit but it's disappointing to hear on a day like today.

If FFC employees are taking their break elsewhere there's a problem.

It's really not rocket science to get someone in to improve the layout etc etc and make the place more appealing.

just plenty of youngsters head down staring at their phone, something Al Fayed would never had tolerated

Why would Fayed not have tolerated them? Seems a very misplaced and strange statement.

Re the ground, it'll take a bit of time- you're comparing it to two very established businesses with (cafe especially) a load of big company offices close by.

It's 2026
Times have changed unfortunately for the worse,,,
Must be The Khans fault

Clearly another issue that TK is responsible for 😂

[HV71]

Hmm that's interesting, I live 10 minute walk away and go there quite a lot for lunchtime coffee and it's always been busy, although I haven't been for couple of weeks due to health, but will be back strolling down there again soon.

Hope you're on the mend mate. 

Well said Somerset - best of health to you Alfie

[alfie]

Hmm that's interesting, I live 10 minute walk away and go there quite a lot for lunchtime coffee and it's always been busy, although I haven't been for couple of weeks due to health, but will be back strolling down there again soon.

Hope you're on the mend mate. 

Well said Somerset - best of health to you Alfie

👍

[HillingdonFFC]

I go there every few weeks too and its always reasonably well populated. Never going to massively busy on a week day. I Was there on the sunday of picnic on the pitch and it was absolutely heaving. None of the people there were there for POTP. We couldn't find a table to sit, loads going on, kids club etc
There's a big footfall , people constantly walking past and popping in etc