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Original poster

Have you ever had a subsidised canteen at work?

112 replies

Turquoisetamborine · 13/05/2019 21:07

Was/is it nice? How cheap was it?
I’ve worked in the public sector most of my working life but when I was a teenager I worked at my stepdad’s company for a few months which was a massive chemical plant with loads of factory and office workers. I remember almost everyone going to the canteen for lunch everyday and it was almost unheard of to bring food from home.

My husband works for a big international company and they have a subsidised canteen. It’s almost not worth him bringing his own lunch as he can buy homemade soup and a bread bun for 75p.

Indulge a public servant who would love a subsidised canteen!

OP posts:

crocsaretoocoolforschool · 13/05/2019 22:08

Used to work for Sainsbury's and I got so fat eating a cooked breakfast and a hot lunch everyday

It was too nice to resist

MoreSlidingDoors · 13/05/2019 22:15

First proper job - local council - had a subsidised BAR!

Next proper job had a subsidised canteen.

Next one had no catering facilities but a massive drinks cupboard.

Orangesox · 13/05/2019 22:16

One of the places I work has a subsidised canteen, serving what I can only describe as the worst food I’ve ever eaten in my life. I’ve never been back after the first fateful day 2.5 years ago. I walk over the road to Costco for a jacket potato that won’t break a tooth or give me food poisoning (pure vomit inducing, not envy!)

I miss the canteen at NHS 111 that did cheese on tiger bread toast, possibly the only reason I stayed out 6 months before I left

BigSandyBalls2015 · 13/05/2019 22:19

Garth! Love the sound of that trolley!

BrightSpells · 13/05/2019 22:20

Yes I do.

The healthy option is free, as is the salad bar.

A charged main would put you back about £1.80

Quality can sometimes not be great, but salad is salad and includes cheese/eggs/hummus etc

Pudding is 50p

Free drinks inc tea, coffee, hot choc, selection of on tap fizzy

Free fruit/cereal/milk

So not too shabby

Geraniumpink · 13/05/2019 22:20

My dad’s work (a very large firm) had a subsidised canteen - I worked there one summer - it was amazing, great food. They also used to put on a Christmas party for the children. This was a long time ago!

ruddynorah · 13/05/2019 22:20

Yes IKEA. And it's not the same food as the customer restaurant. We have our own chef with a selection of hot meals every day. Mains are 90p, sides 30p. Cooked breakfast about 30p. Always a free hot meal option. Always free salad and fruit. And all drinks, hot and cold are free. Special events call for themed meals like Chinese New year, valentine's, etc. We are lucky.

happypotamus · 13/05/2019 22:24

I work in a hospital. The canteen is slightly subsidised for staff, but isn't great food and still isn't cheap. Most people bring their own food for lunch for those reasons and because we aren't guarnteed to get a break at a time when the canteen is open (approx 12-2.30 only)

Leftielefterson · 13/05/2019 22:26

Yes, when I worked for our swanky US office all meals were free including drinks. The food was quite exceptional for a cafeteria.

Our London office isn’t as swanky and the food isn’t entirely free but heavily subsidised. It’s not bad food.

Original poster

Turquoisetamborine · 13/05/2019 22:27

@dollywilde yes it was you that inspired the thread!

The Ikea canteen sounds amazing. I love the veggie sausages on the breakfast there, was very sad you can’t buy them from the shop in ikea.

OP posts:

Dollywilde · 13/05/2019 22:30

Oh gosh I’m so proud!

Dollywilde · 13/05/2019 22:31

And yes, I would also change career for free access to the ikea canteen!!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 13/05/2019 22:35

We were allowed to use a neighbouring buildings subsidised canteen until a few months ago. It was lovely and very cheap. I’ve put on weight since that stopped.

girlintheglass · 13/05/2019 22:36

The company I work for provides free lunch cooked healthy options to all employees. It's brilliant the food is amazing.

babyno5 · 13/05/2019 22:37

@managedmis was that HO in London? I worked there too. The best canteen ever!! Delicious porridge for breakfast ❤️

BillyAndTheSillies · 13/05/2019 22:37

Temped for Carphone Warehouse in their call centre. The best thing about a Saturday shift was the toast from the canteen.
I worked the late shift in the week so it was never open.

My last company was bought and sold a few times while I worked there. One of the owners created a massive dining area with free food all day long. And drinks fridges that would rival a supermarkets. There was also a free bar with every spirit imaginable.
Breakfast was pastries, lots of fresh fruit, yoghurts, cereal.

Snacks laid out at 10:30 and 3pm.

Lunch was a huge salad bar and then two or three hot offerings. Usually curries.

Friday's was bacon Friday and Wednesday there were ice creams.

It was amazing. And then we got sold and until we moved office it was absolute torture working on the same floor as the free kitchen when we weren't allowed in it.

unicorncupcake · 13/05/2019 22:37

Working in a Boarding school was amazing. Free cooked breakfast, hot lunch and hot dinner if you were on duty. Sandwiches every afternoon at 3pm and homemade cake every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Tuck shop downstairs where you could get mars bars for 50p and get them charged to your salary. The school I currently work at has free lunches but they’re not great tbh. Moving to state sector in September, no more free food! Am going to have to get more organised and start making packed lunches to take to school

Ces6 · 13/05/2019 22:38

M &S for me too - was great ! We use neighbouring canteen now for railway workers - pasta, wine, salad and coffee for 7 euros.

rotrue · 13/05/2019 22:38

When dh worked for public sector they had a subsidised canteen - he loved it - I ate there a few times too - it was really cheap - for London.

Ces6 · 13/05/2019 22:39

(Not as cheap but we get 7 euro luncheon vouchers!)

CherryPavlova · 13/05/2019 22:40

We used to have a subsidised hospital mess quite a few years ago. We could each fill a plate with a single salad item for 10p. Then we’d use a second plate each to share out our purchases so that we each had a very good mixed salad for 10p rather than having to pay about a pound.

Toasted sandwiches were 50p and delicious but often took too long. Tea coffee and toast was always free.
All food was free on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Ragwort · 13/05/2019 22:42

My first job (35 years ago ) had a great canteen, subsidised, traditional meals plus a tea trolley that was pushed round twice a day, it was unheard of to make your own tea or coffee. In my next job we also had an outstanding staff restaurant.

Where I work now there isn’t even a decent chair to sit on to eat your lunch .

Original poster

Turquoisetamborine · 13/05/2019 22:44

Unicorncupcake that sounds the stuff of dreams. My brother went to private school and he absolutely loved the food. The could eat three meals a day plus high tea.

OP posts:

topcat2014 · 13/05/2019 22:44

Worked in finance in a factory had a chips with everything canteen. Was ace with curry every Thursday etcetera but I put on a stone each year!

dellacucina · 13/05/2019 22:44

My canteen is subsidised and the food is of a very good standard. It's not rock bottom cheap, especially as they have recently raised prices slightly, but you can get a tasty duck leg with potatoes and veg for just under £5, soup for £1.25, a stir fry freshly made for £3.50 (I get this basically daily).

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