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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think it's bloody outrageous that you can't take food to the Hyde Park screen?

47 replies

CelticOlympian · 29/07/2012 17:00

I went out to watch the cycling yesterday with DH and DS. We planned to be out all day so took a picnic, thought we could watch the early stages of the race in Hyde Park on the big screen and then head out to see the cyclists come past.

Anyway, once we got there, it turns out you can't take any food in at all! They have the rules about liquids and glass bottles same as the Olympic Park but in addition you can't take any food (except baby food apparently, just checked the website). There were loads of people sitting outside stuffing down picnics before going in, giving food away or just throwing it away.

AIBU to think that this is outrageous, with no justification other than profit making? I went to one of the Hard Rock Calling gigs and you could take food and soft drinks so it's not the site itself. If I go out for the whole day, especially with fussy DS, I don't want to have to pay a fortune to eat shite. Was it too much to expect a nice relaxed atmosphere having a picnic and watching the screen?

We didn't go in in the end, queue was too huge by the time we had eaten so we went back to the race, which was brilliant. But I was really narked about the food issue. What do you all think?

OP posts:

limitedperiodonly · 29/07/2012 21:04

Imaginate I'm looking at the Official Spectator Guide that comes with all of the tickets.

It clearly tells you to beware of airport-style security and refers you to london2012.com/security for a list of banned items. That's in bold. I wear reading glasses too. I could see it.

How much sun cream do you expect to use in a day? If you are in a party that needs more than 200ml in an unmarked bottle you could decant it. They let you take 10 100ml containers per ticket holder.

Are you the person who stands in front of me at airports saying: 'Why can't I take this?'

ObviouslyItsTheOlympics · 29/07/2012 21:05

Ok then it's definitely just BT making money! Given the state of the site and the remedial works that will be required they will be glad of it....

Original poster

CelticOlympian · 29/07/2012 21:11

limited I think the Olympics is brilliant, I do not resent taxpayer money supporting them. I also don't resent paying for food if I want to buy some- but I do resent not being able to take my own in. There is no security issue with a packet of sandwiches, which is the justification for the liquids restriction.

OP posts:

ImaginateMum · 29/07/2012 21:14

Limitedperiodonly - as someone said above, the Hyde Park event is not in the Olympics guide. My Olympics guide I can read just fine!

The torch relay event was a print out ticket from Ticketmaster and the font is seriously tiny. Interestingly, they must have known it was inadequate, because when I got home I had an email from them about the closing ceremony event there outlining the restrictions in nice big print. (not just to me!)

I will admit I did get a bit caught out - having been to a "London Prepares" event, several Hyde Park concerts and also another torch relay event, none of which had been so restrictive, I was surprised by this.

I had read the Olympic stuff very carefully, but thought that only applied at venues, not to sit in a park. Among other things banned were flags and umbrellas!

Don't usually cause trouble at airports. I did say "Why can't I take this?" at Auckland Airport once when they thought DD's pot of playdough was a banned foodstuff.

maddiemostmerry · 29/07/2012 21:18

My ds was in Hyde Park with his mates yesterday and was given loads of food by people unable to take it in with them.

So thanks to anyone that gave food to a bunch of teenagers yesterday.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 29/07/2012 21:35

I trade at lots of shows and events. From the other point of view, the caterers at the venue, will have paid THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of pounds for the privilege of being there. Something like a county show would charge probably a couple of thousand, for a two day event, at least for exclusive catering contracts. And they will be assured that no unofficial caterer will be able to sell similar. --we are only allowed to sell cold pies, hot would breach the caterers contracts. The organisers will have to give some kind of insentive to the vendors to be there, or they vendors won't attend and the organisers won't get their pitch fees.

ObviouslyItsTheOlympics · 29/07/2012 22:09

The traders will work all the Hyde Park concerts though, without such restrictions on food being brought in.

limitedperiodonly · 29/07/2012 22:11

ok. Apologies. I didn't know that. I thought it was an Olympic event. It sounds awful.

I'm aware that organisers do this and are very aggressive in protecting their interests. For that reason I wouldn't go - not just to Hyde Park but to any event of this kind that's privately run.

So sorry again.

OhYouGreatGreatBritain · 29/07/2012 22:13

But my sweets though, why did they throw those away? He said I had too many it was only one rather large packet.

ObviouslyItsTheOlympics · 29/07/2012 22:14

Sounds like an idiot steward!

OhYouGreatGreatBritain · 29/07/2012 22:14

He was. Should have picked another line.

NoComet · 29/07/2012 22:16

As far as we could work out security at Cardiff football was purely to stop you taking food or drink in.
Totally ridiculous as the people in front got stopped be because they had 3 small bottles of Coke a cola.

Pure profit making as drinks were £2.50 each!

ObviouslyItsTheOlympics · 29/07/2012 22:18

Again, sorry to be picky but that's an official Olympic venue so slightt different.

bigTillyMint · 29/07/2012 22:22

ImaginateMum we went to the concert too.
DH managed to take in a bottle of water and we saw various people eating sandwiches, etc out of tupperwares, and the odd umbrella (for the sun!)

I agree it felt like they were trying to make money out of you - luckily I saw the small print and we were prepared to buy something to eat, but I don't like to be forced into buying fast food and the bottles of coke, etc were £2.50 which is a right rip-off, thanks Coca Cola

Original poster

CelticOlympian · 29/07/2012 22:28

StarBall you can normally take food into the Millennium Stadium, did they ban OT for the Olympics?

The stewards there are usually quite sensible, last time we went they were taking away plastic bottles as usual but MIL had one and the chap said she wouldbe allowed it 'to have with medication'. She takes nothing but is over 70 and clearly not likely to be chucking bottle caps on the pitch.

OP posts:

NoComet · 30/07/2012 00:19

I don't know, I wasn't allowed my empty water bottle.
Anyone with large bags was sent to a slow queue. So slow some people got in after the match started.

Since the place was 3/4 empty and most of the crowd was parents and primary aged DCs, I don't think it was going to get rowdy. Somehow I don't think anyone was likely to throw bottles.

We've had the same nonsense at the pet Shop boys at the indoor arena. For Fucks sake we were all 40+ reliving our 80's youth.

Nothing at all to do with security and everything to do with profit

StunningCunt · 30/07/2012 02:48

We watched it in on the big screen in the park and brought food, bottles of beer, wine, etc., others were doing the same. It's only in Hyde Park that they were fascist.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 30/07/2012 14:19

Yes the traders will work all Hyde Park events, but this will. Oat them far more than a music event!

BackforGood · 30/07/2012 16:08

Starball I went to Millenium Stadium on Wednesday. No problem at all taking food in. It was very clear beforehand on all the literature (sent with tickets and looking on line) plus the press and any 'chat' sites like this, that they were putting in airport style security and you would not be allowed to take in any liquid over a 100ml bottle, except suncream in it's original bottle as long as it wasn't over 200ml.
We all had back packs which they did search (quite rightly) but it didn't take long, tbh. We were all allowed empty water bottles (which we could fill up from any tap - it's all drinking water) but we didn't need them as they were happy to hand over large (possibly a pint?) cups of chilled water from the bar whenever you asked. I was very impressed with the whole experience.
tbh it also said on the tickets to allow up to 2 hours to get through security. If people then choose not to, then it's a risk they take that they might miss the beginning. We got there nice and early and it took about 10mins - quicker than at Coventry on Thursday, which was about 20mins all in, but we arrived closer to kick off then.

Richard2264 · 06/08/2012 18:43

For the closing concert sixty quid a pop the original terms and on the ticket were that you could bring in food that has now been amended ( by an email ) saying it was a mistake and you cannt now

degutastic · 06/08/2012 19:11

Seems completely reasonable of the organisers to me - why would a private company wish to offer an opportunity like that at massive cost to themselves

Daughteroflilith · 06/08/2012 20:33

I went with nieces and nephews on Saturday. In the official venues it's no liquids but you can take sandwiches. Not there, though. we didn't buy food as we knew in advance, but the prices were shocking. £4 for a small portion of chips! we went outside and bought picnic food from M and S.

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