Mum thought £21.50 for burger and drink was a ‘wind-up’
VISITOR’S SHOCK AT ARENA FOOD COST
A MUM says she thought a venue’s burger bar was “winding her up” when she was charged £21.50 for a burger and small fizzy drink.
Jules Spence visited Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena with her daughters Poppy, 14, and 11-yearold Ellie, who were taking part in a cheerleading competition.
The mother-of-three was responsible for four costume and hair changes throughout the 13-hour day and didn’t have time to leave the arena to eat.
The 46-year-old marketing manager needed a meal so rushed to one of the arena’s fast-food kiosks when she had 10 minutes free and ordered a chicken burger and a small Diet Coke.
But she was shocked when the cashier said it would cost £21.50, which she thought was a “windup”, before allegedly being told “yeah, it’s steep”.
After stumping up the cash, Jules tucked into the burger – which came with chips – but described it as “sloppy and awful”.
Jules shared the “rank” meal on social media where users flocked to the post, branding the price “shocking” and “ridiculous”. The arena, which is set to host James Blunt, Elbow and Pet Shop Boys in the coming weeks, apologised and said the price for the meal should have been £16.60.
It said that its prices were “dictated by the increasing cost of raw ingredients, power, staffing” and believed they were in line with those at other arenas.
Jules, from Glasgow, said: “I thought I’d misheard at first. I thought it was a wind-up.
“The burger [and chips] and the drink was £21. When they said ‘it’s £21,’
I said ‘are you kidding me?.’ I was shocked. I wasn’t rude but I was quite shocked. I knew I’d ordered and I had to pay.
“The staff working there were very nice but they said ‘yeah, it’s steep.’ The burger was horrible. It was really sloppy. It tasted awful. It wasn’t hot, it wasn’t good at all. I just feel they’re taking advantage knowing people are in their venue and trusting that people won’t want to leave.
“I feel the prices are extortionate and especially in a financial crisis. That weekend it was all families – it’s expensive and they must make an absolute fortune. Somebody brought the chips over and the person said ‘oh, there’s no chips with this.’ They talked about it and then said ‘just take them.’”
The arena claims the meal automatically comes with chips.
Jules – who had splashed out £1,000 including travel and entrance fees, on the competition in total – said: “The girls had hot dogs earlier in the day. I was really hungry and starting to struggle, which is why I chose to get something there. “I had a glance at the prices but I didn’t take them in. They had loads of stuff up on the boards, I’m annoyed at myself.
“I know a lot of people will say ‘you should have checked’ but I was in a difficult situation. I was trying to be sensible, I needed to eat food, I needed to get the girls organised so I didn’t have a choice.”
Social media users were scathing after she shared a picture of the meal and the price, adding: “Sorry but that’s really not OK when Burger King charge £1.49 for a burger. And this was the cost without chips. They made the chips by accident and threw them in. What a joke. And yes, maybe more fool me. But I needed food and my girls have a lot of costume change overs
I just feel they’re taking advantage, knowing people are in their venue and... won’t want to leave Jules Spence
so I had to make it work. Ouch.”
One wrote: “The arena is milking it, knowing that there’ll be people just like you who need quick food and have to stay in the arena. That’s a ridiculous price for what you got!”
Another commented: “Prices were shocking!”
Jules provided a snapshot of her internet banking app that appears to show she was charged £21.50. It remains unclear why she was charged so much more.
An arena spokesperson said: “The Chicken Shop is one of our busiest food outlets, serving thousands of customers every month and it’s an extremely rare occurrence for us to receive a complaint. We can confirm that the maximum cost of a chicken burger and chips meal, with a Coke is £16.60.
“We are a not-for-profit entity with all profits meeting the costs of running the venue. Prices are dictated by the increasing cost of raw ingredients, power, staffing and are in line with offerings at other arenas.
“We’re sorry to hear that Jules didn’t get the experience that she expected at Motorpoint Arena and hope that she’ll consider joining us again in the future.”