Avanti West Coast 1st Class Alcohol Ban

[Butts]

Will be travelling from Edinburgh to the West Midlands and back next week.

Massive excitement ..special Christmas Menu.....with No Alcohol !! - bah humbug

Which "Government Guidance" prevents them from serving a "Festive Tipple " in 1st Class ?

Is it just an excuse to penny pinch ?

I do hope they are not letting people buy it from the Buffet/Trolley !!

If BA can serve complimentary Alcohol on-board (with less social distancing) why can't Avanti ?

 

[Trackman]

Avanti have said 'Due to government restrictions'.
You can still take your own booze on board though.
Dunno about the aviation side of things, I think it's to do with where you are flying to.

 

[185143]

I was under the impression it was just north of Carlisle no alcohol could be served-is this not the case?

Anyway, be greatful you're not on LNER and can at least take your own!

 

[Trackman]

I was under the impression it was just north of Carlisle no alcohol could be served-is this not the case?

Anyway, be greatful you're not on LNER and can at least take your own!

That was a while back, in the last England lockdown it was no alcohol sold full stop.

 

[Butts]

I was under the impression it was just north of Carlisle no alcohol could be served-is this not the case?

Anyway, be greatful you're not on LNER and can at least take your own!

Take my own, having forked out for a 1st Class Ticket I expect "Scotch on Demand"

 

[Bletchleyite]

That was a while back, in the last England lockdown it was no alcohol sold full stop.

Is the problem that their free food isn't up to being called a "substantial meal"?

(Indeed it isn't, it's more of a taster menu, even at normal times!)

 

[Butts]

Is the problem that their free food isn't up to being called a "substantial meal"?

(Indeed it isn't, it's more of a taster menu, even at normal times!)

No one could argue with that

 

[ServerHoster]

Is the problem that their free food isn't up to being called a "substantial meal"?

Just give them a scotch egg with their food!

 

[Butts]

Just give them a scotch egg with their food!

Chance would be a fine thing...

On Avanti it would be one of the "mini variety"

 

[Trackman]

Chance would be a fine thing...

On Avanti it would be one of the "mini variety"

Since Avanti took over they have skimped on the menu a bit plus the booze. This is pre-Covid. Gawd knows what it will be like when things become 'normal' again they think nobody will notice.
@Butts, just seen the special 'Christmas Menu' spot the difference apart from a Turkey butty.

 

[Bungle965]

Since Avanti took over they have skimped on the menu a bit plus the booze. This is pre-Covid. Gawd knows what it will be like when things become 'normal' again they think nobody will notice.
@Butts, just seen the special 'Christmas Menu' spot the difference apart from a Turkey butty.

It's part of their franchise commitments to make weekend catering along similar lines to that which is offered during weekdays.
From the 27th of December when previously the catering would be "weekend offering" under Virgin it is now just the standard weekday offering.

 

[Trackman]

It's part of their franchise commitments to make weekend catering along similar lines to that which is offered during weekdays.
From the 27th of December when previously the catering would be "weekend offering" under Virgin it is now just the standard weekday offering.

I know, I was just having a laugh at the special Christmas menu!
Oddly enough, from the 27th complimentary booze will be served in first class, they have already published the menus. No signs of Scotch Eggs with salad to accompany it though!

 

[Butts]

Since Avanti took over they have skimped on the menu a bit plus the booze. This is pre-Covid. Gawd knows what it will be like when things become 'normal' again they think nobody will notice.
@Butts, just seen the special 'Christmas Menu' spot the difference apart from a Turkey butty.

Highly exciting, hoping "uglies" are still available

 

[Butts]

It's part of their franchise commitments to make weekend catering along similar lines to that which is offered during weekdays.
From the 27th of December when previously the catering would be "weekend offering" under Virgin it is now just the standard weekday offering.

Does that extend to booze (when available) ?

 

[Trackman]

Does that extend to booze (when available) ?

Yes. I mentioned that on post #12 ^^.

Highly exciting, hoping "uglies" are still available

Last time I was on (a while back), yes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's part of their franchise commitments to make weekend catering along similar lines to that which is offered during weekdays.
From the 27th of December when previously the catering would be "weekend offering" under Virgin it is now just the standard weekday offering.

I don't think the aim was to achieve that by making the weekday catering worse, though

(In all seriousness, it was rubbish in Virgin days too in quantity terms - as I said, a taster menu, not a meal)

 

[Butts]

I don't think the aim was to achieve that by making the weekday catering worse, though

(In all seriousness, it was rubbish in Virgin days too in quantity terms - as I said, a taster menu, not a meal)

Some of us were "only here for the beer" - not Double Diamond but Scotch in my case which was often issued liberally with the right crew.

The quality and quantity were fine in that case.

 

[Butts]

Yes. I mentioned that on post #12 ^^.

Last time I was on (a while back), yes.

So free booze at weekends if they are replicating the weekday offer ?

 

[Trackman]

So free booze at weekends if they are replicating the weekday offer ?

It doesn't, and still no lunchtime hot snack (soups, sausage/bacon buttys) option.

... but Scotch in my case which was often issued liberally with the right crew.
The quality and quantity were fine in that case.

Hahaha! This is right! I had a really bad sore throat once so I thought a scotch would do the trick. I told them what was wrong, he said 'Here have a couple more, if you dont want them, take them home!'

 

[Butts]

It doesn't, and still no lunchtime hot snack (soups, sausage/bacon buttys) option.

Hahaha! This is right! I had a really bad sore throat once so I thought a scotch would do the trick. I told them what was wrong, he said 'Here have a couple more, if you dont want them, take them home!'

So Bungle has "Bungled" and lived up to his name by asserting the weekday service was going to be replicated at the weekend , or rather more fairly Avanti's Propaganda doesn't live up to the hype.

Currently on the last leg of my trip from FKG to SAD.... Wigan North Western to SAD, having changed Avanti Services there (route given)

This has given me the opportunity to sample the Festive Sandwich (OK) on the first service and Cheese and Biscuits on the 2nd (OK)

Note Avanti obviously consider C&B as a "Main Course" rather than something that follows it

To be fair I've had a few other bits and pieces - Crisps, Coffee, Pepsi, Uglies, Mince Pie and some chocolates.....

However it's not the same with out the Scotch

 

[Bungle965]

I appear to have indeed got slightly confused. From the 27th instead of the usual Weekend menu throughout the rest of the Christmas period it will be the standard weekday menu on weekdays!. Weekends indeed remain the same.

It is indeed correct however that they are looking at changing the on board catering offering at weekends to make align it more with the weekday, quite when that happens remains to be seen.
If I imagine it'll depend on how successful the trail of the three classes are.

 

[vlad]

Chance would be a fine thing...

On Avanti it would be one of the "mini variety"

In the later years of Virgin the "meal" I was given consisted of a pork pie, Scotch egg, packet of chutney and a few leaves. The Scotch egg was tiny - I've seen bigger grapes - to the extent that I don't think they had room to fit any egg in.