The Co-Op at Glastonbury

[Zoo Music Girl]

The mixers are the most attractive draw for me. If I could go and grab a decent amount to keep at the tent for our rum stash I would definitely make the trip. While there I would probably stock up on a few snacks and all.

And as Woffy says surely a wander across the site to visit Co-op is more preferable than wandering back out to the car parks, wherever it is.

I'm still of the opinion it won't stock booze though, but am prepared to be surprised.

[glasto-worker]

6 hours ago, gsp8181 said:

They sold beer at all the livenation events, you can see it in this video from latitude 

I can't see Glastonbury being any different apart from maybe them replacing plastic wine bottles, water bottles and mixer with cans/tetrapak (and hopefully multipacks of mixer). If you can take unlimited alcohol on site and leave site to get more booze, why would glasto care if they sold beer on site? I doubt the Coop would agree to build a store in Pilton if they weren't allowed to sell their most profitable product at a festival

if the CO-OP shop was in the arena at Latitude then that would decrease the charges Festival Republic could make on the Bars so you cant compare the two events together.There is something very odd about this why the CO-OP does appear to be reluctant to confirm if alcohol will be on sale -  if they are selling alcohol then I can see many Bar Operators pulling out completely - there has been many years the WBC has made a trading loss due mainly over the weather and if there is a supermarket undercutting the bars then I can see a big reduction and that will impact on all the Volunteer groups who earn money for trade unions and Charities . This may affect things in unexpected ways ' for everyone '

time will tell 

[Keithy]

The co-op is only there as part of a deal to get a co-op in the village. I still don't see it offering anything other than what the previous 'on-site' supermarket did. I'd be amazed if it sold booze. It'll probably sell everything but booze.

I'd worry if it does sell booze, then it risks changing the dynamic of glastonbury. Currently the stance is... 'if you can carry it in from the car parks, you can drink it'. We've already had one aborted attempt to stop people bringing in loads of their own booze. An on-site supermarket selling booze.... that risks them one day limiting the booze you can bring in as 'you can order/buy it on-site from the supermarket'

Plus....and I've no problem with people having a shitload to drink at Glasto... but currently, if you want to have a good tanking at glastonbury, you've got to put the hard yards in beforehand of carrying that in....and i say that as a coach traveller who's has a load in his rucksack and still has to make the trek out to a mates car.

Buying it on-site from a supermarket is cheating... you've not earned the right to that tanking!

[Keithy]

5 minutes ago, glasto-worker said:

iif they are selling alcohol then I can see many Bar Operators pulling out completely - there has been many years the WBC has made a trading loss due mainly over the weather and if there is a supermarket undercutting the bars then I can see a big reduction and that will impact on all the Volunteer groups who earn money for trade unions and Charities .

Exactly.

[Ayrshire Chris]

I wouldn’t like to see anything that would harm the bars, especially the workers beer company. The bars are a very valuable part of the festival. I love the bread and roses bar, . It’s not just the drink. It’s the less well known acts that get a stage, the bars provide a meeting place for all of us, strangers can meet, talk and socialise. The last thing we want is a reduction in bars leaving folk sitting on the grass drinking warm cans of lager. 

I understand folk are on a budget but it’s only five days, it’s Glasto. The coop should be providing basic foods, convenience foods, supplies for kids, nappies etc, bog rolls, anti bac cleansers etc. The sort of stuff you find in a campsite shop but on a grander scale. 

Edited May 16, 2019 by Ayrshire Chris

[stuartbert two hats]

26 minutes ago, glasto-worker said:

if the CO-OP shop was in the arena at Latitude then that would decrease the charges Festival Republic could make on the Bars so you cant compare the two events together.There is something very odd about this why the CO-OP does appear to be reluctant to confirm if alcohol will be on sale -  if they are selling alcohol then I can see many Bar Operators pulling out completely - there has been many years the WBC has made a trading loss due mainly over the weather and if there is a supermarket undercutting the bars then I can see a big reduction and that will impact on all the Volunteer groups who earn money for trade unions and Charities . This may affect things in unexpected ways ' for everyone '

time will tell 

Their reluctance to confirm the alcohol sales is probably for the exact reason you state - it's not outside "the arena", so the commercial affect on bars would be vastly different to the other festivals. Yet, it's clearly in the Co-op's interest to sell booze. I can only think that there are negotiations ongoing over price, range and potentially quantity per person - or indeed if it was being sold at all. If it was definitely happening or not then they would have told us. Seems pretty clear it's not been agreed yet.

[Gnomicide]

11 hours ago, tarw said:

Will the Co-ee be open Monday and Tuesday so us volunteers/workers can have first dips on the stock?  I think it would be good for staff training / snagging.

Nice use of Co-ee.

[MetaKate]

I think if they weren't selling booze then they wouldnt hesitate to say "no we wont be selling booze" because they obviously have nothing to lose by saying that if they arent. 

The fact they havent said one way or another makes me think they are and have to hold off saying, or are in negotiations etc. 

Im going to buy the same amount of booze either way, this would just save me shoving it in my backpack and lugging it in. 

[glasto-worker]

7 hours ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

I wouldn’t like to see anything that would harm the bars, especially the workers beer company. The bars are a very valuable part of the festival. I love the bread and roses bar, . It’s not just the drink. It’s the less well known acts that get a stage, the bars provide a meeting place for all of us, strangers can meet, talk and socialise. The last thing we want is a reduction in bars leaving folk sitting on the grass drinking warm cans of lager. 

I understand folk are on a budget but it’s only five days, it’s Glasto. The coop should be providing basic foods, convenience foods, supplies for kids, nappies etc, bog rolls, anti bac cleansers etc. The sort of stuff you find in a campsite shop but on a grander scale. 

the WBC are planning to revamp some of the bars although what that means is not exactly clear even although I attend the general council meetings as its a sub committee.

The Bread and Roses and the Mandela Bar will be the last two to go as I can see it impacting the large counter bars if demand tails away.

The production costs are huge and all it takes is a small change and I can see them cutting back.

its all a big gamble compared to Latitude or Reading where it is possible to predict the sales due to the arena restrictions.

The WBC is only able to keep going due to the arena events they do mainly in Ireland.

Time will tell what happens next - I hope I am wrong.

[Ayrshire Chris]

4 hours ago, glasto-worker said:

the WBC are planning to revamp some of the bars although what that means is not exactly clear even although I attend the general council meetings as its a sub committee.

The Bread and Roses and the Mandela Bar will be the last two to go as I can see it impacting the large counter bars if demand tails away.

The production costs are huge and all it takes is a small change and I can see them cutting back.

its all a big gamble compared to Latitude or Reading where it is possible to predict the sales due to the arena restrictions.

The WBC is only able to keep going due to the arena events they do mainly in Ireland.

Time will tell what happens next - I hope I am wrong.

Yes, hope you are wrong. Bars such as B and R , Mandela fit in so well with the ethos of the festival. They deserve the support of as many folk as possible. Certainly a supermarket, albeit the coop , selling cheap cans of booze will affect bar sales. 

[morph100]

From Facebook:

I live in Glastonbury and was talking to the manager of co op and they’re not allowed to sell beer on site. There’s a bus from site that goes into town where there’s a Morrison’s or Tesco to stock up if you want to do that.

[Beerqueen]

57 minutes ago, morph100 said:

From Facebook:

I live in Glastonbury and was talking to the manager of co op and they’re not allowed to sell beer on site. There’s a bus from site that goes into town where there’s a Morrison’s or Tesco to stock up if you want to do that.

Well, that's my only reason to go to the co-op on site taken away then.  I won't be taking any cooking stuff and will be buying all my food from the delicious food stalls.  Barring anything I forget to bring such as toothpaste or something.

[Amy Lawn]

I just want to know if they'll sell the boxes of Schweppes mixer sized tins of tonic water and ginger ale, saving me schlepping a load of those in would be a big help.

[Zoo Music Girl]

2 minutes ago, GETOFFAMYLAWN said:

I just want to know if they'll sell the boxes of Schweppes mixer sized tins of tonic water and ginger ale, saving me schlepping a load of those in would be a big help.

Yeah I'm in it for these too. Always just buy mixers from bars and ice cream vans usually, so being able to stock up on these would be great. I've never thought it would sell alcohol.

[Beerqueen]

3 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

Yeah I'm in it for these too. Always just buy mixers from bars and ice cream vans usually, so being able to stock up on these would be great. I've never thought it would sell alcohol.

Naively I thought it would as I didn't think cans of beer would be in competition with the bars.  I mean people bring loads of their own stuff in and the bars still do alright so I just thought it would replace having to schlep it from the car or make it easier for coach people. 

[Zoo Music Girl]

Just now, Beerqueen said:

Naively I thought it would as I didn't think cans of beer would be in competition with the bars.  I mean people bring loads of their own stuff in and the bars still do alright so I just thought it would replace having to schlep it from the car or make it easier for coach people. 

A lot of people here agree with you and I could well be wrong! If there's no limit to how many Co-op visits you can make and it's easier to get to than the car parks then I can't see how it wouldn't affect bar sales. I also don't think it could meet the demand.

[Beerqueen]

6 minutes ago, Zoo Music Girl said:

A lot of people here agree with you and I could well be wrong! If there's no limit to how many Co-op visits you can make and it's easier to get to than the car parks then I can't see how it wouldn't affect bar sales. I also don't think it could meet the demand.

I guess I'm just going by my own preferences!  I would rather buy a pint from the bar than have canned beer so no matter how convenient buying cans would be it wouldn't effect my bar purchases. I just like to have a few cans a day when I'm at the front of a stage or any other time when I'm not really near a bar.  

[Crazyfool01]

16 minutes ago, Beerqueen said:

Naively I thought it would as I didn't think cans of beer would be in competition with the bars.  I mean people bring loads of their own stuff in and the bars still do alright so I just thought it would replace having to schlep it from the car or make it easier for coach people. 

I was thinking the same but dont think we were being naive at all .... nobody knows if it will affect the bars dramatically and they still won't .. the weather is probably the main influencing factor .... too hot or too wet I believe has the biggest impact ... also not knowing its location we cant really guess as to how much ... if its by ped gate A for example thats a long walk for people camped near shangri la  or worthy viewers. 

[Beerqueen]

Just now, crazyfool1 said:

I was thinking the same but dont think we were being naive at all .... nobody knows if it will affect the bars dramatically and they still won't .. the weather is probably the main influencing factor .... too hot or too wet I believe has the biggest impact ... also not knowing its location we cant really guess as to how much ... if its by ped gate A for example thats a long walk for people camped near shangri la  or worthy viewers. 

IF they sell beer, the logical place for it to be based is near PGA to help all us coach people!  But I have a Plan B if not which is to buy beer in Taunton before getting on the coach and drop it off with my rucksack in the lockup there before finding a pitch and then retrieving it later.

But it's still fun to speculate until we get more lineup information to keep us amused.

[Zoo Music Girl]

13 minutes ago, Beerqueen said:

I guess I'm just going by my own preferences!  I would rather buy a pint from the bar than have canned beer so no matter how convenient buying cans would be it wouldn't effect my bar purchases. I just like to have a few cans a day when I'm at the front of a stage or any other time when I'm not really near a bar.  

Oh yeah I'm the same personally. I come by coach anyway so just bring spirits and am lucky enough to afford a few pints at the bars. But seeing how many cans other people bring it wouldn't surprise me at all if they made huge use of a shop selling booze on site. Especially if cash is an issue.

[Crazyfool01]

1 minute ago, Beerqueen said:

IF they sell beer, the logical place for it to be based is near PGA to help all us coach people!  But I have a Plan B if not which is to buy beer in Taunton before getting on the coach and drop it off with my rucksack in the lockup there before finding a pitch and then retrieving it later.

But it's still fun to speculate until we get more lineup information to keep us amused.

where's the  pickup for Taunton these days ? if its where it used to be .. there is a tesco and aldi or lidl within easy walking distance 

[Beerqueen]

Just now, crazyfool1 said:

where's the  pickup for Taunton these days ? if its where it used to be .. there is a tesco and aldi or lidl within easy walking distance 

Tangier Way.  No idea where that is as I've only been to Taunton once (and that was only to pick up my friends at the station before driving to Minehead for a Madness weekend).  But @Watergirl has gone from there before and has already said about stocking up on the Tuesday.   We're staying in a B&B close by - I'm thinking that if my daughter carries the tent, I can carry the equivalent weight in booze.  I'll get an idea if that's doable when I travel down on the train before buying the booze.  The plan is coming together!

[Crazyfool01]

1 minute ago, Beerqueen said:

Tangier Way.  No idea where that is as I've only been to Taunton once (and that was only to pick up my friends at the station before driving to Minehead for a Madness weekend).  But @Watergirl has gone from there before and has already said about stocking up on the Tuesday.   We're staying in a B&B close by - I'm thinking that if my daughter carries the tent, I can carry the equivalent weight in booze.  I'll get an idea if that's doable when I travel down on the train before buying the booze.  The plan is coming together!

yep the tesco is very close and so is the lidl / aldi ... cant remember which one it is   within a few hundred meters and there is a row off b and bs which I would guess you might be in ... so you would need to walk past the tesco... to get to the drop off  anyway  but again probably better to do on the tue 

[Beerqueen]

1 minute ago, crazyfool1 said:

yep the tesco is very close and so is the lidl / aldi ... cant remember which one it is   within a few hundred meters and there is a row off b and bs which I would guess you might be in ... so you would need to walk past the tesco... to get to the drop off  anyway  but again probably better to do on the tue 

Especially as we're on the 6.15 am coach!!

Just looked at the map and our b&b is a 20 minute walk from the station and I will indeed walk past the supermarkets and the pick up point to get there so I can suss the area out.   Not that I'm an overplanner or anything you realise....I just like to know where I'm going beforehand.  (I may have been the first person at my pick up point in 2016 as I had left over an hour to find the bus stop which was 5 minutes from Birmingham New Street but in an area I hadn't sussed out beforehand.)

[stuartbert two hats]

31 minutes ago, Beerqueen said:

IF they sell beer, the logical place for it to be based is near PGA to help all us coach people!  But I have a Plan B if not which is to buy beer in Taunton before getting on the coach and drop it off with my rucksack in the lockup there before finding a pitch and then retrieving it later.

But it's still fun to speculate until we get more lineup information to keep us amused.

I don't get this, are you thinking of bringing an empty trolley onto the coach? I'm already pretty much as laden as I'm going to get when I come in through Gate A, there's no way I could add a crate of beer to my kit on the way to camping up.