Upper level foodcourt Dublin T1

Wicklowleaid

Hey folks,
Just curious as to what ever happened the upper level food court above the street post security in Dublin T1. It appears to have been closed for a number of years now. Does anyone know if there are plans to reopen/redevelop it especially now with record growth and heavy demand on existing food outlets post security. Curious to know

LeChienMefiant

It was too good value in comparison to the alternatives, so I reckon it got whacked.

Odelay

Is that the one with Burger King, a pub and smoking area?

LeChienMefiant

Odelay wrote: »

Is that the one with Burger King, a pub and smoking area?

The food court I'm thinking of had an entrance and stairs between the plane water and the WH Smith if I'm picturing the airport right. It's right next to the security area.

https://goo.gl/images/Uyb7A9 labeled food court 1

L1011

It was down a corridor with a luggage shop and possibly toilets from memory.

Most passengers never noticed it was there which was a major issue.

LeChienMefiant

L1011 wrote: »

It was down a corridor with a luggage shop and possibly toilets from memory.

Most passengers never noticed it was there which was a major issue.

Not if you wanted a bit of peace and quiet. :-D

Wicklowleaid

Yea it was up a stairs at those toilets as mentioned. If you go upstairs to Alcock &brown landside you can still see the space behind the glass looking very dark and forlorn

Squeaksoutloud

Thought it was still in operation but from the landside now.

L1011

Squeaksoutloud wrote: »

Thought it was still in operation but from the landside now.

That bit has been there as long as the airside bit was.

Wicklowleaid

L1011 wrote: »

That bit has been there as long as the airside bit was.

True that. Always up there where Alcock&Brown is.

WishUWereHere

Odelay wrote: »

Is that the one with Burger King, a pub and smoking area?

Flew out of T1 a few weeks ago & 'dined' in the area You mention. BK had no CC machines working, went & drew cash from the ATM, then told no hot drinks, told them to shove it and went to the pub for food. Food is passable, but the prices certainly aren't.

Utter embarrassment to Dublin Airport IMHO.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

LeChienMefiant

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Flew out of T1 a few weeks ago & 'dined' in the area You mention. BK had no CC machines working, went & drew cash from the ATM, then told no hot drinks, told them to shove it and went to the pub for food. Food is passable, but the prices certainly aren't.

Utter embarrassment to Dublin Airport IMHO.

The pub is probably one of the best spots in the airport for food if you're stuck. The little cafe down by the city jet gates is OK now too. You have to remember that a lot of business travelers in airports are on expenses and therefore less price sensitive.

bluelamp

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Flew out of T1 a few weeks ago & 'dined' in the area You mention. BK had no CC machines working, went & drew cash from the ATM, then told no hot drinks, told them to shove it and went to the pub for food. Food is passable, but the prices certainly aren't.

Utter embarrassment to Dublin Airport IMHO.

It's also the dirtiest burger king I've seen. Any available tables are dirty, floor covered in food, extremely slow service. Kip.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

bluelamp wrote: »

It's also the dirtiest burger king I've seen. Any available tables are dirty, floor covered in food, extremely slow service. Kip.

I still don't understand why they have a McDonald's before security, and not after. That BK is indeed a kip.

Gaoth Laidir

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

The pub is probably one of the best spots in the airport for food if you're stuck. The little cafe down by the city jet gates is OK now too. You have to remember that a lot of business travelers in airports are on expenses and therefore less price sensitive.

A lot of companies are limiting daily sustenance expenses to just a few euro. I had visitors in last week who were allowed just €8 per day. It's not like it used to be anymore.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

LeChienMefiant

Gaoth Laidir wrote: »

A lot of companies are limiting daily sustenance expenses to just a few euro. I had visitors in last week who were allowed just €8 per day. It's not like it used to be anymore.

I'd be saying "thank you very much, I'll tele conference!".

Bussywussy

Garden terrace also does a decent enough staff dinner for 6 quid or so...as for Marquette..it's a rip off

LiamaDelta

bluelamp wrote: »

It's also the dirtiest burger king I've seen. Any available tables are dirty, floor covered in food, extremely slow service. Kip.

Have to agree. Got food there once (painfully slow, with long queues), and then sat down to eat. The place was so dirty we got up and left and brought our food with us to eat somewhere else. Never went back.
I'd say the place is 'poorly managed' but I actually think it's not managed at all. Staff don't really care and I;d say they're treated like sh1t.

LeChienMefiant

All those airport Burger Kings and a lot of other airport restaurants are owned by the same company SSP.

https://www.eatonthemove.com/static/faqs

L1011

I complained to the DAA about the filth in an SSP operated unit - they took my details so SSP could contact and explain which they never did. Should have followed up with the DAA I guess

Rawr

L1011 wrote: »

I complained to the DAA about the filth in an SSP operated unit - they took my details so SSP could contact and explain which they never did. Should have followed up with the DAA I guess

SSP are certainly an interesting bunch.

I fired off a complaint to the customer service email address of a certain "cafe" over in Pier D. Their staff had been their usually slow-as-all-hell selves, but then added openly hostile service towards Mrs. Rawr to their sins, thus prompting me to send a long, polite, but ultimately very damning complaint their way.

Instead of getting a reply from the Cafe's company, I get a reply from SSP's customer service. They apologise, inform me that there would be some kind of staff meeting called, and then offered some kind of voucher in compensation (which never came).

I wonder if they just have one central management for SSP franchises in DUB, with each outlet just left to do their own thing? A lot of the franchises currently there appear to be SSP operated: Burger King, Starbucks, SoHo, etc...etc...

Pat Dunne

Rawr wrote: »

SSP are certainly an interesting bunch.

I fired off a complaint to the customer service email address of a certain "cafe" over in Pier D. Their staff had been their usually slow-as-all-hell selves, but then added openly hostile service towards Mrs. Rawr to their sins, thus prompting me to send a long, polite, but ultimately very damning complaint their way.

Instead of getting a reply from the Cafe's company, I get a reply from SSP's customer service. They apologise, inform me that there would be some kind of staff meeting called, and then offered some kind of voucher in compensation (which never came).

I wonder if they just have one central management for SSP franchises in DUB, with each outlet just left to do their own thing? A lot of the franchises currently there appear to be SSP operated: Burger King, Starbucks, SoHo, etc...etc...

If your complaint is of a genuine nature you shouldn't be afraid of naming and shaming.
Best form of complaint is to kick-up a ruckus on social media, hammer them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, including loads of photos and then email them with links.

Rawr

Pat Dunne wrote: »

If your complaint is of a genuine nature you shouldn't be afraid of naming and shaming.
Best form of complaint is to kick-up a ruckus on social media, hammer them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, including loads of photos and then email them with links.

Force of habit from my time over on the R&R forums It was the SoHo Cafe over on Pier D.

I've never been pleased with the place, which if I remember right has been there ever since Pier D was built. For a while it was the only food option you had in that Pier, which kind of made this "low-cost" section of the airport feel even more..."low cost"....

Beyond cleanness and other factors, my main problem with SoHo has always been their speed of service. I had only ever attempted to purchase ready-made sandwiches and drinks from them, but the attempt would often take upwards of 10 minutes or more. Of the 3 staff they would usually have on, only one of them would typically be taking orders, and as soon as any kind of complex coffee-drink was ordered, the queue would grind to a halt while that was being prepared.

The wait was rarely worth it, and the additional businesses at Pier D that eventually appeared, were very welcome additions.

Instead of SoHo, I now go to Leopold's. There, the same sandwich transaction would take mere moments, while the cafe operated with a fraction of the staff of SoHo. Furthermore, this appeared to be the preferred option of airport staff and flight crews at Pier D. The place was full of uniforms, while the SoHo appeared to be mostly abandoned

All of this I pointed out in my complaint to them...especially the part about a single Leopold's barista performing their 3 baristas who appeared to be doing next to nothing....I lived in hope that they would a managerial bolloking for that...

Probably never happened, but you never know...

Pat Dunne

Rawr wrote: »

Force of habit from my time over on the R&R forums It was the SoHo Cafe over on Pier D.

I've never been pleased with the place, which if I remember right has been there ever since Pier D was built. For a while it was the only food option you had in that Pier, which kind of made this "low-cost" section of the airport feel even more..."low cost"....

Beyond cleanness and other factors, my main problem with SoHo has always been their speed of service. I had only ever attempted to purchase ready-made sandwiches and drinks from them, but the attempt would often take upwards of 10 minutes or more. Of the 3 staff they would usually have on, only one of them would typically be taking orders, and as soon as any kind of complex coffee-drink was ordered, the queue would grind to a halt while that was being prepared.

The wait was rarely worth it, and the additional businesses at Pier D that eventually appeared, were very welcome additions.

Instead of SoHo, I now go to Leopold's. There, the same sandwich transaction would take mere moments, while the cafe operated with a fraction of the staff of SoHo. Furthermore, this appeared to be the preferred option of airport staff and flight crews at Pier D. The place was full of uniforms, while the SoHo appeared to be mostly abandoned

All of this I pointed out in my complaint to them...especially the part about a single Leopold's barista performing their 3 baristas who appeared to be doing next to nothing....I lived in hope that they would a managerial bolloking for that...

Probably never happened, but you never know...

I know exactly what you're saying, I was only there last Friday afternoon, slow as f&€k for coffee and one especially surly member of staff. I witnessed her pouring 2 Pints of Guinness a customer and what she didn't do to it was unmentionable!
All stems from poor Management and lousy conditions for staff.

VG31

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

The pub is probably one of the best spots in the airport for food if you're stuck. The little cafe down by the city jet gates is OK now too. You have to remember that a lot of business travelers in airports are on expenses and therefore less price sensitive.

The cafe beside gate 301 is quite good and not too expensive.

L1011

SoHo at one point had ex-VAT prices on the shelves with the VAT inclusive price in teeny tiny numbers below. Put me off ever going there again as 95% of the traffic from that pier is probably staying within the customs union (at least for now!) Realistically it was all being consumed immediately too.

View Profile

SoHo is dire.

Like Rawr said, staff are useless and seem unable to multitask. I refuse to waste my money there.

Leopolds is leagues ahead. Staff are friendly, can process a queue, and tables are clean.

WishUWereHere

View Profile wrote: »

SoHo is dire.

Like Rawr said, staff are useless and seem unable to multitask. I refuse to waste my money there.

Leopolds is leagues ahead. Staff are friendly, can process a queue, and tables are clean.

Dire is giving Soho a compliment. See what I wrote on TripAdvisor about my 'experience' there. As I write this my feedback on TA is the last one for Soho.

WishUWereHere

LeChienMefiant wrote: »

All those airport Burger Kings and a lot of other airport restaurants are owned by the same company SSP.

https://www.eatonthemove.com/static/faqs

Including the below mentioned Soho.

WishUWereHere

Bussywussy wrote: »

Garden terrace also does a decent enough staff dinner for 6 quid or so...as for Marquette..it's a rip off

This €6 staff dinnerBW, is it advertised? I don't recall seeing any meal for 6 quid advertised on the premises.

The Veteran

WishUWereHere wrote: »

This €6 staff dinnerBW, is it advertised? I don't recall seeing any meal for 6 quid advertised on the premises.

€6.95 including tea, coffee or cordial. The menu
says “staff menu” on it and it is usually over where the breakfast set up is. Can be very decent;
Other times can be slightly his and miss.

€6 breakfast; 5 items, tea\coffee and toast.

Same company owns the oak in t2

eeguy

WishUWereHere wrote: »

This €6 staff dinnerBW, is it advertised? I don't recall seeing any meal for 6 quid advertised on the premises.

Didn't think they'd publicly advertise staff discounts.

SoHo had a fiver dinner when I worked in the airport. It was huge too, when you were friendly with the people behind the counter.
Burger King and most other places had a flat 20% off

The Veteran

eeguy wrote: »

Didn't think they'd publicly advertise staff discounts.

SoHo had a fiver dinner when I worked in the airport. It was huge too, when you were friendly with the people behind the counter.
Burger King and most other places had a flat 20% off

BK T2 gives 20%; BK T1 gives nothing

Starbucks and Butlers give nothing

Leopold does

Food court upstairs Alcocks do.

McDs gives a discount in the “standard sandwich meals” only.

There are deals but they are not advertised

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

L1011

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Buy pint. Park pint with beermat over it. Return to bar to order.

Time consuming, potentially pointless expensive and still not foolproof.

Stephen Strange

L1011 wrote: »

I complained to the DAA about the filth in an SSP operated unit - they took my details so SSP could contact and explain which they never did. Should have followed up with the DAA I guess

I used to work for SSP quite a while ago, I'm not surprised you never heard back tbh, they're a nightmare. They lost a good few of their units (including Alcock & Brown) to KSG about 6 years ago.

trellheim

I remember being given a big discount because I was wearing a job pass that looked like one of the local places like DAA lol

LiamaDelta

Stephen Strange wrote: »

I used to work for SSP quite a while ago, I'm not surprised you never heard back tbh, they're a nightmare. They lost a good few of their units (including Alcock & Brown) to KSG about 6 years ago.

It's interesting that they decided to specialise in an area that have captive markets thus many people have no alternatives.

I usually find that service providers in those areas really don't try very hard to please customers as the majority of their custom is not repeat business. They take their custom for granted, similar to motorway service stations. Luckily many of the facility owners that give them the contract are now looking at the overall 'customer experience' and if they get sufficient negative feedback they'll not renew.
More likely to see action being taken if the DAA get a raft of complaints rather than SSP as they can hide the feedback.

Edit. that wasn't a dig at you StephenStrange, just generally how these places are run.

Stephen Strange

LiamaDelta wrote: »

It's interesting that they decided to specialise in an area that have captive markets thus many people have no alternatives.

I usually find that service providers in those areas really don't try very hard to please customers as the majority of their custom is not repeat business. They take their custom for granted, similar to motorway service stations. Luckily many of the facility owners that give them the contract are now looking at the overall 'customer experience' and if they get sufficient negative feedback they'll not renew.
More likely to see action being taken if the DAA get a raft of complaints rather than SSP as they can hide the feedback.

Edit. that wasn't a dig at you StephenStrange, just generally how these places are run.

Oh no offence taken, I completely agree. That's exactly how they are run, the bottom line is everything.