As always with local content on Back to the Movies we’ll review just about anything and today is no different as I bring you this Stoke City Matchday Hospitality review.
Treating a friend of mine to a pre-wedding present matchday experience would usually be no big deal but it was on a day when I was meant to be travelling away to follow my team, local rivals Port Vale.
With a deep breath and wearing my Vale shirt underneath my attire, I went to the Bet365 stadium to see Stoke take on local rivals Birmingham City.
Out of all the hospitality options at Stoke City the 1863 lounge is the only one I’ve done numerous times in the past. I used to take clients to games and go with friends numerous times when they were in the Premier League as it was miles cheaper than any other club in the premier league for a hospitality experience.
What you get with the 1863 package is your own car parking space, free programme, entry to the lounge 2 hours before kick-off and a lovely one-course buffet meal.
This is followed up with a cash bar, half and full-time refreshments and wonderful seats which you can upgrade to the halfway line for a small amount extra.
When Stoke City were in the Premier League such high tier games like Manchester United were priced at £160 per person. Now that Stoke is in the Championship the hospitality packages have come down in price with this particular fixture priced at £90 per person.
Thank god they got relegated or else that would have been yet another expensive day at the Bet365!
The 1863 lounge is a smaller lounge which I like. Fewer crowds, wonderful service and a cosy atmosphere whereas the Tony Waddington Suite has always been a bit too chaotic for me and nowhere near as relaxing and you’re paying more for the pleasure plus a three-course meal.
A pre-match team talk with an ex Stoke player and live football on the TV’s around us meant the time flew by!
The food menu is now scanned through a QR code on your phone and table service is provided for the drinks in this new post-covid method.
Masks are required to be worn at all times within the stadium but it’s a small sacrifice for an experience that really is no different than its pre-pandemic operations.
The bacon loin I had was nothing short of wonderful, a lovely homemade feel to it and a lovely taste although portions sizes are a lot to be desired, I was still hungry after it!
The portion sizes were a theme of the day as at half time we were served a small cup of nuts and nibbles and at full time were tiny little steak and ale pies and I mean tiny…
Portion sizes have always been stingy at Stoke City and it doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon.
Other than that little niggle the experience is absolutely wonderful, with great views of the game and a great place to chill out before the game, during halftime for a quick drink and then for an hour after full time to relax for a bit.
It certainly is much more appreciated when the weather is awful outside and you’re safe knowing you have a nice warm lounge to go back into to chill out.
The matchday hospitality experience at the Bet365 stadium gives you such a lovely, relaxing experience.
I highly recommend it and with the prices now even lower than they were before you’ll certainly not regret this hospitality experience!
Check out my vlog of the entire experience below:
