West Meon Hut - Caffeine & Machine
Discussion
I've been a few times now, and my take overall take is -
(1) The service is very confusing, and average.
(2) The food is fairly good and fairly good value
(3) It is worth going every so often if you just want to look at a few cars or (much more so) if there is an event that appeals and you live close.
Anyway, the reason that I searched for this thread... to me all the themed nights and weekends make a lot of sense... but what is going on with their events now?
"Caffeine&Machine: Toyota and Lexus - The Hut. Your tribe brings the vibe." Makes sense, but surely they could type out a few more sentences to try to encourage people to come! And do they make the effort to try to post on forums, contact car clubs etc to encourage people to come, which then encourages others to come because they know they'll see loads of great cars.
But the real issue...
"Caffeine&Machine: BOX! BOX! BOX! - The Hut. The leisurely pit-stop; Don’t rush things, come and take a break and let us get you ready to head back out into the Race. See you there and don’t forget your speed limiter." What the hell is this supposed to be other than "we hope a few nice cars turn up"?
"Caffeine&Machine: BMX - The Hut. We firmly believe that the car scene, BMX, Skate and Extreme sports scenes are inextricably linked." What the hell is this supposed to be? I presume they're not installing a skate park for the evening, so who the F are they targetting, and what might I expect to see if I turn up? I happen to like BMX a lot, but sorry, C and M, this is just not appealing, it gives me no reason to turn up!
(1) The service is very confusing, and average.
(2) The food is fairly good and fairly good value
(3) It is worth going every so often if you just want to look at a few cars or (much more so) if there is an event that appeals and you live close.
Anyway, the reason that I searched for this thread... to me all the themed nights and weekends make a lot of sense... but what is going on with their events now?
"Caffeine&Machine: Toyota and Lexus - The Hut. Your tribe brings the vibe." Makes sense, but surely they could type out a few more sentences to try to encourage people to come! And do they make the effort to try to post on forums, contact car clubs etc to encourage people to come, which then encourages others to come because they know they'll see loads of great cars.
But the real issue...
"Caffeine&Machine: BOX! BOX! BOX! - The Hut. The leisurely pit-stop; Don’t rush things, come and take a break and let us get you ready to head back out into the Race. See you there and don’t forget your speed limiter." What the hell is this supposed to be other than "we hope a few nice cars turn up"?
"Caffeine&Machine: BMX - The Hut. We firmly believe that the car scene, BMX, Skate and Extreme sports scenes are inextricably linked." What the hell is this supposed to be? I presume they're not installing a skate park for the evening, so who the F are they targetting, and what might I expect to see if I turn up? I happen to like BMX a lot, but sorry, C and M, this is just not appealing, it gives me no reason to turn up!
Fred Smith said:
I've been a few times now, and my take overall take is -
(1) The service is very confusing, and average.
(2) The food is fairly good and fairly good value
(3) It is worth going every so often if you just want to look at a few cars or (much more so) if there is an event that appeals and you live close.
Anyway, the reason that I searched for this thread... to me all the themed nights and weekends make a lot of sense... but what is going on with their events now?
"Caffeine&Machine: Toyota and Lexus - The Hut. Your tribe brings the vibe." Makes sense, but surely they could type out a few more sentences to try to encourage people to come! And do they make the effort to try to post on forums, contact car clubs etc to encourage people to come, which then encourages others to come because they know they'll see loads of great cars.
But the real issue...
"Caffeine&Machine: BOX! BOX! BOX! - The Hut. The leisurely pit-stop; Don t rush things, come and take a break and let us get you ready to head back out into the Race. See you there and don t forget your speed limiter." What the hell is this supposed to be other than "we hope a few nice cars turn up"?
"Caffeine&Machine: BMX - The Hut. We firmly believe that the car scene, BMX, Skate and Extreme sports scenes are inextricably linked." What the hell is this supposed to be? I presume they're not installing a skate park for the evening, so who the F are they targetting, and what might I expect to see if I turn up? I happen to like BMX a lot, but sorry, C and M, this is just not appealing, it gives me no reason to turn up!
I would probably go to a BMX based meet if there were a lot of them on show. I live fairly close and ride to Loomies a lot on my motorbike. I haven’t bothered following what’s on there though.(1) The service is very confusing, and average.
(2) The food is fairly good and fairly good value
(3) It is worth going every so often if you just want to look at a few cars or (much more so) if there is an event that appeals and you live close.
Anyway, the reason that I searched for this thread... to me all the themed nights and weekends make a lot of sense... but what is going on with their events now?
"Caffeine&Machine: Toyota and Lexus - The Hut. Your tribe brings the vibe." Makes sense, but surely they could type out a few more sentences to try to encourage people to come! And do they make the effort to try to post on forums, contact car clubs etc to encourage people to come, which then encourages others to come because they know they'll see loads of great cars.
But the real issue...
"Caffeine&Machine: BOX! BOX! BOX! - The Hut. The leisurely pit-stop; Don t rush things, come and take a break and let us get you ready to head back out into the Race. See you there and don t forget your speed limiter." What the hell is this supposed to be other than "we hope a few nice cars turn up"?
"Caffeine&Machine: BMX - The Hut. We firmly believe that the car scene, BMX, Skate and Extreme sports scenes are inextricably linked." What the hell is this supposed to be? I presume they're not installing a skate park for the evening, so who the F are they targetting, and what might I expect to see if I turn up? I happen to like BMX a lot, but sorry, C and M, this is just not appealing, it gives me no reason to turn up!
If you want great food and brilliant service pop a bit further up the road to The Milbury pub and say hello to my mate Clive who owns it after going to C and M
It is always free if you park in the nearby layby and walk down. Not sure about other days but easy enoguh to look!
Assuming you're planning on buying a pint then surely the cost of attending is £5 or £10 (at most, but also less the cost of a pint, making it £0 to £5 dependent on the night). If you're eating then it's free.
To me it is nothing special... but if you have a few hours to kill, and you want to eat out, then paying a tenner to park, seeing some cool cars, and getting your money back as a discount off the food is a fair deal! I can't see myself ever becoming a regular, but every so often I'm up for turning up and having a look... especially if the night relates to BMWs, Japan, 4WD or anything unusual.
Assuming you're planning on buying a pint then surely the cost of attending is £5 or £10 (at most, but also less the cost of a pint, making it £0 to £5 dependent on the night). If you're eating then it's free.
To me it is nothing special... but if you have a few hours to kill, and you want to eat out, then paying a tenner to park, seeing some cool cars, and getting your money back as a discount off the food is a fair deal! I can't see myself ever becoming a regular, but every so often I'm up for turning up and having a look... especially if the night relates to BMWs, Japan, 4WD or anything unusual.
BIRMA said:
Is it still free during the day Monday to Friday? Being a tight old git I don't wish to pay.
It is yes. It's pot luck as to whether there is anything going on/interesting cars there to look at though. Couple of times I've stopped in the day it has been dead. Get the impression it's no where near as busy as the original venue.I’ve been a few times, 2-3 years ago, at the weekend, and there were always interesting cars at the weekend.
Been a couple times since but it’s lost the original appeal to me now. As mentioned by someone above, the themed nights are incredibly random and in all honestly, just sound sh!t. I’d rather they don’t have a themed night so that all interesting cars turn up. They honestly put me off going.
They ran a rally themed day once (last year I think), so when I had my classic JDM and very rare Impreza, I thought this would be perfect and expected to also see some very interesting stuff. But nah, no unique/specialist car clubs were there other than a bunch of sh!tbox Audis on the main grounds. Was very disappointed after that.
If they’re going to run themed events, they should do them less often, but market them harder. Get in touch with specialist clubs. Put on a real show.
Been a couple times since but it’s lost the original appeal to me now. As mentioned by someone above, the themed nights are incredibly random and in all honestly, just sound sh!t. I’d rather they don’t have a themed night so that all interesting cars turn up. They honestly put me off going.
They ran a rally themed day once (last year I think), so when I had my classic JDM and very rare Impreza, I thought this would be perfect and expected to also see some very interesting stuff. But nah, no unique/specialist car clubs were there other than a bunch of sh!tbox Audis on the main grounds. Was very disappointed after that.
If they’re going to run themed events, they should do them less often, but market them harder. Get in touch with specialist clubs. Put on a real show.
John D. said:
It is yes. It's pot luck as to whether there is anything going on/interesting cars there to look at though. Couple of times I've stopped in the day it has been dead. Get the impression it's no where near as busy as the original venue.
I have only ever been on nights where I have made the effort because I'm interested... but to be fair my last visit was pretty typical - German night, a few fairly modern Porsches (nice enough to glance at but don't really interest me and not exactly unique), a few modern BMW Ms... the most interesting bit of the evening was chatting to a young mechanic about his battered up 20 year old 325i. Prohibiting said:
I ve been a few times, 2-3 years ago, at the weekend, and there were always interesting cars at the weekend.
Been a couple times since but it s lost the original appeal to me now. As mentioned by someone above, the themed nights are incredibly random and in all honestly, just sound sh!t. I d rather they don t have a themed night so that all interesting cars turn up. They honestly put me off going.
They ran a rally themed day once (last year I think), so when I had my classic JDM and very rare Impreza, I thought this would be perfect and expected to also see some very interesting stuff. But nah, no unique/specialist car clubs were there other than a bunch of sh!tbox Audis on the main grounds. Was very disappointed after that.
If they re going to run themed events, they should do them less often, but market them harder. Get in touch with specialist clubs. Put on a real show.
I think that last paragraph is spot on.Been a couple times since but it s lost the original appeal to me now. As mentioned by someone above, the themed nights are incredibly random and in all honestly, just sound sh!t. I d rather they don t have a themed night so that all interesting cars turn up. They honestly put me off going.
They ran a rally themed day once (last year I think), so when I had my classic JDM and very rare Impreza, I thought this would be perfect and expected to also see some very interesting stuff. But nah, no unique/specialist car clubs were there other than a bunch of sh!tbox Audis on the main grounds. Was very disappointed after that.
If they re going to run themed events, they should do them less often, but market them harder. Get in touch with specialist clubs. Put on a real show.
I think that maybe they should try to have a theme every single night, but also make it more clear that everyone is welcome, and in particualr all interesting cars are always very welcome. Try to make it so that there might be someothing for everyone every night, but that there is also a special reason to travel if the theme appeals to you.
But yeah, try to make some theme nights much more special by really trying to make the effort to work with car clubs etc.
The whole place is so badly organised though that even the theme nights are pointless. I went on a Porsche night recently, but ended up having to take my X5 instead, but still ended up parked in the main display bit outside the pub. Why wasn’t I parked elsewhere?
If you’re not going to split vehicles into different areas based on the theme then it’s not a themed night.
Plus the drinks are over priced by quite a lot.
If you’re not going to split vehicles into different areas based on the theme then it’s not a themed night.
Plus the drinks are over priced by quite a lot.
ThunderSpook said:
The whole place is so badly organised though that even the theme nights are pointless. I went on a Porsche night recently, but ended up having to take my X5 instead, but still ended up parked in the main display bit outside the pub. Why wasn t I parked elsewhere?
If you re not going to split vehicles into different areas based on the theme then it s not a themed night.
Plus the drinks are over priced by quite a lot.
That doesn't bother me (but would if I turned up in a Porsche, and had to park in the lower car park to make way for beemers in the top one!)If you re not going to split vehicles into different areas based on the theme then it s not a themed night.
Plus the drinks are over priced by quite a lot.
I'm pretty sure they run the top carpark on a first come basis. Because it becomes elitest otherwise. But I do agree on marque specific nights they should use it.
I went to the last Peugeot night although I was in the fury as mine wasn't running. There was my mates 30th edition and a 105. It was just Porsches
which they put my fury in the middle off.
The last Peugeot night we went to was really good lots of cars .and Ive Been on a honda night to the whole place full as in the entire field as well just like the pub club days.
It's really hit and miss. As a group of mates we've been loads . And sometimes it's just us other times it's packed out.
I'm normally in the fury so it's not like we go in bad weather
On the whole I still think it's great. And you get your full ticket price back at the bar if you book online now.
I went to the last Peugeot night although I was in the fury as mine wasn't running. There was my mates 30th edition and a 105. It was just Porsches
which they put my fury in the middle off. The last Peugeot night we went to was really good lots of cars .and Ive Been on a honda night to the whole place full as in the entire field as well just like the pub club days.
It's really hit and miss. As a group of mates we've been loads . And sometimes it's just us other times it's packed out.
I'm normally in the fury so it's not like we go in bad weather
On the whole I still think it's great. And you get your full ticket price back at the bar if you book online now.
Zephyr Speedshop said:
I'm pretty sure they run the top carpark on a first come basis. Because it becomes elitest otherwise. But I do agree on marque specific nights they should use it.
If there’s a theme they try to use the tip car park to reflect that, quite often badly though. I popped in yesterday midday 3 cars there and a few bikes. Food is consistently good and now it’s clearly table service (I’m amazed it’s taken them this long to figure it out). But it still just lacks over the original and I don’t have any urge to head there unless passing.
I was going to pop along to the hut on Monday but what with motorway closures and general madness on the roads we decided to drive to the Hill instead and it was in a word ...awful, the drinks took almost an hour to arrive and the food the same and what they had on the menu (They had no chicken or fresh stuff like salad) wasnt edible . This was a quiet Monday lunchtime
FYI the ticket policy here has changed recently.
The website is fairly indecipherable but from what I understand:
No ticket needed mid week, but they'll still let you buy one (why?)
Tickets needed 10-5 on weekends
Before you got 50% of the price back, now you get 100% of it back. So the ticket is merely to ensure you get a space and doesn't cost anything.
I have become fascinated by this place. It's a combination of a sense of vested interest as a local car person, and that it seems so blindingly obvious what the problems are. I have been quite a few times so am positive that my experience is not a one off.
The food service is terrible. Takes ages, half the order comes, and once done you're sat looking at dirty plates for 20 mins while trying to flag someone down to pay. Every single time this has happened. The staff need to be trained and given roles to do. Have sections, have bus boys. They could run the place perfectly with 4 experienced staff, instead they have 12 teenagers looking completely baffled.
Ordering is bizarre too. Is it a bar, is it not, where do I order food, at a table? The app? Or at the bar?
Ticket system and the supposed 'events'. I pay £10 for a theme night, show up to a near-empty car park with no detectable theme, and wait 15 mins for a coffee.
I feel like I'm in an abusive relationship. I give it chance after chance and every time I leave feeling let down.
If it was good I'd go there all the time!
The website is fairly indecipherable but from what I understand:
No ticket needed mid week, but they'll still let you buy one (why?)
Tickets needed 10-5 on weekends
Before you got 50% of the price back, now you get 100% of it back. So the ticket is merely to ensure you get a space and doesn't cost anything.
I have become fascinated by this place. It's a combination of a sense of vested interest as a local car person, and that it seems so blindingly obvious what the problems are. I have been quite a few times so am positive that my experience is not a one off.
The food service is terrible. Takes ages, half the order comes, and once done you're sat looking at dirty plates for 20 mins while trying to flag someone down to pay. Every single time this has happened. The staff need to be trained and given roles to do. Have sections, have bus boys. They could run the place perfectly with 4 experienced staff, instead they have 12 teenagers looking completely baffled.
Ordering is bizarre too. Is it a bar, is it not, where do I order food, at a table? The app? Or at the bar?
Ticket system and the supposed 'events'. I pay £10 for a theme night, show up to a near-empty car park with no detectable theme, and wait 15 mins for a coffee.
I feel like I'm in an abusive relationship. I give it chance after chance and every time I leave feeling let down.
If it was good I'd go there all the time!
Edited by Monsterwunsch on Sunday 17th August 17:34
Monsterwunsch said:
FYI the ticket policy here has changed recently.
The website is fairly indecipherable but from what I understand:
No ticket needed mid week, but they'll still let you buy one (why?)
Tickets needed 10-5 on weekends
Before you got 50% of the price back, now you get 100% of it back. So the ticket is merely to ensure you get a space and doesn't cost anything.
I have become fascinated by this place. It's a combination of a sense of vested interest as a local car person, and that it seems so blindingly obvious what the problems are. I have been quite a few times so am positive that my experience is not a one off.
The food service is terrible. Takes ages, half the order comes, and once done you're sat looking at dirty plates for 20 mins while trying to flag someone down to pay. Every single time this has happened. The staff need to be trained and given roles to do. Have sections, have bus boys. They could run the place perfectly with 4 experienced staff, instead they have 12 teenagers looking completely baffled.
Ordering is bizarre too. Is it a bar, is it not, where do I order food, at a table? The app? Or at the bar?
Ticket system and the supposed 'events'. I pay £10 for a theme night, show up to a near-empty car park with no detectable theme, and wait 15 mins for a coffee.
I feel like I'm in an abusive relationship. I give it chance after chance and every time I leave feeling let down.
If it was good I'd go there all the time!
Pretty much agree with all of the above. I can't really see how it can survive as it is, either. Granted, I usually go on a weekday evening or maybe a Friday, but it always seems pretty dead.The website is fairly indecipherable but from what I understand:
No ticket needed mid week, but they'll still let you buy one (why?)
Tickets needed 10-5 on weekends
Before you got 50% of the price back, now you get 100% of it back. So the ticket is merely to ensure you get a space and doesn't cost anything.
I have become fascinated by this place. It's a combination of a sense of vested interest as a local car person, and that it seems so blindingly obvious what the problems are. I have been quite a few times so am positive that my experience is not a one off.
The food service is terrible. Takes ages, half the order comes, and once done you're sat looking at dirty plates for 20 mins while trying to flag someone down to pay. Every single time this has happened. The staff need to be trained and given roles to do. Have sections, have bus boys. They could run the place perfectly with 4 experienced staff, instead they have 12 teenagers looking completely baffled.
Ordering is bizarre too. Is it a bar, is it not, where do I order food, at a table? The app? Or at the bar?
Ticket system and the supposed 'events'. I pay £10 for a theme night, show up to a near-empty car park with no detectable theme, and wait 15 mins for a coffee.
I feel like I'm in an abusive relationship. I give it chance after chance and every time I leave feeling let down.
If it was good I'd go there all the time!
Edited by Monsterwunsch on Sunday 17th August 17:34
I've tried BMW, Ford, Mercedes, Mercedes vs Audi and it's all been pretty quiet.
Glad the tickets are 100% off now, which means you can just have a drink for "nothing" and not waste money if a ticket is not needed. But the last time I went in with £10 credit (it's sometimes £5 and sometimes £10?) and wanted a Coffee and Cake, they didn't have any, and I'm not sure I've seen any since, which is a shame.
I’ve been to the Hampshire one a couple of times on the way back from Goodwood, but it was pretty dead and uninspiring. My more local one charges over £20 for a mediocre and warm burger and chips and I still had to wait 45mins+ the last few times I’ve tried.
I like the concept, I just don’t get much value from the whole experience. Third parties running the food and drink would deliver a better experience but can see C&M would be reluctant to relinquish the margins.
I like the concept, I just don’t get much value from the whole experience. Third parties running the food and drink would deliver a better experience but can see C&M would be reluctant to relinquish the margins.
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