For the past few seasons a group of us, usually 6 or 7 have had a table in Reflections on every Saturday match and the odd other day it’s been open and made friends with lots of similar groups who were there every game. 

I even had the displeasure of meeting some not rights off here.

A package of 5 beers was around £27 and we all had food at around £10 a head, one of our group actually wrote the quizzes they did without any reward. We then went in after the match and had a couple of beers each.

The club have now decided that it will be part of the new hospitality packages being offered for next season at £109 plus VAT for Cat A games and £99 plus VAT for Cat B games.

I know that they need to raise as much income as possible but why when they  are struggling to sell even LoV packages do they have to do this? We will now spend our match money away from the club in eateries on Middlebrook.

At first it was great value and a good set up. I enjoyed the craic. But the value went. I got priced out of this 2 seasons ago. The original clientele were just average fans who wanted to enjoy something a little different. Now they seem to be chasing the coin and pricing scummers like me out. It's no great loss for me. But it is a shame. 

Edited July 3, 2025Jul 3 by Underpants

Disagree. They are charging what they believe folk will pay. 
 

I also think there is a problem with Bolton fans where if it’s more than £2 a pint they get grumpy. It’s 2025 not 1980. Shit is expensive 

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

On a personal level, I’m sure this is frustrating. However, from a purely commercial perspective, I’m delighted to see the club expanding and increasing revenue opportunities.

Now, if only we could do something with North Stand facilities. I’ve wondered if Sharon, with her involvement, has considered a Bolton Miranda school. We’ve tried a school previously but Sharon already has considerable involvement with, arguably, the most successful school in the country.

it could also double as an educational vehicle for our school-age academy scholars, as we look to rebuild our youth structure.

Perhaps a separate thread?

What the chuff is a miranda school?

4 minutes ago, Big E said:

Disagree. They are charging what they believe folk will pay. 
 

I also think there is a problem with Bolton fans where if it’s more than £2 a pint they get grumpy. It’s 2025 not 1980. Shit is expensive 

OK. Let's have season tickets at £900. Some folk will pay that. But I doubt many who use to pay £300 would.

21 minutes ago, Big E said:

Disagree. They are charging what they believe folk will pay. 
 

I also think there is a problem with Bolton fans where if it’s more than £2 a pint they get grumpy. It’s 2025 not 1980. Shit is expensive 

£130 plus drinks to watch Division 3 football. I don’t know many who will pay it.

18 minutes ago, Big E said:

Disagree. They are charging what they believe folk will pay. 
 

I also think there is a problem with Bolton fans where if it’s more than £2 a pint they get grumpy. It’s 2025 not 1980. Shit is expensive 

Beer prices went up 3 times last season, £6 + a pint , league one football. Also even more ridiculous £5.50 for non alcoholic beer 

 

13 minutes ago, Underpants said:

OK. Let's have season tickets at £900. Some folk will pay that. But I doubt many who use to pay £300 would.

They don’t believe folk will pay that. That’s why they don’t. They believe people will pay for big games. That’s why they are charging it 

3 minutes ago, victor meldrew said:

Beer prices went up 3 times last season, £6 + a pint , league one football. Also even more ridiculous £5.50 for non alcoholic beer 

 

£6 in a sporting arena is not that bad. 
 

This is professional football not dog n duck 

4 minutes ago, freds dad said:

£130 plus drinks to watch Division 3 football. I don’t know many who will pay it.

That’s because you don’t move in circles of people who are any different to yourself. I know folk who will and folk who won’t. 
 

again if they did not think people would pay it they wouldn’t charge it. 
 

LOV is expensive but fills regularly. 
 

It’s £130 due to it being division 3. Your heads gonna fall off if we get the prem again

For clarity @freds dad I just have a season ticket and pay monthly. I found LOV became not value for money for myself and I prefer annoying @tomski

I've only done reflections once I think and I thought it was shit and busy. I was amazed folk pay for bottles when they could have nice draft on middlebrook for not much more.

ironically the rising cost of food and drink was the reason we originally did LOV

Edited July 3, 2025Jul 3 by Big E

Just now, Big E said:

They don’t believe folk will pay that. That’s why they don’t. They believe people will pay for big games. That’s why they are charging it 

Sorry but you did said they will charge what folk will pay. You didn't specify how many had to pay. Some will fork out, not many but they will. Balls to them that use to but now won't/can't. This is what's happening in Reflections.

I'm sounding like a raving socialist and that worries my.

10 minutes ago, Underpants said:

Sorry but you did said they will charge what folk will pay. You didn't specify how many had to pay. Some will fork out, not many but they will. Balls to them that use to but now won't/can't. This is what's happening in Reflections.

I'm sounding like a raving socialist and that worries my.

It will sell out more than it doesn’t. Our corporate is very busy. 

2 hours ago, Zico said:

 

The Nam Ploy £10 meal deal in fan zone is worth every penny

 

2 hours ago, tomski said:

Yep. Very good food.

Just a shame you have to use the Fanzone to get it.

Queue to get in FZ, another queue for beers and food, loads of feral kids running about and the weather is invariably shit.

No, thanks.

2 minutes ago, Big E said:

It will sell out more than it doesn’t. Our corporate is very busy. 

Corporate was always aimed at that demographic. Reflections wasn't. 

At first it was pleasant and seemed good value. But the value has gradually faded over the past few seasons. It's a shame but this cow can only be milked so much.

7 hours ago, Big E said:

That’s because you don’t move in circles of people who are any different to yourself. I know folk who will and folk who won’t. 
 

again if they did not think people would pay it they wouldn’t charge it. 
 

LOV is expensive but fills regularly. 
 

It’s £130 due to it being division 3. Your heads gonna fall off if we get the prem again

Remember when we were a Community Club ? 
Once again that goes out of the window when £££s are on the line. 
 

I get we are a business but fuck me £130 is hardly aiming at your typical fan is it ? Is any thought given to the fans that get bumped for this ? 
 

 

12 minutes ago, Ani said:

Remember when we were a Community Club ? 
Once again that goes out of the window when £££s are on the line. 
 

I get we are a business but fuck me £130 is hardly aiming at your typical fan is it ? Is any thought given to the fans that get bumped for this ? 
 

 

The corporate packages seem to sell out most weeks. Does suggest they need/want to create some more room. 

It’s hardly pricing out the fan. You just go and sit down somewhere else for a few beers before like the rest of us.
 

7 hours ago, Traf said:

 

Just a shame you have to use the Fanzone to get it.

Queue to get in FZ, another queue for beers and food, loads of feral kids running about and the weather is invariably shit.

No, thanks.

TBF, I only ever tend to get there around 2.15-2.30 

Never had to queue to get in

Never waited long for a beer 

Never bothered unless the weather is decent

Kids are all playing football on the little pitch bit out the way

1 hour ago, Ani said:

Remember when we were a Community Club ? 
Once again that goes out of the window when £££s are on the line. 
 

I get we are a business but fuck me £130 is hardly aiming at your typical fan is it ? Is any thought given to the fans that get bumped for this ? 
 

 

All very dramatic this. It is not every week. It is aimed at the games that sell out everywhere where they need more corporate space.

we are still a family and community club.  This is just another stick folk can use to beat the club with. Folk want a sustainable club that doesn’t end up in a place we were in a few years ago. That cost.

Atherton colls corporate (yes it includes beer) is £50 is. And that’s to watch absolute shite. 

7 hours ago, Underpants said:

Corporate was always aimed at that demographic. Reflections wasn't. 

At first it was pleasant and seemed good value. But the value has gradually faded over the past few seasons. It's a shame but this cow can only be milked so much.

Reflections was always a way of getting the hotel busy again and to make more money. 
 

maybe the club should see if they can get £2 cans on the go so people don’t get upset they are being priced out. Maybe run the club at a huge loss just so folk can sit somewhere nice for fuck all

Fanzone needs to be expanded and developed so the weather found in horwich doesn’t make it a shit evening 

Dunno seems cheap to me, what they were offering before is nuts in terms of pricing.

Boringly my days now are mostly sent revenue managing seat inventory because why spend on marketing when adjusting the prices can bring you in more more for less spend.

Without seeing the numbers I'd still be looking to price a package like that for 130 - 150 and you'd still wouldnt see a huge drop off in numbers given what the package includes.

You don't see it the drop off in pricing VIP packages - they normally sell first anyway.

Reflections is 100 seats according to the hotel website.

If corporate income and higher beer prices are being used to continue underwriting our ridiculously cheap season tickets then I’m all for it

2 hours ago, Big E said:

All very dramatic this. It is not every week. It is aimed at the games that sell out everywhere where they need more corporate space.

we are still a family and community club.  This is just another stick folk can use to beat the club with. Folk want a sustainable club that doesn’t end up in a place we were in a few years ago. That cost.

Atherton colls corporate (yes it includes beer) is £50 is. And that’s to watch absolute shite. 

Dramatic ?? Another stick to beat the club with ?? You are the drama queen my little scouse friend 😂😂

You should join the Supporters Trust 🤑😜🤪

1 hour ago, Big E said:

Reflections was always a way of getting the hotel busy again and to make more money. 
 

maybe the club should see if they can get £2 cans on the go so people don’t get upset they are being priced out. Maybe run the club at a huge loss just so folk can sit somewhere nice for fuck all

It's not about making a loss just to keep people happy. Fans are being squeezed out for the ones with bigger wallets and for me the value has diminished.

Pricing stuff for events is a fine line. But the need to make more coin has replaced the opportunity to give some fans a comfortable and affordable experience pre-kickoff. Having said that I suppose that's what the FZ is for. But imagine if the pricing policy changed for that. 

I'm of the age when BWFC had something similar at Burnden Park in the 70s. I think it was an official supporters club on site pre-match. That was popular with the pint of stout and the woodbine smoker fan. But then they changed the name of the place to the Executive Club. And the punters changed to a gin & tonic and the cigar smokers crowd.