PAYD at Henlow, as previously mentioned, has been a disaster.
Poor quality, arguable quantity and appalling staff attitudes. Couple that with the mess being used by contractors, civil servants, families, SNCO's & officers who just want a sandwich and the courses that come through the unit, well, it doesn't make for enjoyable meal times.
But the biggest thing which I know has been touched on, is bar prices. ESS have been given the monopoly on bar prices and even opening times. Our bar, which has the largest attendance not only on the unit, but for our trade, in the RAF, has been restricted to 3 open nights a week. Proposed functions being drastically reduced so not to tread on ESS' toes (which has to be said only gets used once a week because no other bar is open)
I have heard the pro's & cons for PAYD and whilst the principles are favourable, the game plan needs to have a major shake up.
Please, don't be so quick to jump on the PAYD bandwagon, at least try and sample a unit with what it is at the moment, a poor substitute for armed forces messing.