I have heard horror stories from one unit where PAYD has been introduced - apparently communal kitchenettes and similar cooking facilities have been removed at the behest of the contractor, and moves are afoot to ban livers-in from having microwaves in their rooms. If true, this is nothing short of an abuse, although I must say I'm not entirely surprised. It's not the first time the heirarchy have sold us down the river to cover up an abject f**k-up.
My advice - should this not be stopped in its tracks as it should be - would be a complete boycott of ANYTHING run by these contractors. They will probably get away with destroying our long traditional methods of dining, since there are always other options and they will soon get the message when the dining rooms of messes up and down the country empty out.
HOWEVER - a word of warning to anybody involved in administering this fiasco- If you attempt to f**k with Sqn bars, YOU WILL HAVE A !!!!!STORM ON YOUR HANDS.
Having said that, they can always go underground and be stocked with duty free, or by other commercial methods.
Remember, contractors, your profits will be in our hands. WE are your ONLY customers - its not as if you can put signs up outside camp and attract more in. Piss us off, and you will be out of business. If you raise bar prices, we will simply bring our own booze into the bar from other sources and drink it under your noses, and there will be NOTHING you can do about it - it is NOT a pub that you can run as you see fit, it is OUR bar, regardless of who runs it - it belongs to the mess members, and always will.
Think about that before you bid for contracts.
16B