22 March 2011

New UC Refectory - a review

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I went to Dizzee Rascal at UC on the 4th of March, my first experience of the new UC refectory. It is huge, 2000+ capacity. Unfortunately forethought was lacking for this larger capacity venue as there were still only 5 toilets (so 1000 alcohol-drinking women to share 5 toilets). The queue took me 1 hour, two of these cubicles being occupied by the unwell at this time. There were no pass-outs, and staff were unwilling to let punters into other areas of the building to find bathrooms. The outdoor smoking balcony became an unofficial urinal for men.

I don’t want to go blaming toilets for youth drug culture but this situation does encourage the use of drugs, over alcohol, at music events.

My second qualm is that the bar staff closed up shop before Dizzee was over. Punters who had just spent an hour dancing, after a night of consuming dehydrating substances, were unable to buy water because the fridges were locked. The staff I encountered had plucked out 5 bottles of water. My friend bought one for $20. The bar person refused change because the till was counted. Anyone who came after those 5 exorbitantly priced bottles were sold went without, as we were quickly ushered out of the venue, no longer the refectory’s problem.

The new refectory is a big venue, bound to hold many future music events. They happily profit off the sale of alcohol, but don’t take care of their punters henceforth. All it woulda taken is a dozen port-o-loos tucked in the corner, and the provision of free water.

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I was also at the Dizzee concert and thought that it was run very well for their first major event in the new refectory.
I work at a bar casually, and I’m pretty sure that it’s a licencing rule to have a “dry period” at least half an hour before doors close. One would assume that keeping the tills open for the sale of water after the show was over would be pointless, especially seeing as there were free water stations set up where my friends and I got water from all night.
Regarding the toilet situation, the lines did suck but the staff did open toilets downstairs in the new bar area to help ease lines which I thought was very accommodating.
It’s good to see good quality live music brought to Canberra and I say keep them coming UC refectory.

http://www.worldwaterday.org/

http://www.canberra.edu.au/media-centre/2011/january/21-water

“The University’s newest eatery Café Globo will immediately go bottled water free. All other outlets will follow, with sales of bottled water from campus shops, cafes and vending machines to cease by 22 March 2011, which is World Water Day.”

johnboy said :

creative_canberran said :

Something a bit odd there. I was under the impression that water must be available where ever alcohol is being served in the ACT. And even if the bar decided to close early, one has to wonder why no vending machine was available with bottle water?

Possibly because the campus has banned bottled water?

Untrue, could buy it up until today still. It’s like water day or something so it only came in now.

Evidence from yesterday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phonakins/5546183056/

But I think they’re gone today. Not sure, only got here after hours, but sizzle cafe wasn’t selling water.

I’d much rather be at an event where people used party drugs over alcohol. (which funnily enough, is also a drug…)

creative_canberran2:33 pm 22 Mar 11

johnboy said :

creative_canberran said :

Something a bit odd there. I was under the impression that water must be available where ever alcohol is being served in the ACT. And even if the bar decided to close early, one has to wonder why no vending machine was available with bottle water?

Possibly because the campus has banned bottled water?

You’re quite right JB, I forgot they’d implemented that.
Wonder how long that will last before someone suffers injury from alcohol poisoning and couldn’t find water?

creative_canberran said :

Something a bit odd there. I was under the impression that water must be available where ever alcohol is being served in the ACT. And even if the bar decided to close early, one has to wonder why no vending machine was available with bottle water?

Possibly because the campus has banned bottled water?

Had a similar experience attending Dizzee. I question the 2000+ capacity, as it wasn’t at ‘capacity’
and the damn thing turned into a disgusting sauna. And all the girls we were with left with bruises…

Would some lighting be a little too much to ask for the smoking area? Or was it their intention to keep us in the dark?

Also, needed a little air, so I thought I’d just lean on the railing just before the smoking area.
‘NO!’ I was told ‘you can NOT stand here!’

I politely informed them I was not smoking, I was then told to go inside or feel free to leave.

Wont being going back

creative_canberran2:11 pm 22 Mar 11

Something a bit odd there. I was under the impression that water must be available where ever alcohol is being served in the ACT. And even if the bar decided to close early, one has to wonder why no vending machine was available with bottle water?

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