Your view: catering at model and heritage railway events

Venues that insist on using their catering outlet - eg, O gauge Guild, Kempton Park, May 2023 - rip off prices, so went hungry

Best catering I have sampled recently has been: 1) MIOG show, Crewe, 2023 - Chilli con carne - great 2) Blandford exhibition 2022 - great variety of pasty's - even the vegetarian one was delicious!

Best: Exhibitors' breakfast at Warley National. Jusr what you need to set you up for a day's demonstrating.

Catering at exhibitions seems to revolve around sandwiches, pies, pizzas and cakes. As I have an allergy to gluten it is a more-or-less total wipe out for me so I have to bring my own food. Which means using a back-pack which I know many attendees (and exhibitions) do not like. Even crisps are iffy depending on the manufacturer and flavour. So I would like to see a more creative and imaginative food offering which can accommodate various food allergies.

By and large I find that food at Heritage Railway sites is far better in quality and value than at Model Railway Exhibitions and events. However the food and refreshments and facilities at many of even the larger modal railway exhibitions is poor and very much over priced. That is why when Hornby offer light refreshments at a couple of events this is so much highly appreciated. Will that change with the exodus (sadly) of SImon Kohler from Hornby. Did the new management learn nothing from the previous behaviour when SImon left last time ??? Back to food-going to the Heritage sites is all part of a day out and therefor the food/facilities are all part of the expenses of the day. However for exhibitions is it fair to then offer a third class service at top class prices to the captured customers ?