:( Venue worries.....

neneromanova

Well I had my hopes up for a venue. It looks prefect. Take a look for yourself:

http://www.sandycove-hotel.co.uk/

Then I read a review that has got me down. Well many reviews, but this was the only wedding related one on this page:

http://www.travel-library.com/hotels/europe/uk/england/ilfracombe/sandy_cove_hotel.html

We booked the Sandy Cove Hotel back in July 2006 as the venue for our Wedding and Reception. At the time of booking we spoke to a manager who was very helpful, made us feel that this was the best place for our wedding and that the hotel could cater comfortably for all our needs (which were pretty basic). We only had a small wedding party and had booked the hotel for the wedding breakfast and also the evening reception (held within the dining room), as suggested at the time of booking as the wedding party was only small. As our wedding is in September 2007 we thought all plans were fine and were looking forward to confirming arrangements for colours, room bookings etc. On meeting with the hotel again, and with another member of staff, we sat down to discuss the finer details and go over the original arrangements. 1. They had NO idea that we required the ceremony to be held at the hotel - although all this was booked, written down by the very helpful gentleman we met and agreed back nearly a year ago. 2. They wanted us to now move to the marquee although we had arranged to have the main hotel at the time of booking and were even suggested this due to the party number. 3. We would have to arrange a DJ although we agreed to use the DJ in house. 4. And almost worst of all - Room Bookings! A hotel that doesn't want to book out rooms! As they have 'offers' on over the weekend of our wedding they were 'un-able now' to take bookings of less than 3 days (at obviously an increased cost) for this weekend. We were advised 9 rooms would be allocated and discounted to the wedding party - but NO more! We could have just 6, although 5 of those rooms had already been booked by some of our family. No negotiations were to be done on this we were promptly told. Not our fault that, as in her words "Weddings are not our main revenue" - why on earth do they do them then!!!! 5. On explaining that my father-in-law to be was making our wedding cake and would like to set this up before the ceremony, this seemed to pose a problem. We understood that maybe an early start with setting up the cake would prove difficult for them that we could pick a time a little later on the morning of the wedding so the my father in law could set up (without any assistance required) the cake. I have not been spoken to in such a rude and un-professional fashion probably ever! As the member of staff went to check what could be done with the timings for setting up the cake etc with the Hotel manager, we waited in reception, and he stormed out, and proceeded to bellow across the front desk and 4 customers checking in "That we cannot set up the cake before 12:00 if you're lucky!" (Wedding ceremony at 1:00pm!) - Such anger and aggression! On a more serious note, I personally was very upset by the whole ordeal. We had booked everything around the Sandy Cove Hotel as our location, String Quartet, Singer, Photographer let alone bookings already in place for the rooms, and our whole planned day just torn apart by incompetence, rudeness and NO customer service - even for prior bookings and worst of all very special occasions like....well....WEDDINGS! Thankfully, we now no what good customer service feels like, after much searching due to the late notice we have managed to re-book with a hotel in Lynmouth that has the up most of customer care. Please do not risk your day and happiness by considering booking here for your special occasions. They cannot cater, they are not willing to cater and provide you with the service level you would expect. You have been warned - please don't feel the disappointment and stress we have had to endure, especially for the most important plans you may ever make. Kind regards, M & M

What would you do?

Stephb1986_2

Have you already booked the venue and seen it for yourself?

Steph xx

neneromanova

no we haven't been and seen it yet, they seem reluctant to respond to emails. But what I want to know, is if you saw that review, would you bother even going to look at the venue or just go else where?

I've checked trip advisor and there are soooooo many bad reviews on the just hotel and people staying a couple of nights. Not to mention that a couple called the food mass produced....

Stephb1986_2

I wouldn't bother going then in that case, I set my heart on one place then read the reviews most were good apart from one where a guest got sprayed by excrement so I've not even bothered going looking.

I've now found somewhere else that looks totally stunning and the reviews are fantastic it just depends on the price tag.

Steph xx

bigmomma051204

I would try to find out the name of the hotel in Lynmouth with the "utmost customer care!!!!"

Certainly wouldnt go there - especially if they arent bothering to reply to you now...imagine what they will be like later on when you have paid and are stuck with them! :eek:

Look around the area - i used to hoilday (every year for 15years when i was a child!) in the Woolacombe area and its lovely round there! Keep looking!!!!

oooh - i used to REALLY want to stay here http://www.woolacombe-bay-hotel.co.uk/hotels/33/weddings.html when i was younger lol...but we were a caravanning family lol!

lindaatno9

neneromanova wrote: »

no we haven't been and seen it yet, they seem reluctant to respond to emails.

I think you should see this is a red flag.
Reviews are ok but of course you have to consider the person who gave the review and what their expectations were. Some people have very high ones and it won't matter what you do, it just won't be good enough.

Trust your instincts. Maybe have a look at the place for yourself.

frannyann

I would still look, that wedding was over two years ago plus its only one side of the story. We don't know if this couple ummm and errrr'd a bit meaning the venue didn't know what the couple wanted etc? Our venue has reviews from two years ago that are awful BUT it now has new management and totally refurbished. Just be prepared to walk away if you get any bad vibes, plus take that review and ask them if they can explain it, and listen to how they respond.

beks

From experience, trust your instincts! If they are reluctant to answer emails even at this stage, it would ring alarm bells with me.
We had problems from the day we confirmed our booking, then I checked out trip advisor and was astounded at the bad reviews (many wedding ones). We are now going through an entangled, lengthy (it seems it to me anyway!) court case to get our £5000 deposit back. Please do not make our mistake, do your homework and check it out thoroughly.

PS You wont lose anything by having a look but do not make a decision then and there. These may be a little better. Mixed reviews from what I can see but generally positive and the hotel has commented on a lot of the bad ones (ie people not telling them at the time they had a problem). Not found wedding ones yet though. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g191252-d564325-Reviews-Sandy_Cove_Hotel-Ilfracombe_Devon_England.html

frannyann

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g191252-d564325-r52678446-Sandy_Cove_Hotel-Ilfracombe_Devon_England.html#REVIEWS
Oh dear, not good reviews on Trip Advisor either

ETA, actually its about 50/50 good to bad!

bigmomma051204

this one in Lynmouth would have AMAZING views!! http://www.torshotellynmouth.co.uk/weddings.php

This is well pricey but looks lovely! (i am a tease lol!) http://www.pickwellmanor.co.uk/

I shall keep looking and adding lol!

This one is supposed to lovely....have had people i know stay there and say it was good! http://www.brend-hotels.co.uk/TheSauntonSands/Home.cfm (just down the coast from woolacombe - halfway between there are Barnstaple kind of lol!)

LOL - just looked at those three on trip advisor...not surprisingly the very pricey one (pickwell) is coming up with the best reviews.....i think the trouble is that MOST of the hotels come up with kind of "so-so" reviews because one mans hovel is another mans mansion etc etc!

This looks nice http://www.yeoldonhousehotel.co.uk/index.html somewhere near Bideford? BUT it has EXCELLENT reviews!!!!

OOh - another Lyton one...... http://www.hewittshotel.com/home.html (again, another with VERY good reviews!)

beks

frannyann wrote: »

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g191252-d564325-r52678446-Sandy_Cove_Hotel-Ilfracombe_Devon_England.html#REVIEWS
Oh dear, not good reviews on Trip Advisor either

ETA, actually its about 50/50 good to bad!

LOL! you were doing the same as me!