Daniella Quach
11/09/2024
Hired the marquee - greens area in September for a first birthday party. The staff, service and running of the day was quite stressful and holding an event at home or at another venue would've been better.
Pros:
- Did the buffet option plus extra 10 platters of food - food was quite good! Better than bistro food. The chef had been accommodating with menu alterations and transparent with costs. I prepaid for the food, hire fee and bar man in full prior to the event.
- It's a great space for events with lots of space for kids to run around.
CONS:
- When I arrived to the venue, the tables were not set up as discussed. The supervisor working did make a comment that I had signed off on the event sheet. There was obviously some sort of miscommunication between the event coordinator, who I initially contacted in April, met in August and emailed/phoned up until the event, and the supervisor on the day. We needed less tables as soft play was being installed. I offered help as some family and guests had arrived, but the manager's concern was that it's not what was on the a4 event sheet. He questioned who I had spoken to and when I discussed these table arrangements. He made a comment that he didn't have staff to move tables (even though we're meant to have 2 staff at the event).
Not a great start to the beginning of the party and not everything was set up and ready, which I was fine with.
I had to prompt the supervisor that I had paid for a barman for the event - once again, he seemed unaware of this.
- food came out later than discussed - which I was fine with. However, MULTIPLE TIMES, we had to request more plates and more cutlery. They were very slow with these requests. It's not appropriate for there to be trays of buffet food on display but no utensils or plates for guests to actually eat this food. In the end, they refused to bring out more cutlery and food was wasted.
- I requested a cake knife and more knives for the buffet. Was told there were no more knives (menu was roast chicken and beef so guests were unable to cut up their meat....). The guests were not able to finish the food available without cutlery and plates..
- as discussed with the event coordinator, the cake would be cut up by the venue's staff and plates and spoons provided. When requested on the day, they were unable to cut the cake "ran out of saucers as they had a function that night". They were able to provide serviettes for $500 birthday cake though. Later on, a different supervisor approached and said he could get someone to cut up the cake with a fee (we had already started cutting up the cake ourselves). I declined and he offered saucers (we had already started serving on napkins).
- Lousy service. I had to request for jugs of soft drink on the tables (unlimited soft drink as part of the buffet package). I did not see any of the jugs refilled at all. We ended up being charged for lots of glasses of soft drink on our bar tab as the jugs on the tables were not maintained.
- the sun was very strong and I asked if we could open up the umbrellas in the green area. Not allowed to as only staff can do it. However, no staff were free to do it.
- during the meeting with the event coordinator, he mentioned we would be given 2 staff for the event. I didn't see anyone man the event.
Shout out to William who did his best - he moved tables, opened some umbrellas, opened up the sides of the marquee to help with air flow and manned the bar.
Could've been a great event if the venue's team were attentive and communicated with each other. I felt like I was being unreasonable for moving some tables (which were placed in the wrong spot) and asking for plates and cutlery for the food that I had paid for in full from the venue. They were unable to fulfil my requests and instead just tried to blame each other, rather than working together and making the event as successful as possible.