Craig-Y-Nos Castle Hotel Reviews
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![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 27/01/2024Our dream wedding at our dream venue
From the moment we first saw Craig Y Nos Castle, we loved it's gothic Victorian look, the stunning opera theatre, the conservatory, lounges, bar, function rooms, grounds, just everything about it. Like other couples we'd looked at other options, some of which were possibilities, others just meh; Craig Y Nos was a yes right from the beginning.
The staff were amazing. Our wedding planner, Michaela and her team couldn't have done more for us. The food was outstanding - all our guests commented on it. One thing we would say is don't base all your judgements on the taster meal. Seeing how its presented on the day is nothing like how its presented for the taster. Looking back we'd probably have chosen the leek and potato soup (ours was a winter wedding) but at the taster it wasn't presented very well, was a bit tasteless and luke warm. The food on the day itself was just phenomenal and was so beautifully presented - like a high end restaurant. Sadly we didn't take pics - we wished we had.
We chose a Victorian theme for our wedding and included a Victorian afternoon tea, our wedding meal in the conservatory and our party in the evening in the function room. They did all our decorating and set up everything for us so there wasn't all that much we needed to do ourselves. We just provided them with our decorations and the olde worlde crockery for the afternoon tea. Everything we instructed to be done was done.
The package we chose was very well priced, with bits and pieces agreed additionally as we went along. Overall, we feel its was very good value for money given the standards received on the day and throughout each touch point.
Finally, we found Craig Y Nos staff to be very welcoming and hospitable. We visited our venue quite a few times before the day itself for all sorts of reasons. Nothing was ever a problem and we were always welcomed and time was given to us.
If we had it all over again, we would absolutely chose Craig Y Nos Castle again. We could think of no better place and are very much looking forward to attending one of their theme weekends so we can visit that spectacular place once again. -
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Claire Sent on 07/08/2023
Avoid - unprofessional money grabbers
We had a wedding here- absolutely appalling, poor management, too few staff, unprofessional and poor attention to detail.
An absolute s**t show.
Apart from things leading up to the event, to name a few ON THE DAY:
Asked bride and party to arrive at 8am to be given a room to get ready in,
We arrived and no staff, no receptionists, no one but panicking kitchen staff. After many calls and hiding waitresses we were finally given a room at 9:40am.Now late for hair and makeup etc. Then we were Introduced to our wedding planner through an open door across the hall - in her pyjamas! A young girl who assured us everything would be fine many many times and yet it wasn’t, she also kept disappearing too despite promises of being there to help us.
The room we were getting ready in had no private bathroom - instead the bridal party had to put on their dresses in a shared bathroom down the hall, tiny low toilets and no mirrors???
The furniture in this special bridal room was filthy and battered, chairs were too wobbly to sit in safely. Bacon was found on the floor next to the sofa.
The planner tells us to be ready to go at 1:30, to talk us through what to do and where to go etc. again disappeared and didn’t come back till 2pm - lack of communication again, we had no idea what was going on. Late to get to the registrar.
Wrong music was played after ceremony!
Chair layout incorrect.
Confetti in chairs but it was asked to be elsewhere.
Told to leave our valuables and personal belongings in an unlocked room in a building accessed by staff and guests - but it ‘would be fine’?
When we got room keys approx 3pm one guest found a bag of poo outside the door. This was reported but not cleared away until almost midnight… but the cotton buds and cigarette ends were left that were right next to it. Just filthy.
Greasy food was served with no napkins, water was served with no glasses.
The main meal had people’s orders mixed up or wrong. Table layout was wrong up until we almost were sitting.
Room had to be vacated for 10mins for the dj to set up (although this was previously confirmed as already set up prior to the day). 40 mins later after listening to drilling and banging, we were finally allowed back in the room.
Again not enough water for the tables, people constantly requesting more as one bottle amongst 6-10 does not go far.
Evening meal not enough plates, water but no glasses, no napkins.
This is just half of what went wrong, for a special day it certainly brought nothing but stress and disappointment.
The staff at Craig Y Nos are overworked, young and not adequately trained. The management is unprofessional and the amount it costs this is absolutely despicable. For the bride and grooms most special day, I cannot comprehend how this place is still running.
Avoid avoid avoid!Craig-Y-Nos Castle Hotel's reply:
Thank you for taking the time to add your comments about a wedding that you had attended. I can only apologies if on the day some things that would ordinarily have been done off pat, were not. Hands up, apologies are due however a number of factors exacerbated what would have ordinarily have been a smooth running day – where we have numerous weddings throughout the year that are put on and executed in an excellent manner.
I agree, that we do have a number of young staff – however, age is no barrier to providing a good level of service. Everyone has to start somewhere.
• A few days prior to this weeks weddings 3 staff left due to illness and were not in attendance one being this wedding clients wedding planner – I appreciate that this was not the brides fault, but is a given reason for the limited staff.
• We would not ordinarily ask for the Bride to go to the Bridal getting ready room at 08.00 as it would need time to be turned around, not least we don’t serve breakfast for free.
• The room is provided as free for wedding clients to congregate and get ready - being large enough to allow for changing, a few drinks and rest and relaxation – the alternative would be to get ready in a bedroom. The room is however within our Nurses Block and has shared facilties.
• I will check with our Housekeeping and Maintenance as the Sofa within the room (to my knowledge is perfectly adequate for use) however, will have this checked.
• The alternative, is usually we remove all belongings to the small wedding planner office for collection – however, I am unsure why you were advised to leave your belongings in the room – however, we have never had issues of guests belongings being taken, the alternative would have been for everyone to remove their own belongings back to each of their own bedrooms. The issue we have in locking the Nurses Block Lounge, is that “in essence it is a lounge for all” and therefore, other guests in the Nurses Block after the Bridal party have left, do have the ability to use it.
• When the wedding was originally booked – there was infact no Bridal getting ready.
• Sadly, I can only apologise if a doggy bag was left – we are a dog friendly venue and there are sufficient poo bins located around the building – clearly, someone couldn’t walk the 10 foot to the bin and I apologise that this was left – again cigarette ends and cotton buds, clearly some guests felt it acceptable to dump rubbish inappropriately – our housekeeping and maintenance teams are on site till just after 3pm hence the probable delay for the removal. We are however, in the process of recruiting a cleaner to be on site later.
• With regards to some of the issues on the day – I can only apologise and will check with the planner of that day – who would have been following an order of the day discussed with the bride and previous planner (although it must be said that it was only until a week before that the bride had actually finalised some of her wedding details (from a different wedding package). As, for the confetti, I am unsure which chairs it was placed on – but the only place confetti is allowed is the Theatre.
• In 23 years I have not heard concerns relating to greasy wedding food – all tables would ordinarily have napkins and water of course should when served on tables be accompanied with the appropriate glasses.
• I am confused in regards to the comments about the DJ set up, not least the DJ would NOT ordinarily set up the day before (and leave equipment within the dining room) – therefore, the room would need to be turned around however, we did offer the wedding client the use of the evening function room at no extra charge.
Clearly, I can appreciate that things did not run to plan, however, I can assure you that we learn from concerns raised. Our Wedding Team are well versed in offering a high level of customer service and on occasions (especially with a lacking number of staff, and change of plans almost immediately prior to the day) things may not run as smooth as they ought to – for this I apologise. I cannot of course discuss the wedding and its costs on a review site.
Regards
M!chael
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![Mrs V]()
Briony Sent on 22/08/2020A perfect venue!
My husband and I got married at Craig y Nos back in January and I cannot recommend highly enough this stunning and quirky venue, as well as the truly fantastic wedding team that looked after us for the entire day and all throughout the planning process! No task was too big or small, and Emily and Nicola were at my beckon call to answer my many silly questions and offered endless advice and support. They both did so much to help our special day come together! The day itself was more than we could ever have wished for - the venue is so beautiful and steeped in history, and was the perfect backdrop for a wonderfully happy day. We received no end of comments from happy guests about how lovely the castle was, how delicious the food was, and how the staff were so friendly and accommodating. We can’t wait to go back to stay for our anniversary! Thank you again Craig Y Nos, for giving us a truly magical wedding day ? -
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