The Clubhouse at the Victoria at The Clubhouse at The Vic

We were only allowed out the front in small groups due to the residential area but this really wasn't a problem and is understandable for the area. Service could be slow at times to get drinks, but this was also because lots of guests were ordering cocktails which do take time!

No coat rail at the venue though I asked if they were and I was told when I arrived, they only have hooks on the back of a door in the pub. The staff working the bar though lovely looked like they could be be elsewhere.

We unfortunately left quite disappointed with our experience, mainly due to the way the booking and pricing were handled. There was a miscommunication regarding the package selection. To be fair, responsibility sits on both sides. Packages were discussed beforehand and I had contacted the venue about a package I saw online. Sarah replied explaining the actual package and pricing (a per-person package), which we understood to be the option we were going with. However, the package was never clearly confirmed on either side before the deposit was taken and the booking proceeded. A simple clarification at that stage could likely have avoided the situation. The issue only became apparent once the party had already started. I realised something was wrong when I saw my husband paying for drinks that we believed were included in the package. Shortly after, some of our guests went to the bar and came back confused and disappointed when they were also asked to pay for their drinks (which they did not end up getting as we approached the situation). This is what prompted us to speak with the staff and try to clarify what had happened. The shift manager did try to address the issue, which we appreciated. However, instead of speaking with us directly, communication was done through a member of staff acting as a middle person. I even showed the staff member the messages where the package had been discussed with the venue beforehand, but the discussion still remained indirect. At that point we were also informed that payment had to be made before all guests had arrived, based on an estimated number of people we expected to attend. While we understand the need for planning, this made the situation even more difficult to adjust once the confusion about the package became apparent. Because guests were arriving and the event had already started, the situation was quite stressful and we needed to resolve it quickly. In the end we accepted the payment the venue asked for simply so the event could continue without further disruption. The minimum spend for the booking was £1,250, yet we ended up paying around £1,700 (plus the £125 venue fee). This was presented as a “discount” to compensate for the earlier miscommunication, which was difficult to understand given that the final amount we paid was already significantly above the minimum spend. Children were also counted towards the number of packages. We were told this was because soft drinks and children’s options (such as fruit shoots) were available. While we understand the reasoning, it still significantly increased the total cost despite children obviously not consuming the same as adults. The package we supposedly had also included a welcome cocktail, but this was never offered or mentioned during the event. While the bar staff were polite, service was slow at times and the drink selection felt quite limited, especially considering the high minimum spend requirement. At the end of the evening, since we had not technically reached the minimum spend through orders, we were given three very inexpensive bottles of prosecco as a “gift”. Unfortunately, this did not feel like a meaningful resolution considering how much we had already paid above the minimum. One positive point is that the venue did accommodate our request to provide bottled water instead of tap water, which they mentioned they do not usually offer. While appreciated, this is a fairly small gesture compared to the overall situation. Overall, the experience felt poorly communicated and overpriced. Clearer confirmation of packages before taking deposits, direct communication with guests when issues arise, and a more reasonable approach to how packages are calculated (particularly when children are included) would greatly improve the experience for future customers.

Nothing