Salthill, Galway - Wedding Venue Comparisons

gaelicyoda

Hi All,

In the process of booking our wedding venue for next year, and have narrowed it down to two places (both in Salthill strangely enough):
- The Galway Bay Hotel
- The Salthill Hotel

Can anyone who's attended a wedding there, particularly in the last let's say 6 months or so, post their thoughts on them? These should give a fairly up-to-date review of what we can expect. Have heard good and bad about both, but would really like to get it from the horse's mouth so to speak.

Many thanks all,
GY.

Sleepy

Having grown up in Knocknacarra I've been to functions in both though quite a few years ago (prior to the Salthill's renovations). Then, the Galway Bay would have been lightyears ahead. One thing I would check is whether the GB holds more than one wedding a day as it's a fairly large hotel.

gaelicyoda

Sleepy wrote: »

Having grown up in Knocknacarra I've been to functions in both though quite a few years ago (prior to the Salthill's renovations). Then, the Galway Bay would have been lightyears ahead. One thing I would check is whether the GB holds more than one wedding a day as it's a fairly large hotel.

Cheers Sleepy! I've been assured that starting fairly soon (not exactly sure when precisely), they will only be doing one per day - but certainly by the time our wedding rolls around next year.

Can you remember how the food was? One of the strong points of the Salthill Hotel appears to be the food... how'd the GB compare on that front? Again have heard mixed reviews...

ABajaninCork

I've not been to the Galway Bay for a wedding, but went there for our honeymoon. And the experience wasn't a happy one.

Our suite was cold and dirty. The shower had broken, and frankly for the money we were being charged (E300 a night), it certainly wasn't a VFM experience. The hotel were repeatedly told we wanted a nice suite as it was our honeymoon. After we complained to the manager, we were told there wasn't another room available. We had no alternative, but to stay the night and arrange alternative accommodation the next day. The dinner in the hotel was unremarkable to say the least, and we felt totally ripped off.

Went to stay in the Bunratty Castle in the end. The difference in the standard of suite and service was like night and day. We couldn't have been better looked after, food was superb and it was E400 cheaper for our stay.

I certainly wouldn't recommend the Galway Bay to anyone.

gaelicyoda

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I've not been to the Galway Bay for a wedding, but went there for our honeymoon. And the experience wasn't a happy one.

Thanks for the warning ABajaninCork - do you mind me asking when that was?

ABajaninCork

This was in 2008. But, like I say, our special occasion was ruined by the clowns in the Galway Bay. And I would never recommend this hotel to anyone.

I wish I'd stayed at the 'G' instead...

gaelicyoda

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I wish I'd stayed at the 'G' instead...

I think that'll be a little outside our price bracket wedding-wise!

Blingy

Attended a wedding in the salthill hotel and really liked it. BedRoom was renovated and on the top floor, it was fab. Food was great. Service great. Never stayed in the Galway bay so can't comment.
Wedding was in 2010. Would recommend the salthill hotel. Go for a meal in both have a look at bedrooms see the function room done up and then look at the budget and decide. Check out the bridal suites too! Best of luck with decision.

lazygal

I was at a wedding in the Galway Bay about......two years ago now. Things might be different now, but I wasn't blown away. Our room was way overpriced for what was a basic three star room, food was only ok, breakfast the next morning was terrible, with huge queues for the buffet and a general chaotic air about the place and the service was average.

gaelicyoda

lazygal wrote: »

I was at a wedding in the Galway Bay about......two years ago now. Things might be different now, but I wasn't blown away. Our room was way overpriced for what was a basic three star room, food was only ok, breakfast the next morning was terrible, with huge queues for the buffet and a general chaotic air about the place and the service was average.

Thanks lazygal. As a matter of interest, do you remember what they charged for the room? Reason I ask is that we didn't get back a price for the block-booked rooms yet, and I'd like to see if it's moderated at all since your own stay ...

gaelicyoda

Blingy wrote: »

Attended a wedding in the salthill hotel and really liked it. BedRoom was renovated and on the top floor, it was fab. Food was great. Service great. Never stayed in the Galway bay so can't comment.
Wedding was in 2010. Would recommend the salthill hotel. Go for a meal in both have a look at bedrooms see the function room done up and then look at the budget and decide. Check out the bridal suites too! Best of luck with decision.

Thanks a lot Blingy. Funny enough, the function room in the Salthill Hotel was one of the factors that put me off - seemed fairly dark and a little claustrophobic when compared with the GB. Now the room IS large dimensionally, and maybe it was a lighting thing, but it actually felt smaller.

We're calling back when the room is done up for a wedding though, so maybe that will change my mind (was not dressed when we saw it initially)

runawaybishop

Is it salthill for sure? Cloonacauneen Castle in claregalway is win.

lazygal

gaelicyoda wrote: »

lazygal wrote: »

I was at a wedding in the Galway Bay about......two years ago now. Things might be different now, but I wasn't blown away. Our room was way overpriced for what was a basic three star room, food was only ok, breakfast the next morning was terrible, with huge queues for the buffet and a general chaotic air about the place and the service was average.

Thanks lazygal. As a matter of interest, do you remember what they charged for the room? Reason I ask is that we didn't get back a price for the block-booked rooms yet, and I'd like to see if it's moderated at all since your own stay ...

We paid 180 a night, stayed two nights. We weren't able to get a wedding rate room as they were really limited. Hth.

gaelicyoda

runawaybishop wrote: »

Is it salthill for sure? Cloonacauneen Castle in claregalway is win.

We did think about that initially but then we'd have to organize caterers, etc. and we came to the conclusion that we just wanted a one stop shop for all that. Attended a wedding there myself and it was grand, but it was a fine day, which I think you'd need for there.

gaelicyoda

gaelicyoda wrote: »

... the function room in the Salthill Hotel was one of the factors that put me off - seemed fairly dark and a little claustrophobic when compared with the GB. Now the room IS large dimensionally, and maybe it was a lighting thing, but it actually felt smaller.

Sorry Blingy, not sure why I mentioned that, you didn't bring it up at all!

gaelicyoda

lazygal wrote: »

We paid 180 a night, stayed two nights. We weren't able to get a wedding rate room as they were really limited. Hth.

Cheers lazygal - Ouch! That's a bit saucy alright... but good to know.
Was it during the summer by any chance?

lazygal

gaelicyoda wrote: »

Cheers lazygal - Ouch! That's a bit saucy alright... but good to know.
Was it during the summer by any chance?

It was a May bank holiday weekend, so I think they took full advantage of the fact!

Gatica

That sounds like very expensive accommodation for a fairly standard hotel. I've never been to weddings in either. My impression is that Galway Bay hotel is not very well up-kept. The Galway Bay hotel could be just expensive because it's in front of the sea, if it was elsewhere they'd just be a 3 star hotel.

taytor

Hi
I was at a wedding a few months ago in the salthill hotel, I thought the room where the dinner was held (the rockbarton I think) was lovely, nice romantic lighting. The staff were very nice, there was mixed reviews for the food on the day, choices were fillet steak and sea bass. I had the sea bass and thought it was lovely my partner had the fillet steak and thought it was over cooked, but I guess it is hard to cook fillet steak right for over 200 people. there was plenty of food though and the staff even went around with seconds.
I haven’t been to a wedding in the Galway bay but have eaten in the restaurant there and thought the room was very old fashioned compared to the salthill hotel. the reception area and bar area in the salthill hotel is really nice and modern.
I am in the early stages of planning my wedding in Galway next year, still trying to decide on a venue myself so far the contenders are the salthill hotel, the Westwood or the lisloughrey lodge think the latter might be out of my budget though!!!!
Hope this helps!

Sleepy

Fillet Steak is always a bad thing to put on a wedding menu. There's no way you'll leave everyone happy: my mother would consider my medium rare to be raw whilst almost anyone would consider her idea of well done to be burnt (I was in my twenties before I realised steak was supposed to have flavour! lol)

gaelicyoda

Thanks for the feedback taytor, much appreciated.

That's the thing - getting mixed reports all over the place so still not sure which way to go. Really missing a recent GBH review right about now!

taytor wrote: »

Hi
I am in the early stages of planning my wedding in Galway next year, still trying to decide on a venue myself so far the contenders are the salthill hotel, the Westwood or the lisloughrey lodge think the latter might be out of my budget though!!!!

If you're anything like us, then yes it is! :-)
We hopped in the car one weekend and headed up there to have a look around. Got an instant "snobby" kind of vibe in the place, but maybe that was more from the people who were in attendance in the hotel than from the hotel itself - either way, put me right off almost immediately. And actually when we were there, we weren't blown away by the place at all - I'm sure you've checked out the website and seen the savage pictures in the gallery and all that, but the lake is really not as close as you might think. I would recommend taking a trek up yourselves before giving it serious consideration - we were definitely underwhelmed by what we saw on the day (the drive up alone is worth it so it's not a wasted day - head out to Maam Cross and hang a right - magnificent!) Now in fairness, we weren't given the polished tour around by a member of staff, but then again we weren't that inclined to stick around for one either from what we saw.

Attended a wedding in the Westwood a few years ago, before I had in mind to get engaged myself - if I had, I would have been paying much closer attention! :-) - but it was fine. Nothing particularly stood out as being magnificent or disappointing. Middle of the road I'd say, but again, I probably wasn't in the right frame of mind to be that observant for weddingy stuff.

gaelicyoda

Sleepy wrote: »

I was in my twenties before I realised steak was supposed to have flavour! lol

Ditto! I thought I was the only one!

Good point though, it was something we had been considering but may think twice about it now.

Gatica

Was at a wedding in Lisloughrey a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The setting was beautiful and the walk to the lake is only about 5-10 mins. You're right in that it doesn't quite sit "on" the lake, but the views are breathtaking and the hotel itself was fab. Now, I've heard from same ppl that got married there that it's changed ownership a couple of times since then and that the standards haven't been quite maintained. I guess that's what has happened... It's a shame, cos it was great when we were there.

lulu10

I was at a wedding in the Galway Bay Sept 2011 and while it was grand, I kind of had higher expectations. I've eaten in the restaurant before and though the food was fab, it was good at the wedding, but nothing spectacular. Staff gave the impression they really did not want to be there, plonked the food down and in the process split a pint over one member at our table. The room was nice, and i thought the layout was good as no-one was really far away from the top table. It was a lovely wedding but I just didn't get the wow factor I was expecting

gaelicyoda

lulu10 wrote: »

I was at a wedding in the Galway Bay Sept 2011 and while it was grand, I kind of had higher expectations. I've eaten in the restaurant before and though the food was fab, it was good at the wedding, but nothing spectacular. Staff gave the impression they really did not want to be there, plonked the food down and in the process split a pint over one member at our table. The room was nice, and i thought the layout was good as no-one was really far away from the top table. It was a lovely wedding but I just didn't get the wow factor I was expecting

Thanks for the update lulu - I was hoping to get some kind of feedback on GBH. So all-in-all, good not great? And mainly down to the service?

lulu10

gaelicyoda wrote: »

Thanks for the update lulu - I was hoping to get some kind of feedback on GBH. So all-in-all, good not great? And mainly down to the service?

Yeah pretty much, like I said I've eaten there before and couldn't fault it but that was my first wedding in it. We may have just been unlucky with the staff serving us. I know when we were sitting down too the manager kept saying to the Bride that there was approx 15 places set and not filled. Looking around the room, we could only find about 7 at the most and that was stressing her out, which she shouldn't have to be thinking on just before her wedding dinner.

fattybumbum

Did you come to a decision?
We have just been to view these hotels and are undecided between them or Claregalway.
* Galway Bay now only does 1 wedding so that is not an issue.
Room is very big. Being fussy like I am I don't like the curtains or carpet. And, my OH said he saw a sign saying smokers had to go to the carpark?? I loved the conservatory off the room and of course the views and photo opportunities! The co-ordinator was also really lovely and very open to 'doing a deal'.
* Salthill Hotel is beautiful inside since renovations. There were things I liked and didn't like about but the co-ordinator there has not phoned me back. I have given her a week. She just does not seem bothered about it, and I have heard this from others too.
* Claregalway Hotel is my favourite, everything inside is perfect. Co-ordinator is very experienced, professional and easy to deal with. I would like it to be in a nicer area and miss that it is not on the prom.

It's just so hard to choose........

gaelicyoda

fattybumbum wrote: »

Did you come to a decision?
We have just been to view these hotels and are undecided between them or Claregalway.
* Galway Bay now only does 1 wedding so that is not an issue.
Room is very big. Being fussy like I am I don't like the curtains or carpet. And, my OH said he saw a sign saying smokers had to go to the carpark?? I loved the conservatory off the room and of course the views and photo opportunities! The co-ordinator was also really lovely and very open to 'doing a deal'.
* Salthill Hotel is beautiful inside since renovations. There were things I liked and didn't like about but the co-ordinator there has not phoned me back. I have given her a week. She just does not seem bothered about it, and I have heard this from others too.
* Claregalway Hotel is my favourite, everything inside is perfect. Co-ordinator is very experienced, professional and easy to deal with. I would like it to be in a nicer area and miss that it is not on the prom.

It's just so hard to choose........

Yep - you're actually exactly where we were! For us it was between the two mentioned and Claregalway.

We ended up going for GBH in the end - agree with you about the carpet, but to be fair, that wasn't a deal breaker for us. Found the co-ordinator a pleasure to deal with, and very professional. I could say the very same about Nora in CG too though - very nice lady and super professional too. Only problem for us there, and it's probably silly, but was the road outside. Seemed to to take away from the vibe of the place overall, even though inside was lovely. Just gave it that high-traffic, high-throughput, roadside feel that made it a little less 'special' in our eyes. GBH packages were good for us too - their top package throws in the car, cake and flowers which was a winner for us.

Totally agree about Salthill Hotel - didn't seem interested in our business at all - called in there twice a number of weeks ago at this stage, and we're still waiting for the 'tailored quote' (which is nonsense in my view - they should have even some examples done out so you can at least have some kind of yard stick). Heard from someone there that they're fairly booked up for next year though which may have had something to do with it. Bit of a shambles in terms of co-ordination though (how hard is it to lift a phone?), so happy that we might be dodging a bullet there.

fattybumbum

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. It's always good to get others opinions.
Its the same for me with the Claregalway - just the outside that bothers me!
Just a case of going back to them to see what they offer and which we are both happy with!!