Valentines nightmare

I would most definatley not recommend the clandeboye lodge hotel to anyone as a place to go for a relaxing or romantic evening meal, why? Well on february 14th 2006 my wife and i booked a table at their restaurant and as it was valentines day i thought my wife would enjoy what atmosphere they had to offer but how wrong was i?

First of all we arrived 10 minutes earlier than our booking time, and having had our coats taken were seated in the bar area for over an hour and were only shown to our table after we complained, secondly when our starters arrived they were the wrong orders and on being told they would be back in two minutes they arrived after fifteen minutes.

After a further complaint we were assured that although we were treated badly we would receive some form of compensation for ruining what was supposed to be a romantic evening......it is now march 1st and we are still waiting for a response.

I for one will not not be returning to a place that seems to be run something along the lines FAWLTY TOWERS!

very dissatisfied customer

name and address supplied if

needed.

We endeavour to deliver consistent high standards, but occassionally, as in any other business, services fall short of expectations for a variety of reasons. In such occasions, we review the relevant process and make, where possible, improvements.

We responded to your complaint in writing but once again , please accept my sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused to you and your partner.

Yours sincerely

Pim Dalm

General Manager/Proprietor

An honest opinion

Interesting opinion on who may have written some of the recent postings in the last review! Some honest observations:-

They have spent a lot on refurbishments which are impressive and the rooms are superb.

Many of the staff are helpful but a few are arrogant -as if they are doing you a service by being there.

Function - average service, slow service of food and the waiter service to the tables very slow. Meal good but not plentiful - desert was pathetic, dry and hardly noticable on the plate.

Not very nice coming from the bedrooms to the main hotel, the foyer doubles up as a bar, crowded with very casually dressed guys and women, blue smokey haze, like walking through a public bar in Bangor.

Breakfast the following morning was good when we got it, nearly a 30 min wait for a fry and it wasn't busy. Waitress sprayed the adjoining tables and cleaned them while we were eating and - wait for this - interesting hygiene standards - unused cutlery on the tables was set on the soft furnishing chairs while the tables were being cleaned then set back on the table - disgusting!!!

All in all, nice premises but the general attention to hygiene and customer care needs to be substantially improved.

Continual refurbishment

I have been using the facilities there for the past five years on a monthly basis. The staff are fantastic, if not a little overworked- I go to bed after drinks at 11 and when I get up at 7am the same girl is still on reception! It's the same with the restaurant staff too!

My main problem is that the hotel has been undergoing refurbishments for literally the last 18 months- non stop. Every time I check in- it it isnt one issue, it's another! I understand that the hotel needs to be refurbished (it really did need a face lift) but I think the management really should've thought about how this was going to take place before they started!

In my opinion the more recent reviews on here have been posted by someone in the Hotel's marketing department as they are seem pretty similar to me. Perhaps in respsonse to the previously poor (and often true) reviews?

My advice: this is perfect for a countryside location

The staff are wonderful

The food is fantastic (especially the full breakfast in the morning which never disappoints)

Just please finish refurbishing the rooms!

Always a delight and getting better

I have been staying at the Clandeboye since it opened in 1994. I keep returning due to the consistency of the service, the friendliness of the staff, the charming location and the good restaurant. In my most recent stay this October, I was thrilled to see the lovely changes being implemented in the hotel. The hallways have been repapered and recarpeted. The rooms have new sheets, pillows, duvets, bedspreads and curtains plus the bathrooms have been upgraded with granite countertops and bright, modern mirrors (including a separate make-up/shaving mirror). The rooms are all being repainted and new furniture and carpeting are on the way. Staff attentiveness and friendliness are as consistent as ever. Last but not least, I was thrilled to hear that all rooms will shortly have wireless internet access - a real boost for me! I noted with some shock that another hotel guest preferred the Old Inn. This really surprises me given the dark and dingy atmosphere when compared to the Clandeboye. I will continue to return to the warm and welcoming Clandeboye.

Very Impressed American Visitors!

I had my sister and new husband visiting in September and they were mightily impressed with everything about the Clandeboye Lodge. As everybody can see the setting is really special and we got a nice sunny autumnal weekend to see it at its best. The hotel was in pristine condition and my relatives loved the attention they got from the staff, Americans do love their service! Clandeboye was the eprfect base for some touring including the Folk Museum and Royal Belfast for golf. They were over the moon with it all and I was very relieved and appreciative of the part Clandeboye Lodge played as their base.

They did stay a few days ay my home but I couldnt match the hotel experience!

Excellent time

Stayed at this hotel recently for a wedding, the reception for which was held at the hotel. We really enjoyed our stay. Our room was a good size and comfortable. It had recently been decorated, perhaps in response to previous reviews here?. We found the staff to be very helpful and friendly - especially the bar staff. We only had breakfast at the hotel, and found it to be really good - a view shared by everyone else in our group. If you fancy a walk nearby we would recommend the Coastal Foothpath from Crawfordsburn country park.

Did the last reviewers stay at the same hotel?

The drive from Belfast City to Bangor is lovely. The setting of the Clandeboye Lodge is also lovely. We arrived early and it was great that they had our room ready. However the room itself was a disappointment. The advertised "Double Room" was two single beds pushed together...very uncomfortable. The wallpaper was peeling and the overgrown shrubbery outside the window made the room very dark. In all it was drab and required refurbishment.

We settled in for a few drinks (we were in a group of 10) and the waitress asked us did we have reservations for dinner. We said yes at 8pm, and she asked us could we try and get in for 7pm as the chefs wanted to go home early!! She then mentioned that she had also had a long day and she also wanted to get off early!! Charming. If she mentioned it once she mentioned it a dozen times. If that was not enough she then left menus on the table - hint hint. The restaurant is advertised as being open until 10pm.

Dinner was a disappointment, lukewarm and tough beef (warmed up Sunday Lunch?). When I complained about my beef the waitress did deduct the price of it from our bill which was good of her.

After nearly drinking the bar dry on the previous evening those of us who made it to breakfast were eagerly awaiting the "Full Ulster" however when it arrived they advised us that they had no sausages. Why Chef, when you left early on Sunday night did you not go to Asda and buy some sausages??

As a setting for a wedding the hotel is perfect however it would be at the bottom of my list for a weekend away in the Belfast area.

More a Travel Lodge than a luxury hotel

Attended a wedding and the food and room were excellent. Hotel room was very average. Clean and quiet and satisfactory to stay in if you are attending a function in the hotel but otherwise I'd give it a miss. Breakfast was poor. Try the Old Inn at Crawfordsburn which is a about a mile away.

Wonderful Week End Wedding @ Clandeboye

Travelled from Scotland by EASYJET to BELFAST. No problems. Arrived at the hotel mid day and were well received by the reception staff.

Met up with friends later on and had a lovely Dinner. We were very well catered for and nothing was too much trouble. Lovely Breakfast. Superb building. If we have the opportunity we will be back.

All from 210