Radisson Blu Athlone

[putneybride]

I am a bride to be and i am organising my wedding in Ireland from London. I went to Athlone last week to look at venues and the Radisson also came out on top of our list. We are now in the process of making our final decision and part of that is getting feedback about the venue. I love the location, staff, and ballroom. I have not seen it set up but hope to when i return there in three weeks time (and i will let you know what i think). I have heard from a friend who recently starting working there that they pull out all the stops on the day of a wedding and that the ball room looks fantastic and that the views at night are amazing with the castle and church light up across the water.

My only hesitation so far with the Radisson is that i am finding it hard to find feedback re weddings there. I am from the local area and it is not one of the hotels that people in my area use. I am aware that it is under new management and that their new sales person Tanya is trying to develop its reputation for weddings. I am conscious that it is always easy to get negative feedback about venues as people are often more willing to criticise than compliment - i have heard some negative feedback about their food and service on the day of a wedding and this is causing us to quetion the radisson as our wedding venue.... I have also read some really positive reviews re wedding however the numbers were around the 120 mark. My numbers will be in the 300 mark and i know that it is harder to get right in terms of speed. I have eaten in the main bar area twice and both times the food was good.

So i guess my question is has anyone been to a wedding, had their own wedding in the radisson and what was the food and service like? Also how many people were they catering for on the day.

Thanks in advance

[Mooseyd]

Hi, I booked there too. Also my friend had her wedding there and she could not recommend it more. Tanya and the team are fantastic, she sent me some pics of the ballroom and it's amazing. I was the same as u I was not with bad reports but u think there are great improvements. Let me know u get on. Remember u are dealing with a team and u need to be comfortable with that.

[putneybride]

Thanks Mooseyd! What date have you picked next year and how many guests are you having?

We are 80% decided on booking the Radisson and will be going back in 3 weeks to pay the deposit. We are hoping for August/September 2012.

[Mooseyd]

Sept 7th 20121 we might have 240. i think the room is certainly big enough to hold 300 and can accommodate 100 as they can split the room.

we went to the bay and i felt it was a bit of a wedding factory- they did not ask us what we wanted only what they do!!!! Glasson - i loved but out of our price bracket and the rooms for guests were expensive.

i like the radisson as the rooms are reasonable and in a good location for guests staying over. What date are you thinking?

[putneybride]

We are looking at September too either the 21st / 28th we have provisionally held both.

We looked at all the other venues in the area too but some of them i thought were a little dated, some had the wow factor but were a little out of town, over priced and would be expensive for guests to stay.

The radisson has it all for me - central location, good views, nice size hotel no one will get lost!, friendly staff, good sized ballroom i think it will definitely hold 300 comfortably and as you said affordable room rates.

Have you booked your band, photographer etc?

[Mooseyd]

Yes I thought the exact same and I think I know the hotels u refered to as dated. Yes going with busy fingers they are expensive but worth it. They did my cousins wedding and the floor was never empty. Seen them again on sat night and brilliant. Going with ebony and pearl very reasonable compared to some. Two photographers and they suggested which I would never have thought of pictures within athlone castle! U just need permission before hand, so u can have the castle pics if the weather is not great and outside along the shannon is fab too!!

[Mooseyd]

Yes I thought the exact same and I think I know the hotels u refered to as dated. Yes going with busy fingers they are expensive but worth it. They did my cousins wedding and the floor was never empty. Seen them again on sat night and brilliant. Going with ebony and pearl very reasonable compared to some. Two photographers and they suggested which I would never have thought of pictures within athlone castle! U just need permission before hand, so u can have the castle pics if the weather is not great and outside along the shannon is fab too!!