I hired Rochdale Royale for an event…
I hired Rochdale Royale for an event and, unfortunately, my experience was extremely disappointing. Before my event, another user of the hall warned me against booking it, saying that they would not return my deposit despite the effort made to meet the venue’s requirements. I would advise anyone considering booking this venue to be very careful and to document everything, particularly anything relating to the deposit.
At the end of our event, I personally cleaned the hall and stacked the chairs properly. Before leaving, I specifically asked Sue whether there was anything else that needed to be done. She told me there was nothing else. I therefore left the venue believing that I had done what was required.
However, the following day, when the issue of the deposit was being discussed, Sue told the manager, in my presence, that she and her boys had swept the floor and stacked the chairs.
This was extremely upsetting because I was there, I had personally cleaned the hall and stacked the chairs, and I had specifically asked Sue before leaving whether anything else needed to be done. To then hear a completely different account given to the manager the next day was shocking and left me feeling that my efforts were being deliberately disregarded in order to justify keeping my deposit.
What made the situation worse was the attitude of the owner/manager when I tried to raise my concerns. In my experience, he was arrogant, dismissive and disrespectful, and there appeared to be little willingness to properly listen to or resolve the matter.
The staff were perfectly pleasant before the event, but the experience after the event was completely different. It left me feeling that once the deposit had been paid, getting it back was an entirely different matter.
If you are considering hiring this venue, my advice is to take extensive photographs and videos before and after your event, get every agreement in writing, and do not rely solely on verbal assurances about the condition of the hall or the return of your deposit.
I would personally not recommend Rochdale Royale based on my experience. The way this matter was handled has left a very bad impression, and I feel other customers should know what happened before deciding whether to book this venue.