Absolutely Appalled by this Club and its Management, Managed to completely sabotage my birthday and ruin all my hard work the day before my party!

The Short Story:
Booked the venue for a private party two weeks before my event, the day before the party I find out over facebook that another promoter was holding a public night at the same club? Confronted the Club and received no apology about the “mix up” and was expected to have my private party with the public!

The Full Story:
I went to this club a year ago at another private function its local to where I live and a good space for a intimate party affair, so when I decided to throw myself and my family and friends a themed outrageously fun party I thought of this club. The ethics and morals that this club tries to display and promote itself is that it cares about the environment and that the bigger picture is looking after our wellbeing’s my experience is completely ironic and shows that it’s just a clever tactic to make money and that they have no experience how to run a business let alone manage a club. They recycle everything and dancing creates electricity how cool they must be wonderful helpful people who care, that couldn’t be anything further from the truth, they devastate and ruin lives and have no respect for people.

I spoke to the manager Elena on the 21st of July 2010 who over the phone seemed very nice and helpful I enquired about the availability on the 7th of August 2010 and what the terms were for hosting a private fancy dress party, she called me back later that day to confirm availability and that the minimum bar spend was £500 and as long as I made bar spend no hire fee was included. With my friends that was an easy target and I assured her that she would be happy with my event takings as I had invested a lot of money and time into creating a fun packed night. PEREFCT I couldn’t have been more happy I was given the ok to start booking the balloons, the decorations, the popcorn and cotton candy caterers and the hotdog company! I wanted to confirm this all via email but Elena had informed me that her PA had left and that we text would be ok, I visited the club that Saturday to start preparing for the party. It was Saturday the 24th of July and I met Elena for the first time and viewed the club, I met all the staff and door people and we discussed guest lists and best options in keeping my party private, the whole team was aware of my plans and seemed to be all involved by asking if they should wear pink and if I wanted pink glasses and fairy lights! It all seemed great!

On the 27th of July I visited the club again with my partner to drop the deposit off I gave £250 pounds by cheque and handed it to Elena who was happy that all my plans were coming along she also confirmed the drinks price list, I also was introduced into a man called Andrew who seemed to be another manager he introduced himself to myself and my partner. They all seemed very excited about my party plans I even spoke to the door men who would have been doing the door at my party and they had been aware that only people in fancy dress could enter and that I would also provide a guest list for them!

On Friday the 29th of July 2010 at 3pm my boyfriend called me at work to confirm the arrangements that I had made with Elena as someone from the club had called him, the man who called my boyfriend said he was another manager and that he was chasing for further deposit and also the payment for the club hire? My boyfriend confronted the man and explained that this was not agreed and that the terms were that I simply had to make bar spend which was 500 pounds. The man then said that the director of the club Paul Edwards would call my boyfriend back, when Paul called he explained to my boyfriend that Elena had no authority and that she had miss quoted me and that we could no longer have my party unless we paid the full hire charge. I decided to call Paul myself as I was upset by this, I spoke to Paul who again explained that Elena was not a manager? And that she gave me all the wrong information? I expressed that this was extraordinary as I had been planning my party for weeks and that my budget had been allocated accordingly, I also expressed that I found it hard to believe that Elena was not in charge as my two visits showed that she had some sort of authority and clearly knew what she was doing. And it looked like he was just trying to get more money off me. He said he would call me back and he text me to say that the party was back on and that he was sorry for all the confusion.

On Thursday the 5th of August 2010 a friend of mine had called me to ask if I was still holding my party at Surya Club in which I confirmed I was indeed! He explained that he had seen flyers and a facebook page where a promoter for “stilettos and heels” was hosting an event on MY PARTY NIGHT the 7th of August 2010! I was in complete shock, could this even be possible? With just two days left to my party this could not be true, so I decided to drive to the club at 11pm that night with my older sister to confront the club! As soon as I walked towards the club I saw two men outside and once I entered I met with Andrew, He greeted me and asked how he could help, I noticed Elena was not there so I asked for Paul. Andrew looked uncomfortable and said that he would go grab him for me and to have a seat, the man from outside came in wearily and introduced himself. Paul looked guilty straight away he could not look at me in the eye and simply slumped in his chair and said “we have a problem”.... He explained that he JUST found out that another promoter had booked the night and that he didn’t know what to do?! He was more interested in explaining that this night was promoted on the radio and he even showed me flyers! LIVID AND SHOCKED I asked for a solution and all he could explain was that he could be tight on dress code and that I could still have my private party? How would it be private>>???!! He explained that he could not stop people from showing up and would not be able to cancel the night and said that it should be fine?! I asked what the promoter would be doing and he said he would be charging entrance at the door, unbelievable? WHEN WAS PAUL EDWARDS GOING TO INFORM ME THAT THIS WAS THE SITUATION? I further explained that I needed a private party due to the dress code and that I had a few celebrity friends, Andrew wanted to know how big of a celebrity they were and despite confirming they were international he didn’t care and wanted names! I said I couldn’t give names for obvious reasons. Completely devastated I left, I had no venue, no apology, no solution NO CLUB!

I MIRACOULOUSLY found a venue on Saturday the 7th of August 2010, it cost me a fortune and I completed blew my budget all because of Surya Club, I never received any further calls or texts for solutions or apologies just one from Paul that read haven’t heard from you so I take it you’ve found somewhere else!

Do yourself a favour if you’re planning a party avoid this club like the Plague, they are liars, deceitful and cunning. I hope that no one goes through what I went through and just think its despicable that a club that places its value on such a good cause can be so the opposite of what they stand for.

TLDR

Had a great night at the Surya and the bands were hot!

Great night