WR
Winery Road Forest
Unclaimed Business
WR
Performance(last 12 months):
TrustIndex
0
Ranking
#2
in Other
NPS Score
0
Recommended: Unlikely
Recent reviews (0)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your ExperienceLE
Leila E
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Feb 2022, 22:17
Winery Road Forest venue review
We had an amazing wedding at Winery Road on the 7th of Jan 2022, the venue is absolutely beautiful and it is a day I will never forget. I do feel that there are some things that the venue management can improve on. When I did a tour of the venue with Lize and my wedding coordinator various things were promised in person (which made me and the wedding coordinator very excited to work with them and my coordinator was looking forward to a working relationship with them) but in reality never happened. For example, they have a policy that all take downs and removal of items must be collected by the coordinators and service providers the night of the wedding. The coordinator said it will be costly to expect flowers and décor companies to come collect their items at midnight but that if we pack everything up she and the flower company (My Pretty Vintage) will collect first thing in the morning. She said that because our coordinator is a trusted and well respected supplier that they are fine with that. I understood the wording of the contract which states "WRF herewith acknowledges that all décor/ personalized items, which was removed on the evening of the wedding from the function hall, will be collected the next day by the client’s wedding coordinator. " meant that we could pack up and tidy everything the night of the wedding but the vendors could collect the items the next morning. The week of our wedding I discovered that this was not allowed, the flower and decor company had to come collect on the very same night. Because they had to pay staff to come at midnight we had to pay an additional R2000. I begged the managers and they said no. My wedding coordinator and décor company said this was unheard of in the industry and I felt this to be very strict. We were also surprised to learn that no ice buckets were placed on the tables for the white wine even though it was a 30 degree evening. I was surprised as this is bar/waiter service 101, being a venue in the Winelands I would think this was standard. Some guests asked for ice buckets but this was not provided. If this was because we brought our own wine in it would have been nice to be told in advance. I also do not think this is the coordinators responsibility to ensure as it is up to the waiters and bar staff to ensure drinks service runs smoothly. I was also told that a curtain of fairy lights get hung up behind the bridal table. I paid for and organized our décor company to add greenery to the lights. Even though the décor looked beautiful it was important to me to have that backdrop and I was disappointed to learn that they couldn't do it because Winery Road did not string up the fairy lights for us. Please also note then even though curfew is over, the wedding venue shuts down at 11.30 sharp. Its a lovely venue and rare to find a place that has a forest, a beautiful dam and a stunning dancefloor under the stars but if I could go back and do it all again I would choose a venue that sticks to their verbal agreements and works better with suppliers. Having said that I did find the venue far more affordable then most wine farms in the area and it's a lovely and relaxed space.
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Leila E
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
6 Feb 2022, 22:17
Winery Road Forest venue review
We had an amazing wedding at Winery Road on the 7th of Jan 2022, the venue is absolutely beautiful and it is a day I will never forget. I do feel that there are some things that the venue management can improve on. When I did a tour of the venue with Lize and my wedding coordinator various things were promised in person (which made me and the wedding coordinator very excited to work with them and my coordinator was looking forward to a working relationship with them) but in reality never happened. For example, they have a policy that all take downs and removal of items must be collected by the coordinators and service providers the night of the wedding. The coordinator said it will be costly to expect flowers and décor companies to come collect their items at midnight but that if we pack everything up she and the flower company (My Pretty Vintage) will collect first thing in the morning. She said that because our coordinator is a trusted and well respected supplier that they are fine with that. I understood the wording of the contract which states "WRF herewith acknowledges that all décor/ personalized items, which was removed on the evening of the wedding from the function hall, will be collected the next day by the client’s wedding coordinator. " meant that we could pack up and tidy everything the night of the wedding but the vendors could collect the items the next morning. The week of our wedding I discovered that this was not allowed, the flower and decor company had to come collect on the very same night. Because they had to pay staff to come at midnight we had to pay an additional R2000. I begged the managers and they said no. My wedding coordinator and décor company said this was unheard of in the industry and I felt this to be very strict. We were also surprised to learn that no ice buckets were placed on the tables for the white wine even though it was a 30 degree evening. I was surprised as this is bar/waiter service 101, being a venue in the Winelands I would think this was standard. Some guests asked for ice buckets but this was not provided. If this was because we brought our own wine in it would have been nice to be told in advance. I also do not think this is the coordinators responsibility to ensure as it is up to the waiters and bar staff to ensure drinks service runs smoothly. I was also told that a curtain of fairy lights get hung up behind the bridal table. I paid for and organized our décor company to add greenery to the lights. Even though the décor looked beautiful it was important to me to have that backdrop and I was disappointed to learn that they couldn't do it because Winery Road did not string up the fairy lights for us. Please also note then even though curfew is over, the wedding venue shuts down at 11.30 sharp. Its a lovely venue and rare to find a place that has a forest, a beautiful dam and a stunning dancefloor under the stars but if I could go back and do it all again I would choose a venue that sticks to their verbal agreements and works better with suppliers. Having said that I did find the venue far more affordable then most wine farms in the area and it's a lovely and relaxed space.
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Estelle L
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
10 Oct 2021, 16:05
Absolutely amazing
What a wonderful and stress free experiece. Winery Road Forest was the perfect setting. Natural beauty surrounding you where ever you looked with the forest as a backdrop to the most beautiful pictures. The venue is rustic and doesn’t need much decor to create an atmosphere of serenity and class. We had to plan a low budget event and both the owner as well as the co-ordinater bent backwards to accommodate us. The staff were friendly and accommodating. Everything was done in an organized manner and our many questions were answered with patience and understanding. The event went smoothly and witout any hickups. We attended 2 more functions at Winery Road Forest after this event and found the same dedication and attention to details. Thank you for the amazing evenings. We highly recommend Winery Road Forest for any type of function.
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Estelle L
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
10 Oct 2021, 16:05
Absolutely amazing
What a wonderful and stress free experiece. Winery Road Forest was the perfect setting. Natural beauty surrounding you where ever you looked with the forest as a backdrop to the most beautiful pictures. The venue is rustic and doesn’t need much decor to create an atmosphere of serenity and class. We had to plan a low budget event and both the owner as well as the co-ordinater bent backwards to accommodate us. The staff were friendly and accommodating. Everything was done in an organized manner and our many questions were answered with patience and understanding. The event went smoothly and witout any hickups. We attended 2 more functions at Winery Road Forest after this event and found the same dedication and attention to details. Thank you for the amazing evenings. We highly recommend Winery Road Forest for any type of function.
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Ryan W
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
21 Jul 2021, 19:09
Thieves
My Partner and I decided to have our wedding at the Winery Road Forest, this year. We have planned everything and paid an amount of R25000,00 already as a deposit and half of the venue costs, Fiona who no longer works there, that went to a better estate as per the Decor person who advised us of this, was really awesome in the whole process don't get me wrong the venue is great but, We have decided after long deliberation that we have to cancel the wedding as with the Covid-19 restrictions and the increase in infections at gathering we have to cancel as our guests safety comes first not to mention that our jobs like many South Africans have been infected by the Covid-19 therefore we don't know if we can afford the wedding yet alone pay rent and sustain ourselves, we asked Lize to provide a refund of the R25000,00 and provide a breakdown of the costs if penalties applied, Lize was very fast to provide a discount of R20000,00 to ensure we still have the wedding, but it still didn't make sense, after we requested cancellation we then heard nothing from Lize but from Margo who advised that they need banking details, to our suprise we received and amount of R5000,00 as a refund thats R20000,00 less, we understand penalties but R20000,00 is ridiculous we not bad people at the end of the day we trying to survive here and then we get ripped off by these people, very bad service Yes the venue is quality but even I know that service comes first its not all about the quality of the product, I would really like them to be more reasonable, we didn't even sign a contract with them but yet we still get ripped off, I am definitely taking Winery Road Forest legal and I don't care how far it goes but I thought some consideration would valid in this case
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Ryan W
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
21 Jul 2021, 19:09
Thieves
My Partner and I decided to have our wedding at the Winery Road Forest, this year. We have planned everything and paid an amount of R25000,00 already as a deposit and half of the venue costs, Fiona who no longer works there, that went to a better estate as per the Decor person who advised us of this, was really awesome in the whole process don't get me wrong the venue is great but, We have decided after long deliberation that we have to cancel the wedding as with the Covid-19 restrictions and the increase in infections at gathering we have to cancel as our guests safety comes first not to mention that our jobs like many South Africans have been infected by the Covid-19 therefore we don't know if we can afford the wedding yet alone pay rent and sustain ourselves, we asked Lize to provide a refund of the R25000,00 and provide a breakdown of the costs if penalties applied, Lize was very fast to provide a discount of R20000,00 to ensure we still have the wedding, but it still didn't make sense, after we requested cancellation we then heard nothing from Lize but from Margo who advised that they need banking details, to our suprise we received and amount of R5000,00 as a refund thats R20000,00 less, we understand penalties but R20000,00 is ridiculous we not bad people at the end of the day we trying to survive here and then we get ripped off by these people, very bad service Yes the venue is quality but even I know that service comes first its not all about the quality of the product, I would really like them to be more reasonable, we didn't even sign a contract with them but yet we still get ripped off, I am definitely taking Winery Road Forest legal and I don't care how far it goes but I thought some consideration would valid in this case
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Marilu H
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
3 Jan 2021, 01:13
Dishonest and chance taker venue
We approached this venue in Jan 2020 after we got married in the UK, on 17 Dec 2019. The idea was to have a South African wedding as well and do it on 17 Dec 2020 as a 1 year vow renewal. Due to Covid this wasn't possible and many of our guests are from Europe and Canada since my husband is British/Canadian. We paid a deposit of R10000 and requested that it be refunded as we couldn't have the wedding. The owner not only refused to give us back our money but threatened to slap us with a cancellation fee. She also lied and said we have a signed agreement which she sneakily tried to get me to sign after me and my husband had a telephonic conversation with her about the wedding. This is beyond disgusting behaviour. Being dishonest and refusing to give us back our money, even when we spoke to her 6 months ahead of the wedding date, is truly revolting. I would not recommend this venue to anyone as they are very dishonest.
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Marilu H
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
3 Jan 2021, 01:13
Dishonest and chance taker venue
We approached this venue in Jan 2020 after we got married in the UK, on 17 Dec 2019. The idea was to have a South African wedding as well and do it on 17 Dec 2020 as a 1 year vow renewal. Due to Covid this wasn't possible and many of our guests are from Europe and Canada since my husband is British/Canadian. We paid a deposit of R10000 and requested that it be refunded as we couldn't have the wedding. The owner not only refused to give us back our money but threatened to slap us with a cancellation fee. She also lied and said we have a signed agreement which she sneakily tried to get me to sign after me and my husband had a telephonic conversation with her about the wedding. This is beyond disgusting behaviour. Being dishonest and refusing to give us back our money, even when we spoke to her 6 months ahead of the wedding date, is truly revolting. I would not recommend this venue to anyone as they are very dishonest.
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Tina S
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
2 Nov 2017, 17:28
Horrendous behaviour
On discovering a perfect venue for my daughter's 4th bday and reading the following on their web and FB page ...... Our coordinating team is led by the dynamic and gregarious Lize. She is known for her ability to leave no stone unturned, thus creating what your heart truly desires. Providing you with the opportunity to enjoy a stress-free wedding (in my case kids party), without the slightest of hitches, you'll be able to enjoy yourself to the fullest. Take pleasure in the beginning of your journey together, relax and have fun....... I certainly did not experience stress-free fun or end up relaxed - quite the opposite! I experienced only cold hearted cruelty, insult and abuse from Lize Francis. The emotional abuse was nothing less than horrendous. After asking for her to open an additional 30 minutes earlier to allow for party setup I was taken to task, having the phone put down on me twice and being advised to cancel my party altogether, 48 hours before the party. In her opinion the tension had to do with the fact that I not yet made the final payment. In mine, it had to with the refusal to extend setup time. Frankly, all of this was irrelevant as her insults had nothing to do with our business relationship but were a personal attack that centered around accusations relating to my husband, his recent passing and my emotions surrounding this. I do not want to go into detail but I feel that it is important so as to understand the extent of this slander that I endured. Some but not all of the things that were said (witnessed via speaker phone) ‘Put your big panties on and pull yourself together... ‘who is your husband anyway,no one has heard of his death.’ ‘Who has a party just after burying their husband’ I am the first person to recommend good service and hate to complain but I feel that no one deserves the venomous treatment I had to endure!! Subsequent to my experience I have been made aware of numerous other run-ins with this person at this venue. This erratic behavior is unfitting of a service venue, especially one that focuses on birthday parties and weddings - it's not worth the emotional stress or insults from another human being!!!! On a lighter note an alternate venue came to the rescue and pulled out all the stops to ensure that my little girl’s first birthday without her Pappa was a happy one.
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Tina S
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2020
2 Nov 2017, 17:28
Horrendous behaviour
On discovering a perfect venue for my daughter's 4th bday and reading the following on their web and FB page ...... Our coordinating team is led by the dynamic and gregarious Lize. She is known for her ability to leave no stone unturned, thus creating what your heart truly desires. Providing you with the opportunity to enjoy a stress-free wedding (in my case kids party), without the slightest of hitches, you'll be able to enjoy yourself to the fullest. Take pleasure in the beginning of your journey together, relax and have fun....... I certainly did not experience stress-free fun or end up relaxed - quite the opposite! I experienced only cold hearted cruelty, insult and abuse from Lize Francis. The emotional abuse was nothing less than horrendous. After asking for her to open an additional 30 minutes earlier to allow for party setup I was taken to task, having the phone put down on me twice and being advised to cancel my party altogether, 48 hours before the party. In her opinion the tension had to do with the fact that I not yet made the final payment. In mine, it had to with the refusal to extend setup time. Frankly, all of this was irrelevant as her insults had nothing to do with our business relationship but were a personal attack that centered around accusations relating to my husband, his recent passing and my emotions surrounding this. I do not want to go into detail but I feel that it is important so as to understand the extent of this slander that I endured. Some but not all of the things that were said (witnessed via speaker phone) ‘Put your big panties on and pull yourself together... ‘who is your husband anyway,no one has heard of his death.’ ‘Who has a party just after burying their husband’ I am the first person to recommend good service and hate to complain but I feel that no one deserves the venomous treatment I had to endure!! Subsequent to my experience I have been made aware of numerous other run-ins with this person at this venue. This erratic behavior is unfitting of a service venue, especially one that focuses on birthday parties and weddings - it's not worth the emotional stress or insults from another human being!!!! On a lighter note an alternate venue came to the rescue and pulled out all the stops to ensure that my little girl’s first birthday without her Pappa was a happy one.
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