I booked the Aspen Room at the Westbury Alyn Williams this month for a corporate dinner for 12. I have booked such dinners many times before at Claridges, the Ritz, the Langham, the Wollesley,etc. We were absolutely ripped off here. Its a disgrace. Not only were we overcharged but the service was awful, the 7 course dinner was cold! Not even the plates were warmed. Two waiters queued up outside the room holding large trays while the server was busy and the food was served by him one by one, ice cold.
Two of our guests don't drink alcohol at all, another one was driving in from Hampshire so he only had two glasses of wine and another has an allergy to red so only drank white. We were charged for 15 bottles of wine, 9 red and 6 white and 3 bottles of Prosecco. I had only one glass of red because I preferred white.
Therefore, according to this bill, 7 people drank 9 bottles of red wine. Lets say for arguments sake, I drank a whole bottle of white wine myself, which I really doubt, if I did I wouldn’t be able to talk let alone walk, but lets just say I did. That would mean the very same 7 people consumed 9 bottles of red and 5 bottles of white! All that after 3 bottles of Prosecco and a beer.
Whats worse is when I examined the bill and called the restaurant the day later they said they were sorry and would look into it. I waited over a week and chased, its the principle of the matter that irked me. Finally Mr. Nestoridis,the sommelier emailed me and I was told that it was long evening and guests underestimate what they consume. I say rubbish! No one was drunk and only one chap was tipsy.
So if you are looking for a corporate hospitality venue - be warned, don't go here.