Town Hall in County Durham

We had booked the function room for our 40th wedding anniversary party, but 2 weeks before the party, we found out that the venue event organisers, Oldfields, had gone bankrupt. With people coming from all around the country, we were worried, and I contacted the Town Council who told me they were trying to arrange a new events company to take over. There were a few anxious days while this was sorted out, but with just about a week to go, the council told us that a new company had been agreed. The company employed many of the same staff so that the arrangements carried on, unchanged,, and the evening was a great success. Many thanks to the council, particularly Judith, and to the new events company, especially Colin and Emma, for resolving this. We had a great time, the venue is good, food and celebration fizz were plentiful, DJ played music from our chosen playlist and fitted in with the band we had arranged. separately. Great work.

This is the letter I wrote to which I still haven't had an acknowledgment - please avoid even if using a Groupon "To whom it may concern I feel compelled to let you know, that today i had intended treating my mam and mother in law to Afternoon Tea - at your establishment. I booked at least a week in advance, to ensure we could go on this particular day and time. Upon entering the very small 'cafe' was empty - with a young girl set behind the counter along with the cake stand already wrapped in cellophane. I handed over my groupon voucher which was for two people - and i asked if i could order a drink and something to eat separately. I looked in the display case and was horrified to see a plate of cooked sausages and burgers - waiting to be reheated i guess on request. A big packet of the cheapest Tesco everyday ham, and a plate of shredded lettuce that looked more brown than green. The menu board had offered things like corned beef slice, chips, etc. although i was told these weren't available? I settled for a tuna sandwich - no salad! when all the mismatched cups and saucers were brought over some were sent back as they were unclean. there was a radio playing pretty loud music positioned directly behind us and after about 5 minutes i turned this down as we were struggling to hold a conversation then the cake stand arrived - sandwiches egg mayo and tuna which had almost certainly been made the day before, the thinnest shop bought victoria sandwich cake i have ever seen, a few token grapes dotted about that had seen better days, and the best of all 2 scones which were so hard they were almost impossible to cut, inedible, and as hard as cinder toffee, this for me was the last straw, i took them to the girl server and asked if there were any other scones, to be told no basically... a cafe with no scones - we were offered a piece of carrot cake instead but declined. We decided to cut our losses and head off i paid for my sandwich and tea, and i did leave a tip for the server as i was feeling sorry for her by this point. I wouldn't recommend this place as there are far better afternoon tea venues across the area to visit. i felt so bad as this was supposed to be a treat for 2 elderly ladies, but turned out an embarrassment on my part. Cant believe this has anything to do with Oldfields restaurants, which i used to visit regularly in Claypath, Durham. To rectify this i would like you to consider a refund of the price of the groupon voucher and also the cost of the additional food purchased on the day. if you are not prepared to extend this courtesy as a matter of goodwill - i may need to consider my next steps - I would be prepared to accept a replacement meal/visit as recompense. i await you comments with interest" Come on - sort this out!!!

Por desgracia, el té de la tarde fue una decepción, pagamos £12,95 a través de una oferta de groupon. Aunque esto no suena mucho su estándar para el té de la tarde para también. Fuimos un domingo por la tarde y éramos los únicos, los bocadillos por desgracia era terrible y yo culpar a este en ser hechas el día antes, sólo había un miembro de personal y ella sólo puede hacer mucho, así que supongo que el trabajo de preparación ha sido hecho el día antes, esta no era una buena idea, ya que no disfruté en absoluto, las tartas eran nada emocionante, bastante insípido si soy sincero. El lugar es pequeño y no un entorno ideal y no es un sitio que recomendaría entretener a volver a.

Pagamos menos de 13 libras para un bono de té de la tarde en Seaham Ayuntamiento groupon. Reservamos para 4:00, pero llegamos temprano y varias horas. Sandwiches y pasteles eran preciosas. No sólo la crítica fue nos preguntaron si necesitamos rellenar en nuestra taza de té. Volvería de nuevo si en la zona.

Asistimos a un bautizo y después de esperar un rato, la comida estaba bien. Bocadillos calientes cerdo estaban deliciosos. Sin embargo, el 'patatas asadas" eran en realidad enormes patatas cocidas con la piel y poner en el horno. Poco extraño el bar se quedó sin hielo bastante temprano, en lo que era un poco incómodo. No una gran cantidad de elección personal era muy amable y atento.

Mi hijo y su novia (en ese momento) nos decepcionó por su boda aproximadamente 3 mes antes elegido el 'Gran día'. Con la oferta que Oldfields boda y gestión de eventos en Seaham Ayuntamiento comunique y explicó que el Ayuntamiento ya tenía una boda reservado para la fecha, pero ofreció su lugar 'en ister Seaton Holme en Easington Village.Qué variedad!! De principio a fin su coordinador fue de lo más servicial. En el gran día, el personal era fantástico, amable, atento y muy atentos, se necesitaban y la comida, tanto por la tarde y noche fue maravillosa. Nuestra única preocupación principal era el 'móvil' bar. No era muy surtido, pero alguien fue enviado para suministros regularmente a nuestros huéspedes, y todo el mundo estaba felices.Nada era demasiado problema, y cuando el clima es bueno tienen una amplia zona de césped en la parte delantera del edificio, donde adultos y niños pueden jugar!!Sin duda recomendaría este lugar y el equipo de eventos a cualquiera que quiera un fabuloso, sin problemas de bodamuchas gracias Oldfields, tuvimos una increíble día con usted.

We visited oilfields at Seaham Town Hall for afternoon tea,how disappointing this was,having visited Oldfields in Durham many times and enjoying lovely food this was a very big let down,sandwhiches where limp and lifeless,cakes shop bought and scones where dry and burnt,has to be the worst experience of afternoon tea we have had,we would definitely not recommend this to anyone.

Visitamos para el té de la tarde a través de Groupon. Por suerte estaba lloviendo y los niños jugar en el parque junto al café estaba desierto. El té de la tarde era agradable y abundante, el personal era encantador, sin embargo, este es un cafe no hay ambiente y diminuta sin duda no es un lugar fantástico para el té de la tarde. Yo no haría el esfuerzo de viaje para llegar aquí.

Was a guest at a wedding the food was lovely and the staff very attentive, accommodating and friendly.

Asistieron a un bautizo aquí y tenía ganas de probar el buffet que me habían informado fue proporcionado por el conocido Oldfields de Durham. No podría haber estado más decepcionados, el buffet era probablemente el peor que he tenido con hamburguesas crudas y no una pizza rancio rollo la salchicha en el sitio!No recomendaría comer aquí!

We came to try the cafe, with an exciting looking sandwich menu posted on Facebook and Oldfield’s reputation backing this place, it seemed like a great idea.Clearly whoever made the hummus has never made it before and certainly never tasted it. Watery, flavourless, has never seen garlic or lemon or tahini. And a stale bun. My companion fared no better although she did mange to eat some of hers.Coffee choices were filter or “Nescaff” and honestly while Valentes can get away with serving this ‘Nescaff’ stuff, you can’t, you really can’t. The filter coffee had obviously sat on its hot plate all morning - it was stale and bitter. Apparently they’ve changed their brand now but that’s pretty pointless if they don’t know how to make it, so until they get an expresso machine, we won’t be back.This was a great opportunity to get some business going for the Town Hall - goodness knows it needs to break even. But this won’t do it. Ever. They need staff training in basic catering, portion control, presentation, everything. Seriously there is nothing good I can say except that they didn’t charge me for the hummus. Reports today of a wedding where at £8.90 a head, guests were served a sandwich bun with a couple of cold roast potatoes, and at the main meal the food ran out. Word is getting round to avoid the place.Bill Oldfield can’t possibly have anything to do with this. Dreadful.