The Chester Hotel

What a night at the Celebrate Aberdeen Awards at The Chester Hotel! A few friends and I attended as volunteers and members of Aberdeen Youth Movement (AYM). We were nominated and then won Team of the Year, which was such an honour. The venue was spectacular, the team were amazing, and the food was sublime. Thanks for hosting us. I can't wait to visit again.

The sandwiches were beautifully put together, and the scones were light and fluffy with jam and cream. We also had a nice range of hot savoury bites and lovely cakes, with plenty of tea and coffee. I had Afternoon Tea there today with my two Cousin's and it was absolutely lovely. The staff were attentive and service was quick. We've booked our next lunch date for September! I didn't see the rooms.

For the money we spent, over £700, being spoken to like that was completely unacceptable. A staff member called down from the stairs, “Hi guys, you’re so loud, please turn the volume down.” We felt embarrassed and unwelcome. If we were being noisy, they could have approached us politely instead of shouting at our table. The food wasn't much better: my lentil soup was average, the venison decent but the potatoes far too salty, the panna cotta was more syrup than panna cotta, and I couldn't finish the average sticky toffee pudding. There were 12 of us ladies having Christmas dinner in The Chester Hotel restaurant last night. Our long table was right by the kitchen entrance, with people constantly passing on their way into the main restaurant. The noise and movement meant we had to raise our voices to talk. Service didn't feel hospitable either. No one really looked after our large group, I poured our own wine, and some cutlery was missing, which we initially didn't mind. After the rude treatment and the rest of the evening, we won't be coming back.

It was expensive, sure, but worth it for that real wow factor. The dinner was outstanding, the staff were truly amazing, and the whole experience was first class.