De Vere - Grand Connaught Rooms, Derby Suite

Nice venue for big events such as award ceremonies, etc Have been here three times now, and each time, the food and drinks were of really good quality. The position of the tables can sometimes be an issue as it's hard to see the stage directly, although if the event companies put up decent screens, it's not an issue.

Great venue for our conference event. The staff was very helpful and friendly. I had the pleasure of working with Shannen and Ellie for the event space procurement and planning stages, which went smoothly. On the actual event days, we had a dedicated events person, Aura, who was incredibly on the ball and attentive to details. I'm very thankful to the rest of the staff and catering team, as well as the AV team, all of whom reacted quickly to our requests on site. The location of the venue is also pretty convenient. The building is definitely old but has a certain charm to it. I think most of our conference guests were happy with the venue. I would recommend this establishment but just one thing to note - the building has different wings and can be confusing to navigate. Signages are definitely needed if your event has breakouts in other rooms.

On March 11, 2025, between 8:35-8:45 AM, I was walking from the east wing to the elevator, intending to go to the 3rd floor. While entering the elevator, three staff members (one male, two females) with a trolley of hangers decided to enter the  elevator. The staff members hit me with the hangers on their trolley and did not apologize for the incident. Another guest going to the 3rd floor was also hit from behind by the trolley. The elevator was too small to safely accommodate the trolley alongside guests. The staff should have waited for the next elevator instead of creating a hazardous situation. This incident has significantly changed my view of this hotel. The staff demonstrated poor manners, lack of basic courtesy, disregard for guest safety and comfort, and substandard customer service. I believe this reflects poorly on management's lack of proper staff training, inadequate supervision, and poor accountability measures. I plan to share this feedback with my management team as this level of service falls far below the standard expected from the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend this establishment