I recently hosted an event at Middleton Venue, intending to create a memorable and positive experience. Unfortunately, dealing with the venue owner and staff was disappointing and stressful.
While the venue has clear guidelines about wall decorations, I explicitly told a guest not to place tape on the walls, however damage occurred. During follow-up discussions, the venue owner called me a liar stating I had been dishonest in recounting these events, which was both hurtful and baseless. While she claimed to have audio evidence that contradicted my account, this was unsubstantiated. I was told they wanted my side of the story, but when explaining what happened I was met with “you’re lying to me and my video evidence is all I need. and felt like an unfair characterization. During this conversation and previous conversations with the owner where she mentioned waiving fees, yet this was later dismissed as irrelevant when I brought it up. She stated that she would be charging the full amount because I lied to her.
Additionally, I was charged an extra hour for running three minutes over the time allowed. What’s particularly upsetting is that these minutes were actually spent speaking with the facility director, discussing wall damage and ensuring we left the space in good condition. Despite this, the owner insisted on charging additional amount rather than showing understanding or leniency for a few minutes over. This also was not even mentioned at the time of the event, only based off of their camera time when everyone was OUTSIDE of the venue. The extra charge seemed unnecessary and nitpicky.
Ultimately, this experience was marred by excessive charges, contradictory statements from the owner, and an overall lack of professionalism. I would advise future clients to record all conversations and double-check every verbal agreement to avoid the issues I encountered. I cannot, in good faith, recommend Middleton Venue to others based on my experience.