Muthablogga

For my most recent birthday party the above quote is 100% accurate.

It all started 2 weeks before the event. I was expecting around 25 to 40 guests and I needed somewhere versatile enough to cater to their need for a bar and a few people’s need for snacks or some sort of dinner ( mine in particular).

Salt Vodka Bar in Bantry Bay seemed like the perfect option. I’d heard only good things, and the gallery photo’s blew my mind at a glance. I was sold before I had even picked up the phone. Even though I have never visited the bar itself, I had heard enough not to be nervous. Two weeks before the time, I called and booked. No problem. The Monday  of the following week I received an email to confirm from the venue and then on the Wednesday (at this point it was now just 2 days before my birthday), I received a call from the manageress. Horror above all horror’s, they had now double booked the venue! I literally flipped my lid. Who could possibly be so entirely disorganised? I asked how many people were attending this other booked party, and with commendable honesty she answered ’60′. Fine, okay I said, calming down and attempting to keep the main thing the main thing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         After a few seconds of stunned silence my next reaction was to ask,’ Okay, so what do you intend to do about it?’  With only 2 days before my birthday party, there is no way I could plan for another venue offering the same views and services.

At first Michelle didn’t seem to intend to do anything, and made a few rather lame if not entirely inconsequential suggestions. Mad as hell, I sent an email to her, the restaurant and general management email addresses requesting a resolution. It didn’t take long. Quite swiftly I had her calling me back, apologising and shortly thereafter again, announcing they would like to give me use of the Ambassador Hotel’s Pool Deck. I have to say I was chuffed! For a moment, my birthday could have been an absolute disaster. They had  potentially ruined and then saved the day in less than 24 hours.  Sure we had to order massive platters instead of food from the restaurant or bar as we would have, which where horrendously expensive (I would have had to fork out about  R1000 less if we had been at the bar as planned) and there was only one barman but the view, the privacy and company made it totally worth it.

I am still awaiting an opportunity to actually visit the Salt Vodka Bar. I still haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t post comment. Doesn’t it look amazing though? Bottom line, the folks at the Ambassador were tremendous. The snack platters, despite their pricing (catering for foreigners and I don’t earn in pounds, yet) where delicious. The view from the pool deck was breathtaking as we watched the sun disappear below the horizon and I have to ultimately commend them. I’m sure the Vodka bar would have been good, but I’m pretty positive the pool deck was better.Marilyn was right, sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.  Have you been to the Salt Bar? Was it good? Share with us.