I had my Nanas 100th birthday here. It was amazing. Lori was the best lead server. She made sure…read morewe had everything we needed also the staff was so friendly and helpful when planning the party. They had everything a dance floor a project and the screen and more.

The staff here was amazingly helpful and made sure the night went smoothly for our banquet. The…read morefood was great, lighting brought all of the vibes, and they even packaged up the leftovers for us to enjoy. Super friendly, clean, and gorgeous venue.

Attended a wedding for our friends Edwin and Stephanie here last Friday. The ceremony took place…read moreoutdoors and was promptly followed up with the reception and happy hour which was within short walking distance at the same location. There is a bar area next to the reception area. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. The balcony was a perfect spot for pictures, overlooking the grounds. The location was spacious enough for accommodating the dance floor and guests comfortably (guest list was approximately 50-60). Dinner service was prompt and overall, everyone had a fantastic night celebrating the newlyweds.

*Full disclosure-I visited (twice) for a potential wedding venue only*…read more We met PJ at the Hartford Bridal Expo and he was awesome! He gave us so much info and wasn't rushing us away to talk to the other hundreds of people that were there. We told him we were looking for the Thursday before Good Friday, so most guests would already have a long weekend AND we could take advantage of the great Thursday off-peak pricing we've been seeing. PJ was so excited to hear this and started explaining all of the details of the fabulous Thursday packages they were offering at Birchwoods! This package included a cake, a photo booth, a DJ, AND A PHOTOGRAPHER, all for a reasonable price per person!!! After hearing this, we looked at pictures and immediately made an appointment to go visit the venue the following weekend. I was so impressed with the venue! The decorations are gorgeous, from the second you open the front door to the hallway to the bridal suite to the room you'd have your reception in, which happened to be set up for a wedding that was happening that evening. We also met Trish during our first visit, and she was also friendly and explaining any and everything we had questions or comments about. She was pointing out all of the decorations that are theirs, which are available for you to use for your big day to save money! PJ had told us at the expo that you can use whatever they have, from centerpieces, to table numbers to card boxes to the Mr. and Mrs. signs for the sweetheart table, all things available to you that you have to provide at many venues. Now, while we ultimately didn't choose this venue because we found another place where we could have our ceremony outside, rain or shine, Birchwoods ABSOLUTELY had my favorite bridal suite! This was the only one I saw with big gorgeous windows, which would've been great for pics while getting ready, as well as for natural light to come in while getting hair and makeup done! There was also a grooms suite in the basement, which most places don't have! So, they definitely had some great features that not many places had, and it's a place you should check out if you're looking for a venue with a lot of great features, and a reasonable price! Omg, I forgot to mention something else I loved! The ladies room! Bizarre, right? But this is the only place I saw that didn't have those tiny little stalls where you practically have to straddle the toilet for the door to swing in so you can close and lock it. I swear, between the ladies room and bridal suite I was a huge fan! Those were two things they had that beat the others, hands down!

Preliminary review! The hotel I checked into (a different one from the Blake) was much smaller and…read moreolder than I expected even though it is well located. I walked over here to the Blake to check things out... and it is so beautiful and modern! The rooms look amazing and spacious, and they have a stylish bar open for dinner. It's not open for breakfast, but Lori (the wonderful employee at the front desk) explained that they offer free coffee and tea and pastries in the morning and that each room also has an espresso machine. Sign me up! They are booked up for tonight, but I made a reservation to switch for the rest of my visit. I'm super excited to move over here and will update later.

Rolled up about midnight after a LONG travel day. Gal at the desk could not have been more helpful…read more She checked me in super fast, relieved me of my car even though I left it in the wrong place and didn't blink when I grabbed both coffee and wine from the cooler next to the desk. She recognized I was a hot mess and took care of everything quickly and effortlessly. My room was modern, clean and very comfortable. What more could a weary traveler want?

Hello good people. I had a great experience renting this space at the Devonshire Hall. The owner…read moreallowed us access to the venue in the morning to set up. There was plenty of room for the tables and chairs they provided. The hall is already wired for your DJ of choice to use the house sound system from a balcony area that overlooks the space. The bar was a good size with a large screen TV. Three very clean bathrooms in the foyer area. We made use of the ice machine and refrigerator for your sodas and waters. The price was very reasonable for this large rental space. My only warning would be to make note of the late night sound restrictions if you're going to use a DJ and play music throughout your event. Enjoy yourself!!!

"Had a great time! · "Wow this place is absolutely amazing! · "It was very open spacious clean and…read morethe staff was so amazing and attentive. The full bar and amenities were outstanding. The staff allows you to be creative and create the atmosphere for celebration with this amazing blank canvas location and sheer amount of space available inside we created an amazing environment for our guests who attended the comedy show. The sheer amount of space available and ease of access and parking makes this location an absolute must put it on your list for hosting events in CT. Devonshire Hall was amazing and would highly recommend booking an event at this venue.

We recently had our "Happily Ever After" party (small reception following our wedding ceremony) at…read moreStudio 8 and couldn't have been happier. Jason and Nicole, along with their team are extremely accommodating and go above and beyond to ensure your event is just what you desire. They provided a list of recommended vendors and they were all excellent to work with as well. The space is beautifully decorated and has a very inviting, fun atmosphere. Our guests absolutely loved the "club like" vibe and all raved about how great everything was. Whether you're looking for a venue for a birthday party, a shower, or any gathering that you want to have a wonderful time at, Studio 8 is the perfect spot!

We couldn't have chosen a better place to celebrate my daughter's 15th birthday. It was a beautiful…read moreparty, and the Studio 8 staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, making everything run smoothly. It's beautiful place, my guests completely loved it! I 100% recommend Studio 8, without a shadow of a doubt.

Had so much fun here this past weekend!…read more Upon entering you are prompted to pay and sign your waiver which is a very quick process. My friend and I went on a Friday night at around 7:30 PM and the wait was not long at all. There is a full bar and even live music which was a pleasant surprise to see! It a great hang out spot even if you opt out of throwing axes. Once you are assigned a lane an instructor walks you over and goes over safety rules as well as how to properly throw the axe and tally points. After some tries by myself, they realized I was struggling and offered a personalized lesson. They were patient with me and gave me many different strategies to use to perfect my throw. While embarrassed at how bad I truly was, it was really comforting that they took the time to teach me without judgement. By the end of it, I have to say I was fairly confident and was landing it on the board almost every time, which made my experience a lot more enjoyable (even getting a bullseye might I add). Great for a first date, a group hangout, or family activity!

We were here once before to celebrate a birthday and had so much fun. I couple of years have gone…read moreby and we stopped by to celebrate another birthday and had a blast. They expanded and did an amazing job on the new bar and patio. We will be back to hang out here soon! The 4 of us reserved an hour for throwing. The woman checking us in was very nice and even though we had been there before, was kind enough to give us a quick refresher. I have to mention the music being played was spot on! We all enjoyed this. Drinks are not expensive and bar tender was friendly. We did not try any food as we were heading out someplace to eat. we will be back and this time not wait so long!

I had a 95-person wedding reception at the Graduate Club this past month and cannot recommend the…read morevenue enough! Sandra was responsive and professional in coordinating the event and pulled everything off flawlessly. Compared to other venue options, the Club was also very reasonably priced. If you're into an old-fashioned, New England B&B feel, this is the right place for you. The staff is friendly, the food great and the entire place charming and cozy.

Although I'm not a member, I've eaten at the Grad Club many times, and booked the club on behalf of…read moreorganizations that I represent. Their reservations staff has been exceptionally helpful, their service is excellent, and the food is worth coming back for. (Their popovers are justifiably famous.) The only problem is parking: there is a lot behind the Club that can be used by the public in the evenings and on weekends, but the Club shares the lot with several of the surrounding academic buildings, and parking can be tight, even after the close of the school day; during graduation week, the public can't use the lot at all. Fortunately, there are parking garages in the vicinity if you're willing to walk a couple of blocks.

We recently attended an afternoon/evening wedding at Tyde. Our first impression was what a…read morebeautiful modern building, and right on the sound. The ceremony was outside almost on the water. What a view! There was a duet playing beautiful music before and after the ceremony. The bridal party and the bride walked down a staircase to the officiant. What a wonderful location for a wedding. After the ceremony we all went in, first for a cocktail party upstairs both in and outside with the magnificent view of the sound. The waiters were all extremely courteous and professional, and the bartenders made great drinks. There were trays of food being passed around as well as several stations. All was delicious with the exception of the mini lobster rolls. There was no more than a half teaspoon of lobster in each one. After the lovely cocktail hour, we were ushered downstairs to a beautiful dining room with a large dance floor. Again, the service was impeccable. My only criticism of the food is it was a bit sodium forward. Other than that everyone loved their meal. Whatever our hosts paid, they certainly got their money's worth. I would recommend it for your next event.

Don't let the pretty lights fool you at "Tyde at Walnut Beach"! Worst time ever at a…read morewedding/reception!!! Outside ceremony: absolutely freezing, not enough chairs & couldn't hear a single word the officiant spoke. Inside/outside cocktail hour: again freezing & the hors d'oeuvres sent me immediately running for the ladies room with food poisoning! Inside dinner: very, very skimpy portions & cheap cuts! Who serves a 1/4 chicken (leg & thigh) at a wedding??? Worse than any of that... 8 top tables were set for 12! It was hideously uncomfortable! People were elbow to elbow & butt cheek to butt cheek with the person next to them. I could not move out of my seat without sliding my chair straight back, all the way out of the line of seats. When I was able to get out, I took a look at the room & saw plenty of empty areas where more tables could have easily been set up so that everyone was comfortable, not crammed together like sardines. In one of the more empty areas of the room, stood a table with small wedding cake, getting warm under the lighting, open for anyone to sneeze, cough or spread their germs/hair/etc on... for hours!!! (After seeing that, it's no wonder why the hors d'oeuvres sent me straight to the ladies room.) Long waits for the skimpy dishes! 1 hour from seating to salad course. 40 minutes between salad & dinner course. 50 minutes between dinner & tiny piece of warm, melted frosting wedding cake. Most people at our table didn't eat their whole meal & hardly anyone ate the cake. Worst time ever at a wedding/reception!!! (Note: in order to submit a review, you have to give at least 1 star. However, I would give Tyde at Walnut Beach ZERO stars!!!)