July 2023 by 384pirjov
We celebrated my daughter?s wedding at the Woodside Lodge, what a lovely and unforgettable weekend we had ! Such a beautiful estate, a wonderful team taking care of us and making us feel special. Thank you Woodside Lodge you are very special !
December 2022 by Alan W
We had a small elopement wedding and had such an amazing experience here at the lodge. The staff could not be more helpful and nothing was too much trouble. The venue is stunning and the lodge a beautiful setting right on the loch. Iain ( the owner ) and Janice could not be faulted in the efforts they went to to make sure our day and time there was just perfect. The amount of work these people put in should be admired. We are already looking forward to goin back over and over again and can't wait to see the finished work of the outhouses to add to an already amazing venue.
November 2022 by rosg117
Both families, relatives and friends attended the wedding of our daughter and her husband, a small wedding which was the couple's wish, 21 in total. A simply stunning location at Loch Goil and a beautifully restored Arts and Crafts house, just look at the hotel's brochure. We arrived on Friday afternoon and left on Sunday morning. Right from the offset when we were greeted by the small team of staff who took our luggage and helped guests to their room, we knew we were in competent hands. The on-site overflow accommodation unfortunately was not fully completed but an excellent alternative had been organised by the venue management and the couples who stayed there were very impressed, additionally a shuttle service for these guests was laid on to ferry them back and forth as needed. The Lodge itself was warm and comfortable and the bedrooms were very well appointed with quality bedlinens and ample storage space. The landscaped grounds are extensive and have wonderful views over the loch with many photo opportunities for our daughter and husband to have stunning pictures taken for posterity. In what can be a rather fraught time for everyone, the staff went out of their way to keep a calm and professional atmosphere, nothing was too much trouble and this was all carried out with good humour and prompt attention. They worked so hard to make the weekend special for us all (and I am sure all other couples) and you will be in competent hands if you choose this venue for a wedding Finally, I have never been to a wedding where the quality of the food was so high. From a full afternoon tea on arrival, to the Friday evening buffet-style meal, to the breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday, the light refreshments on the Saturday midday, the canapes post ceremony and Wedding Breakfast the Saturday evening. I could not fault the meals in any way, the food choices on offer was wide, the food that was meant to be hot was hot, the food plates were hot (a common failing in so many places) and the range of dishes offered to the guests was of the high standard one would expect in an upmarket restaurant. We all had a wonderful experience at the Lodge; thank you to the team.
November 2022 by grsh1988
Myself and my wife were married here in December for which we decided to have a small elopement. We travelled up from London to Glasgow, where we stayed for one evening before heading to the venue. Coming from London the drive up to Loch Goil was otherworldly and something I'd got back to do again. The residence itself is absolutely superb, but the biggest asset to the whole operation is the people. It's like getting married at home due to the environment created by those who work there. Iain is a stellar host; You get the overriding feeling that he just wants you to have a perfect day - and we did. The personal touches as well that may read as "small" details but two stick out; having a drink at the bar before the ceremony (out of a Scottish ceremonial bit of kit that I forget the name of) and the photo at "first sight" were just a couple of things that they don't have to do, but did. Those things, in retrospect, just add to the personal feel you have at such a venue that couldn't ever be replicated at any other mainstream "wedding venue". The food was fantastic - I really wish I could have said a personal thank you to the chef(s). During the ceremony/meal we were looked after by Janice & Arlene -- two better people you couldn't find. Both went out of their way to take some lovely pictures of the ceremony, despite us having a photographer onsite. The only thing that I would have changed would have been to extend the stay by a night or perhaps have arrived earlier. Just to allow us to take as much of it in as possible. If you are looking for a perfect intimate elopement, look no further.
November 2022 by 697lorraine
Our wedding at the The Lodge was nothing but perfect. From the moment we arrived to our departure we thoroughly enjoyed every second. The Lodge itself is beautiful, as were the grounds and the summerhouse. We felt thoroughly looked after, Janice constantly served us food and drink and nothing was too much trouble. We can?t believe how much we ate over the two days, the food was delicious. Initially when we booked with you we wanted to get married in the treehouse and when we learnt that it had unfortunately had to be removed we were quite upset ( I even cried!) but when we were actually there everything was so beautiful and perfect we totally forgot there was a treehouse in the first place! We truly couldn?t have picked a better place. When we booked it was also really helpful to have Michael and Fotogenic and the Laura Gray team?s details as recommendations too. That not only saved me potentially hours of searching the internet but also we couldn?t have been happier with them. We cannot thank you all enough for making our wedding truly special.
September 2022 by nataliemY2645DN
My wife and I have just been and had the most perfect wedding at the Lodge at Loch Goil. The Lodge, the Summerhouse, the grounds and the views were spectacular. Massive thanks to Janice, Athena and Iain who were amazing. The service, care, and attention to detail was second to none. We felt thoroughly looked after and nothing was too much trouble. The food was delicious - from breakfast to afternoon tea to dinner. I cannot recommend this incredible place enough ??
August 2022 by CalumR977
I was lucky enough to be booked by a lovely couple for an elopement and I was able to stay at the Lodge with the couple and a videographer for the night. I was able to experience first hand the service that's provided by the lodge and it was like we weren't working at all. The food was delicious and Janice and Athena were so welcoming and warm during our stay. Nothing was a problem. I know that our couple had an absolutely fantastic stay too. Would love to visit here again for sure.
July 2022 by S5854XXnikkih
My new husband and I Ryan got married at the lodge on the 28th of July 2022. We had the elopment package for just the two of us - or as I like to call it the dream wedding! Ryan and I arrived after a lovely drive with gorgeous views - even being from Scotland the views you see still never ceases to amaze us, what a place we live in! We were greeted by Iain and his team Athena, Janice and Ame who from that point on ensured every single thing was taken care of and did absolutely everything for you - we felt like royalty! We had the full estate to ourselves meaning we could just explore! We had afternoon tea in-between bridal hair and make-up and Janice always made sure we had bubbles if we wanted them. We then got married in the wedding pavillion by the amazing Samantha Gillies of Argyll and Bute registrar's overlooking Loch Goil and the weather was beautiful! Athena and Janice were our witnesses and after we signed our licence Ame came with the bubbles! We then had canapés on the lochside and began exploring the grounds for our photos which were taken by the very talented Kayleigh Scott Photography. We then cut the cake and had time to ourselves chilling in the gorgeous main house library before dinner. Dinner was out of this world! Iain catered to our allergy needs and provided exactly what we asked for and it was honestly the best meal I've ever had! They keep you so full of food and drink we needed our bed after dinner we were so stuffed! So much so Janice and Athena delivered our cheeseboard and desert down to the summerhouse where we were staying the night as we couldn't manage it at the time! We spent the night in the summerhouse which is down right on the loch secluded from the rest of the estate, what a view! We slept with the roaring fire crackling and woke up to boats passing by. Breakfast the next morning was again amazing with cereals, croissants and a full Scottish - anything you wanted really! We then all had a nice chat before it was time to leave. It was honestly the perfect day. We wouldn't have done it any other way and wouldn't have wanted to do it anywhere else. We're already recommending the lodge to everyone we know! Even just the little details of their glass water with their logo on it to the robes and slippers to the very fancy departing gift! Again we just want to say thank you to the team you honestly made our wedding day perfect! Nikki and Ryan xxx
July 2022 by Yasmin A
Just wow where do I even start. I have just come back from my honeymoon so I?m still in my wedding bubble - the perfect time to write my review on our recent wedding at The Lodge. ? Myself and my husband recently had our wedding at The Lodge and it was pure perfection. From the staff to the food and the picturesque setting. We got married in the beautiful orangery overlooking the mountains and loch- which was just one of the places within the grounds that you can choose to get married. We then had a champagne reception outside on the lawn with music playing while we went off to have our photos taken. Our guests have said how much they loved the canapés. The food was exquisite, and the menu we had chosen was so well received by our guests. It really was the freshest food and the summer BBQ the night before was amazing too - we had fresh fish and seafood accompanied by produce picked from their kitchen garden. The staff went above and beyond to cater for our needs - we felt so welcome and at home and can?t thank the team enough for making our wedding so special. It really was the best day of our life and the most incredible venue and setting. We hope to be back soon for our anniversary next year! Thank you Iain, Janice and the rest of the Team for all your hard work in creating the perfect day that we?ll never forget.
July 2022 by Arrow55127617321865
Attended my son?s wedding in May 2022 and thought the location was fantastic. It was raining a bit when we arrived which was a bit disappointing, but the views were great. We didn?t meet the owner of The Lodge at all really during our stay. I believe he spoke with my son on the second day but on arrival, I felt as though they weren?t expecting us. We didn?t get a tour of the grounds and instead we were standing in the hallway waiting for something to happen. We never received a glass of champagne either and instead had to find where we were sleeping by ourselves. The hospitality was really poor. The food wasn?t the greatest on both days. It was very bland and a bit overcooked. A few of us order vegetarian dishes and they were tasteless. The water wasn?t for me. I was told it was mountain water but honestly I wouldn?t have been able to tell. It tasted more like tap water. One good thing was that there was not a shortage of wine. Towards the end of the second night, I was looking for something to nibble on after all the alcohol, and we were told that the only food available is what they provide on the menu. I found this a bit disappointing. Usually, there is at least a packet of nuts at the very minimum, but nothing. Janice was really nice and a sweet lady. She was really overworked and has two young girls under her wing. One of the girls had told us that they had just started that day and it can be hard to get to The Lodge with it being so remote. I feel as though the staff should have been better prepared for the event and trained up. We did have orders coming to the table at times that were wrong. I was disappointed when one of the girls told me the owner didn?t tell all couples about the treehouse. There appeared to be a motive there and my son only found out by chance. The bedroom I stayed in with my wife was okay but not up to a luxury standard. The windows didn?t open in our room and my wife had pointed out cobwebs around the room. I understand it was a similar thing in other rooms as well. We also noticed that we weren?t offered any new towels or left them either. We did ask the morning we were leaving having used the same ones for two days but no one came back with any so we just made do. The water in the bath was a little strange too. It was coming out yellow and the pipes creaked a lot. Think the pipes needed a good cleanout or work done to them. I opted to take a shower instead. When I was leaving the property I bumped into Iain who was wishing us well. He had made a comment about my son?s dog that was barking saying if it was his dog that he would kill it. I found this a bit insensitive. I am sure he was joking, but it?s still a strange thing to come out with. I do understand my son has been in correspondence with Iain since and provided feedback. It was mentioned about £200 was taken off the bill in goodwill, but this never happened. My wife and I split the bill with his Uncle. At no point was a discount mentioned to us. Janice had shown us the full bill and we paid it. There was no discount. I?m not sure if he?s confusing us with someone else but again this shows a lack of professionalism from Iain to suggest things that are unwarranted. Things should be better communicated. The venue is beautiful, but it required a lot of work. The prices don?t justify the experience that we got and I wouldn?t recommend this to people wanting to go.
July 2022 by Alex Morgan
I was married there about 12 years ago. It was a beautiful building and location with a unique tree-house wedding area. Honestly, the nicest location for any small scale party or function. The staff were amazing and the food something else. 100%
June 2022 by Mara Girl
I am saddened that the elopement I booked in October 2021 for June 14, 2022 had to be canceled less than two weeks prior to the event date. I was traveling with my husband from California to The Lodge to do a vow renewal. We legally married in the states a couple of months ago but our actual wedding ceremony and celebration was planned for the iconic treehouse at The Lodge. Apparently the treehouse was destroyed in a storm months ago and somehow we were not made aware. The owner Iain said an email was sent to all customers when the damage occurred. I choose to believe him and that some issue arose (email went to my spam folder, my email address missed on distribution list, etc.). That said, learning of this last week broke my heart. I was sending Iain emails requesting updates to my wedding details sheets (that still specified treehouse ceremony and treehouse wedding dinner) as early as April 21, 2022 with weekly follow ups via email/phone. I didn't hear back from Iain until May 22, 2022. I recognize they are busy but it shouldn't take a month to receive a response. Also, they should have made sure I was aware that the treehouse was no longer an option given the documentation I was emailing them still specified the treehouse. They should have at minimum asked me where else on the property I wanted the ceremony and the wedding dinner to be. Those conversations never happened which I do hold The Lodge responsible for. Besides the lack of responsiveness, I felt The Lodge was a little pushy at times with their preferred vendor list. I respect that they have professional relationships with these vendors but there is a very fine line between suggesting and pressuring. FYI, I highly recommend Neil Thomas Douglass "NTD" Photography and Boda Productions Videography even though The Lodge's vendor of choice is Fotogenic. Look at their portfolios before you make a decision. Anyways, the reviews are positive for The Lodge so I believe they can create lovely experiences for people. I unfortunately did not have the best experience but things happen in life and there is no good that comes from dwelling in negativity or placing blame. I wish all couples looking to marry at The Lodge many years of happiness and health.
November 2021 by Lucy Fuggle
Simply magical... thank you so much for our perfect day!We couldn't have asked for a better day for our small and simple wedding ? and so much of that is thanks to the wonderful Lodge! The venue itself is like a fairytale, and Alice and wonderful Janice are simply magical too.Alice is a true pro and head and shoulders above the other options we considered. There are so many ways she contributed to our day, big and small, and we'll be forever grateful.She perfectly strikes the balance between creating a once-in-a-lifetime wedding day and ensuring everything runs like clockwork ? from the marriage paperwork to the registrar, flowers, cutting cake, and anything else you might need. We weren't sure of all the moving parts needed for our day, but Alice made sure nothing was forgotten. She is by far one of the most organised and efficient people I've ever met, which put us completely at ease when planning our very short-notice wedding!The schedule for the day that Alice created fitted in everything we wanted, but was never stressful... if we were running slightly behind, that was never an issue. Everything was perfectly arranged to fit exactly around us ? and that is something you can't put a price on. We had one guest with us, and she had a fantastic time and was treated just as wonderfully as the two of us.As an exclusive-use venue, it's the ideal intimate setting to spend time with loved ones, and Janice and Alice took such good care of us. The food was incredible, and the vegetarian tasting menu in particular was so deliciously imaginative. From prosecco topups to whisky for our quaich ceremony (and a hot water bottle for our photo shoot!), there were so many thoughtful touches that made us feel so welcome.I got ready in the beautiful bridal suite, while my partner got ready in the Summerhouse - where we also stayed, waking up to the waves of the lochs and oystercatchers on our veranda. The bridal suite is more comfortable and spacious, but we loved being closer to nature, and to have the choice of either was superb.We had the fantastic Neil Thomas Douglas as our photographer, who went with us for stunning photos near the Rest and Be Thankful as part of our shoot. You can also get so many incredible photos from the venue itself, from the stunning treehouse where we had our ceremony to the summerhouse and loch (where we even went wild swimming!)Our wedding day fitted both of us perfectly, as people who adore nature, simplicity, adventure, and doing things differently. There's nothing we would've changed and we're so grateful there was availability for our day. There's a reason the Lodge has so many 5* reviews!Show less
August 2021 by Alistair Swan
My goodness, I don?t know how to begin to put into words the amazing experience we had at The lodge for our wedding. From the moment we arrived for our elopement to the time we said a tearful goodbye it was perfect. Alice and Janice are there to cater to your every need before you can even ask, including helping Ali with his buttonhole on the big day.The champagne flows easily and food is extraordinary, some of the best dishes we have ever tried.We eloped and had our families on Zoom, viewing from around the world. Alice was only to happy to help us with this holding the phone throughout the ceremony for us.The lodge (inside and out) is truly breathtaking and no photo can do it justice, the grounds are very well kept and you are with in a sort drive of the beautiful hills Rest and Be Thankful if you wish to venture out for photos.We cannot thank you enough for memories that will last a life time. There is not a moment of our day we would change!
August 2021 by Heidi Evans
The Lodge at Loch Goil is the ultimate Scottish destination. We had our secret elopement there just yesterday. The two days we stayed for were absolutely amazing. I cannot write a review good enough to describe just how perfect, magical, romantic everything was. Alice, well what can we say, there is nobody quite like her- a real gem and an amazing wedding coordinator, Janice who waited on us hand and foot bringing our wedding breakfast to the treehouse and the food, the food was to die for, Iain and Emma just put the cherry on the top- it was exquisite. Overall a dream come true. Thank you Alice and team
