Terms & Conditions

By using this website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern Bittescombe Manor Estate Limited’s relationship with you. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website.

The term “Bittescombe Manor Estate”, “BME”, “Bittescombe Lodge” or “us” or “we” refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is Bittescombe Manor, Somerset, TA4 2DA. The term “you” refers to the user or viewer of this website.

The content of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. Neither we or any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

This website contains material which is owned by us, including, but not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions. Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence.

1. Booking, Confirmation and Payment
To secure a booking a deposit of 30% of the booking fee is required. The balancing 70% of the booking fee is due 4 weeks prior to arrival. If payments are not received on time we reserve the right to cancel the booking and levy cancellation charges as detailed below. If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel your confirmed booking you must notify us by email at kathryn@bittescombe.com your cancellation will only take effect when it is received by email, you will have to pay the applicable cancellation charges up to the maximum as shown below:

Up to 10 weeks before arrival 30% of booking price;
Up to 4 weeks before arrival 50% of booking price;
Shorter than 4 weeks before arrival 90% of booking price.

2. Behaviour, Damage and Deposit
It is a condition of your contract, that you act with reasonable prudence and caution whilst staying at Bittescombe Lodge. In the event of you causing any accidental damage or breakage you will be liable for the full cost of any repairs or replacements which may be required plus reasonable costs for arranging the repairs or replacements. You agree to indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (including all legal costs) made against us by any supplier or any third party should your conduct fall below an acceptable standard and damage / loss is caused as a result. Bookings for Bittescombe Lodge require a surety/housekeeping deposit of £5,000 in addition to the cost of the rental. This must be paid 2 weeks prior to your stay with us. If no accidental damage or breakages occur then we undertake to repay the surety, less any additional costs for extra consumables (such as cellar wines) or services (such as massages; yoga instruction; polo or tennis, lessons; hiking or cycling guides; deer stalking; arranging clay pigeon shooting; other sporting services or other add on extras that you may request etc) in full within 10 working days following your check-out.

3. Pricing and Surcharges
The price of your accommodation will be confirmed on booking. When you have booked and paid your deposit (or the full amount if you book within 4 weeks of arrival, the price of your booking as shown on your confirmation email is guaranteed. The price of your confirmed booking is also subject at all times to changes arising from government action such as changes in VAT or any other government imposed changes.

4. If we Change or Cancel Your Booking
We may in exceptional circumstances be required to cancel your booking, in which case a full refund of all monies paid will be made to you. We will not be liable for any expenses or losses that you may incur as a result of change or cancellation.

5. Health, Disabilities and Medical Problems
At the time of booking you must advise us of any pre-existing medical conditions which you have that may affect your stay, e.g. disabilities, allergies etc. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate you we will not confirm your booking or, if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will cancel your booking and impose applicable cancellation charges (set out above), when we become aware of these details.

6. Data Protection and Privacy
Please see our data protection and privacy policy contained on our website for full information regarding the way in which we use and store your personal data. We endeavour to ensure that all of the information and prices which we advertise are accurate; however, occasionally changes and errors occur and we reserve the right to correct prices and other details in such circumstances.

7. Our Responsibilities to you
(a) We will not be responsible or pay you compensation for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost or other claim of any description if it results from:
i) The act and/or omission of the person affected;
ii) The act and/or omission of a third party which were unforeseeable or unavoidable; or
iii) Unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our or a supplier’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised; or
iv) An event which either we or a supplier could not, even with all due care, have foreseen or forestalled.

(b) We limit the amount of compensation we may have to pay you if we are found liable under this clause in the following ways:
i) Loss of and/or damage to any luggage or personal possessions and money. The maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is an amount equivalent to the applicable excess on your travel insurance policy because you are assumed to have adequate insurance in place to cover any losses of this kind.
ii) Claims not falling under (a) above or involving injury, illness or death. The maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is twice the price paid by or on behalf of the person(s) affected in total. This maximum amount will only be pay able where everything has gone wrong and you or your party has not received any benefit at all from your booking.

(c) Where any payment is made, the person(s) receiving it must also assign to ourselves or our insurers any rights they may have to pursue any third party and must provide ourselves and our insurers with all assistance we may reasonably require.

(d) We do not accept any liability for:
i) Any damage, loss or expense or other sum(s) of any description which on the basis of the information given to us by you concerning your booking prior to our accepting it, we could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if we breached our contract with you; or
ii) Any business losses.

(e) In cases of compensation or damage arising from non-performance or improper performance of the services involved in our contract with you, compensation for personal, including psychiatric injury and non-personal injury is limited to the greatest extent possible by all relevant international conventions including but not limited to the Geneva Convention, the Montreal Convent ion and the Athens Convention.

(f) No employee, representative, agent or officer of BME shall be authorised to commit BME to any admission of liability whatsoever and WR shall not be bound by any such admission unless it is explicitly stated in writing and executed on behalf of BME.

8. The Swimming Pool & Hot Tub
The swimming pool and hot tub at Bittescombe Lodge are operational and heated all year. Anyone using the pool and hot tub does so at their own risk and they are responsible for their own children and pets. Users should enjoy quietly, with specifically no diving or bombing allowed as the pool is not deep enough (at only 1.5m).

9. Dogs
We welcome well-behaved dogs in those areas designated for dogs. You are responsible for keeping your dog on a lead at all times when outside the property and ensuring it does not worry the deer or other livestock.

10. Stag & Hen Parties
We do not accept bookings for stag or hen parties. Any bookings will be cancelled and access denied on arrival so we politely request that this is respected so as to avoid disappointment.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Booking Terms and Conditions are governed by English Law and the courts of England and Wales shall have sole jurisdiction over any dispute arising out of them.