Booking terms

Booking terms & conditions

Not yet legally reviewed

Do not go live with this page as written. What follows is a structured first draft that captures the commercial terms we have agreed — deposit, balance, cancellation, damage cover — in the right shape for a solicitor to work from. It is not legal advice and it has not been reviewed.

These terms are what you rely on in a dispute over a four-figure booking. Budget £150–£500 to have them drafted or reviewed properly. It is the cheapest insurance in the whole project.

1. The agreement

These terms apply to bookings made directly through www.skippers-retreat.co.uk. Bookings made through Airbnb are governed by that platform's own terms instead. The contract is between you (the lead guest, who must be 18 or over) and the owners of Skippers Retreat.

2. Booking and payment

A deposit of 30% of the total is payable at the time of booking. Your dates are confirmed once it is received.
The deposit is non-refundable.
The balance is charged automatically to the same card 30 days before arrival. We will email you before this happens.
If the balance cannot be collected, we will contact you. If it remains unpaid we may treat the booking as cancelled by you.
All prices are in pounds sterling and include VAT where applicable.

3. Cancellation by you

Decision needed

You have not yet chosen a cancellation policy. It is a real commercial trade-off: a strict policy protects your revenue on a high-value property with a short booking season, while a more flexible one measurably lifts conversion. A common middle path for a property at this price point is full refund of the balance if cancelled more than 60 days out, 50% between 60 and 30 days, and nothing inside 30 days — with the deposit non-refundable throughout. Tell me what you want and I will write it in.

We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance covering cancellation.

4. Cancellation by us

We will only cancel if the property becomes genuinely unavailable — serious damage, a failure of essential services, or circumstances outside our control. In that case you receive a full refund of everything you have paid, including the deposit. Our liability is limited to that refund.

5. Occupancy and house rules

Maximum occupancy is 8 guests. Exceeding it is grounds for us to end the stay without refund.
No guests under 12 years old.
No pets.
No smoking or vaping inside the property.
No parties, events or commercial use.
Arrival is from 14:00 and departure by 10:00.

6. Damage

Rather than holding a deposit on your card, we cover accidental damage through damage protection — a charge of £22 included in your booking. It covers accidental damage and does not cover deliberate damage, theft, or loss caused by breaking these terms, for which you remain responsible.

Please tell us about breakages. Nobody has ever been charged for a wine glass.

7. The hot tub

The hot tub is used entirely at your own risk. It is not suitable for young children and must not be used under the influence of excessive alcohol. Please follow the written guidance in the house. We maintain and test it before every arrival and log the results.

8. Liability

We are not liable for loss, damage or injury except where caused by our negligence. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud. Your own possessions are your own responsibility.

9. Complaints

Tell us during your stay so we have the chance to put it right. Email stay@skippers-retreat.co.uk.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.

Last updated: draft, not yet issued