In these booking conditions, ‘you’ and ‘your’ means all people named on the booking form (including anyone who is added or replaced at a later date). ‘We’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ means The Sedgeford Hall Estate. Please read these booking conditions carefully and all the other information relevant to your booking, including the property rental conditions (i.e any specific conditions or restrictions set out on any website description of your chosen property/ies), and any other written information we brought to your attention prior to confirming your booking. All properties on our website https://sedgefordhall.com and other holiday cottage agents we use are for the sole purpose of holiday lettings, unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing by us. Accordingly you agree that your booking is for the sole purpose of holiday accommodation and accept that you are not offered any rights to the property other than the right to occupy the property as holiday accommodation for the period of your booking. No booking of any kind is an ‘Assured Shorthold Tenancy’ or protected under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. We take payment of your deposit as confirmation that these Terms and Conditions have been read and understood by the party leader.  

Third Party Bookings
If you have made your booking through a third-party agent (such as cottages.com or another holiday letting agency), your contract is still with The Sedgeford Hall Estate as the property owner. The third-party agent acts only as a booking intermediary. These Terms and Conditions apply to your booking in full, in addition to any terms imposed by the agent. If there is any conflict between these Terms and the agent’s, our Terms will take precedence regarding your stay at the property. We may not have received your contact details directly, so it is your responsibility to ensure you have read and understood these Terms and to contact us directly with any queries prior to arrival.

01. Making your booking

All bookings depend on the property and other arrangements being available. You, as the person in charge of the party (“the party leader”), must be at least 18 years old at the time of booking. All other members of the party must authorise you to make the booking on the basis of these booking conditions. By making the booking, you confirm that you are authorised to make the booking and that all other members of the party agree that the booking will be governed by these booking conditions. You, as the party leader, are responsible for making all payments due to us. As long as the property is available we will give you written confirmation as soon as reasonably possible. This confirmation will show your booking details and an invoice for the amount owed straight away for the deposit and the amount for the balance of the booking. Your binding contract with us will begin when we issue you with the written confirmation. We have the right to refuse any booking before we send you your written confirmation. If we do this, we will tell you in writing and promptly refund any money you have paid to us. In this case, we will not have any legal responsibility to you. As soon as you receive your confirmation, you must check the details carefully. If anything is not correct, you should tell us immediately. Where we offer the option of a provisional telephone booking, the property will be released for general sale after the agreed time period (usually 48 hours) unless you fully confirm the booking. Even if we have sent a written confirmation, we have the right to cancel a booking where there are reasonable grounds to believe that (i) it is not legitimate (ii) you are likely to breach any of our booking conditions (iii) information supplied by you in relation to your booking is incorrect. If we cancel your booking, we will tell you in writing and we will have no legal responsibility to you. You do not have the right to sell or transfer the booking to another party without our agreement.  

02. Payment

When you book, you must pay the deposit amount by BACS or via Stripe payment. This is due on receipt of invoice; payment needs to be made within 7 days of receipt. We must then receive the rest of the money owed no less than 1 month before the start of your stay. However, if you book less than 1 month before the start of your stay, we must receive full payment of the total cost of your booking. If you do not pay any payment due in relation to your booking by the appropriate date we are entitled to assume that you want to cancel your booking. If we do not have contact from you and no other arrangements are made, you risk losing your booking and forfeiting any deposit /monies paid. We only accept payment in pounds sterling. Post-dated cheques are not acceptable. Any charges raised against us by our bank for handling dishonoured cheques, bank transfers or any other payments will be passed on to the Guest who is liable to reimburse The Sedgeford Hall Estate within seven days of receipt of notification to us. Overseas Guests may pay in Sterling by cheque drawn on a UK bank or by international electronic transfer. Any charges for payments from overseas will be passed on to the Guest.  

03. Pricing

All prices quoted or otherwise given to you include all charges and any taxes or government charges which may apply to your booking at the time it is made. You may be required to pay any additional taxes that arise after your booking has been confirmed. We can pass on to you, in full, after we have confirmed your booking, all costs or charges which are connected with your booking, including any price increases due to changes in the exchange rates of currency. All accommodation prices are for the property named –or grouped – as a whole and are not on a per person basis.  

04. Website details

We aim to make sure that the information is presented accurately on our website, in brochures and other promotional literature or material we produce. It is intended to present a general idea of the arrangements. Not all details of the relevant facilities can be included on our website. Furthermore, there may be small differences between the actual property/arrangements and its description. Minor differences in decor, layout, or equipment may occur and do not constitute a breach of contract. This is usually because we are always aiming to improve services and facilities. Occasionally, problems mean that some facilities or services are not available or may be restricted. If this happens, we will tell you as soon as reasonably practicable after we become aware of the situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any changes or closures to local services or attractions mentioned in the brochure or on our website, by our advisers or advertised elsewhere. We make reasonable efforts to make sure that information we give you about your property and its facilities or services, as well as advertised travel and other services, is accurate and complete on the date given. While we strive for accuracy on third-party booking platforms, we are not responsible for inaccuracies beyond the information we provide to them. We cannot accept responsibility for any inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information about any property/arrangements or its facilities and services, unless this was caused by our negligence. Please note that the provision of Wi-Fi is subject to availability and network conditions. It may not be available 24 hours a day and is provided for pleasure not for business purposes. Bookings are not accepted if they are wholly reliant on the uninterrupted, unlimited provision of Wi-Fi. 

05. Cancellation by you

If you wish to cancel your booking after it has been confirmed, you must notify us as soon as possible by telephone and confirm in writing (by email to enquiries@sedgefordhall.com) within 24 hours. The date of cancellation will be the date we receive your written confirmation.

In the event of cancellation by you, the following charges will apply:

More than 1 month before the start date:
– Full deposit is kept

Less than 1 month before the start date:
– In the event that we rebook your holiday dates – 90% of the total of the newly taken booking will be refunded to you. 
– In the event that we don’t receive a new booking for holiday dates – 10% of your total booking fee will be refunded to you. 

– Less than 7 days before the start date: No refund will be issued.

We will process any applicable refund within 14 days of the newly taken booking confirmation for your dates. We strongly recommend that you have adequate travel insurance in place to cover the cost of cancellation.

Please note that a change of dates or property may be treated as a cancellation of the original booking and will be subject to these cancellation terms.

06. Cancellations or changes by The Sedgeford Hall Estate

We do not expect to have to make any changes to your booking. However, sometimes problems happen and bookings have to be changed or cancelled or mistakes in our marketing literature or other details corrected. We have the right to do so. In the event of this we will contact you as soon as is reasonably practical. We will explain what has happened and let you know about the cancellation or change. In the event of a significant change or cancellation initiated by us, we will offer you either a full refund or, if available, alternative accommodation of a similar standard. We will not be liable for any consequential losses

07. Events beyond our control

Unfortunately we will not be legally responsible for any compensation if we are prevented from carrying out our responsibilities under this contract as a result of events beyond our control. This means an event we could not, even with all due care, avoid, including: strike, lock-out or labour dispute; natural disaster; acts of terrorism, war, riot or civil commotion; malicious damage; keeping to any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, including advice from the foreign office to avoid or leave a country; accident; breakdown of equipment or machinery; insolvency or bankruptcy of an owner or service provider; fire, flood, snow or storm; difficulty or increased cost in getting workers, goods or transport; and other circumstances affecting the supply of goods or services. 

08. Our legal responsibilities to you

We cannot be held responsible for noise or disturbance which comes from beyond the boundaries of the property or which is beyond the owner’s control. If we know about a problem before you arrive, we will contact you to let you know. We cannot be held responsible for the breakdown of mechanical equipment such as pumps, boilers, swimming-pool filtration systems, nor for the failure of public utilities such as water, gas and electricity. We will not be liable for any act, neglect or default of any person not within our employ or otherwise under our control, nor for any accident, damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience, whether to person or property, which you or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of, or in any way connected with the rental unless we are responsible. In addition, we accept no liability for loss of or damage to your possessions on our property or land. If we are denied the opportunity of investigating the complaint within a reasonable time or denied the opportunity to put matters right during your stay, then the guest will waive all rights. 

09. Insurance

We recommend that you take out enough travel insurance to cover you for your total stay, including potential cancellation costs. Please contact us to find out more about X Cover insurance which we can offer.

10. Your property

The following conditions apply to your stay at the property: 

Arrival and departure
You can arrive at your property at any time after 3pm (unless we tell you otherwise) on the start date of your rental period. You must leave by 10am on the last day. Early check-in or late check-out may be possible, subject to availability and prior arrangement. If your arrival will be delayed beyond 8pm on the start date of your rental period, you must contact the person whose details are given on the booking confirmation. If you fail to do so, you may not be able to get into the property. If you fail to arrive by 12 noon on the day after the start date of your rental period and you do not let the person whose details are given on the booking confirmation know you are arriving late, we may treat your booking as having been cancelled by you. In this situation, we will not refund any money you have paid.  Late departure after 10am, not by prior arrangement may incur a fee. 

Behaviour
You and all members of your party agree:

• to keep the property clean and tidy;
• to leave the property in a similar condition as you found it when you arrived;
• to behave in a way at all times while at the property which does not break any law;  
• not to use the property for any illegal or commercial purpose;
• not to sublet the property or any part thereof or otherwise allow anyone to stay in it who we have not previously accepted on behalf of the owner as a member of your party;  
• Not to behave in an anti-social manner, breach the peace or otherwise act in a way which may disrupt or affect the enjoyment of others, including other guests on the estate.  

We can refuse entry to the property if the unreasonable behaviour of anyone in your party is likely to cause offence to other guests, to members of staff or to neighbours, or if we have reasonable cause to believe you or any member of your party will cause damage or loss to the property, its services or facilities. If this happens, the contract between you and The Sedgeford Hall Estate will end and you will not receive any refund and we will have no further responsibility to you. We can end a stay if the unreasonable behaviour of anyone in your party (including anyone invited into the property by you) is likely to spoil the enjoyment, comfort or health of other guests, residents, neighbours or members of staff. If this happens, you will have to leave the property immediately and no refund will be given. You may also be responsible for any costs we have as a result of your behavior.

Maximum occupancy
You also must not allow more people than the website / property listing states to stay overnight in the property, without prior arrangement with The Sedgeford Hall Estate. Exceeding the maximum occupancy will be considered a breach of these terms and may result in the immediate termination of your booking without refund. You cannot arrange for visitors to the property without the advance consent of the Sedgeford Hall Estate. You must not hold events (such as personal or corporate parties, celebrations or meetings) at the property without our advance consent. If you do any of these things, we can refuse to hand over the property to you, or can repossess it. In the event of this, we will treat this as you cancelling the booking. In these situations you will not receive a refund of any money you have paid for your booking, and we will not be legally responsible to you as a result of this situation. (This will include, for example, any costs or expenses you have to pay due to not being able to stay in the property, such as the cost of finding other accommodation.) We are not under any obligation to find any alternative accommodation for you. 

Smoking
Smoking or vaping is not allowed inside any property on The Sedgeford Hall Estate. Smoking in the property could result in an additional cleaning fee to cover extra cleaning costs and potential compensation for subsequent guests. Please use ashtrays / ensure cigarette butts are cleared up from the outside areas.

Pets
Dogs are allowed in The Main Hall and Theatre, The West Wing and Park Cottage for an additional fee per dog per stay. If you bring a dog with you, it is not allowed upstairs, on beds or furniture, or in any shared facilities, such as the swimming pool. You must not leave any pets unattended in the property, including any garden, and you must keep dogs on a lead within the boundaries of the Estate and in any communal areas. You are responsible for any damage caused by your pets. Dog mess must be cleared up and placed in an outside bin provided. If you or any member of the party has a pet allergy, we cannot guarantee that dogs, or other pets, have not been in the property, nor can we accept any responsibility for any subsequent health reaction. Any pets other than dogs would need prior approval by us before being brought to the Estate. 

Fireworks
Fireworks are not permitted anywhere on The Sedgeford Hall Estate. Any fireworks set off could result in you and your party being immediately removed from the property without refund, and you may be liable for any damages caused.

11. Intimate Wedding or Private Events Guidelines

To ensure your celebration aligns with the estate’s character and ambience, we kindly ask all guests to adhere to the following:

• Sedgeford Hall (Whole House) must be booked for all wedding celebrations.
• The Estate is not licensed to host legal marriage ceremonies. To legalise your marriage, you will need to arrange a legal ceremony separately through your local registry office. On the day, you are welcome to hold a celebrant-led or family-led ceremony here on the Estate, or alternatively, you may choose to book one of the nearby historic churches in Sedgeford, Snettisham, Docking, or Dersingham — all located within a 15-mile radius.
• There is a £850 surcharge for hosting private events on the estate. The fee covers additional cleaning following your event, any maintenance requests in preparation for your arrival (such as furniture adjustments), additional private evening swimming pool sessions, access on the day of your celebration for up to 10 non resident guests, and private opening of the estate’s walled garden from 10am to 10pm.
• A refundable security deposit of £500 will be added to your final balance and returned within five working days after your event, following housekeeping checks.
• To ensure comfort and the best experience, resident guest numbers should not exceed 32, in line with what the Hall comfortably accommodates. However, if Park Cottage is booked alongside the Hall, the resident guest capacity can be extended to 44.
• While we don’t offer on-the-day coordination or event staff during your stay with us, we can recommend trusted local suppliers who know the estate well.
• Traditional Pole Marquee hire must be booked directly with us which is convientely added to your final balance. A minimum of 6 months advance notice is required. Prices include VAT. We’ll coordinate the assembly and collection on your behalf through our trusted supplier, who is familiar with the estate’s layout and site-specific requirements.
• We are not licensed to sell alcohol. If you plan to serve alcohol free of charge (BYOB or bartender serving drinks you’ve supplied), no licence is required.
• If alcohol will be sold, a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is needed. Most professional bar hire companies will handle this for you, but it’s your responsibility as the premises user to ensure proper licencing.
• Music must be turned off by 11:00 PM.
• All outdoor festivities must move indoors by 10:00 PM to respect our long-term residents.
• Please inform us of any external suppliers you will be hiring and we require a copy of their public liability insurance to hold on record. 
• Decorations should be non-damaging – please avoid using pins, adhesive, or tape that could mark walls.
• On departure, all decorations must be removed by 10am, hired items must be collected, and any additional rubbish taken to the designated refuse area.
• The estate’s private walled garden will be available from 10 AM to 10 PM during your stay.

12. Damage Waiver Guest Stays

For all Sedgeford Hall Estate properties, a non-refundable Damage Waiver Fee is required. This fee is £25 inclusive of VAT confirmed at the time of booking. It serves as a waiver to cover the replacement cost of accidental damage or loss resulting from the actions of the guest, their party, pets, or anyone else invited to the property by the guest up to the value of £250.
Please note that guests remain liable for any damage or loss to the property or its contents, and may be required to cover the full cost of repair or replacement, exceeding the value of the £250 Damage Waiver.
Please report any damage you notice on arrival as soon as possible to enquiries@sedgefordhall.com. If unreported damage is found after your stay, you may be held responsible. We understand accidents happen — just let us know so we can address it promptly.Thank you for your care and consideration.

13. Right of Entry

We are allowed to enter the property (without letting you know first if this is not practical or possible) if special circumstances or emergencies happen (for example if repairs need to be carried out) or if you break any of these booking conditions or any other terms that apply to your booking and/or the property. We are allowed to enter the property to inspect it (including but not limited to where you have complained about the property). If this happens, you will be given reasonable notice first. You agree to allow The Sedgeford Hall Estate owners and staff (including workmen) access to the property as required by this clause.  

14. Special requests

If you have any special requests, you must let us know when you make a booking and confirm them in writing. These requests cannot be guaranteed. If we fail to meet any special request, it will not mean we have broken your contract.  

15. Complaints

If you want to complain it is essential that you contact us immediately if any problem arises so that we can aim to resolve any issues as soon as reasonably possible. It is often extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) to sort out difficulties properly unless we are told promptly. If you discuss the problem with us during your stay at the property, it can usually be sorted out straightaway. In particular, complaints which would only be temporary (for example, complaints on how the property is prepared or the heating not working) cannot possibly be investigated unless registered during your stay. 

16. Data Protection/Privacy

Any personal data you provide to us will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which can be found at https://sedgefordhall.com/privacy-policy/. By making a booking, you consent to the processing of your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy for the purposes of fulfilling your booking and related services.

17. Accessibility

Details of the accessibility features of each of our cottages are available on our website or upon request. Please contact us if you have any specific accessibility requirements before making your booking. It is your responsibility to check these details and ensure suitability prior to booking. We cannot accept liability for unsuitability unless specific accessibility needs were discussed with and confirmed by us in writing.

18. Pool Use

Where use of the swimming pool is included or made available, all guests must read and agree to our separate Pool Terms and Conditions before use. These outline the rules regarding supervision, hygiene, safety, and hours of operation. These can be found on our website https://sedgefordhall.com/swimming-terms/ and in the swimming pool reception area. 

19. Lost Property

We are not responsible for items left behind. If found, we will return them upon request at your expense. Unclaimed items will be disposed of after 30 days.

20. Charging of electric vehicles

Is not permitted using standard domestic sockets. If you require EV charging facilities, please contact us in advance to confirm availability and terms

21. Third Party Services

If you intend to use third-party service providers during your stay (e.g. caterers, photographers, wellness practitioners), you must obtain our prior written approval. We are not liable for the actions or performance of any such third parties. We do require a copy of third parties’ Public Liability Insurance.

22. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.

Thank you for choosing Sedgeford Hall Estate Holiday Cottages. We look forward to welcoming you.

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us before booking or arrival.