Terms and Conditions
So, this is the legal stuff, which is basically designed to ensure that, should things go slightly awry, which hopefully they won’t, and usually they don’t, both of us know what to expect, and feel like we have been treated fairly. My goal is that you leave a Bookless Cook event feeling utterly delighted with the experience, and keen to recommend it to your friends, whilst at the same time making sure that all those hours I spent toiling away before, during and after the event left me with reasonable return for my labour, and not out of pocket after all the spending on costs (variable costs like test ingredients, event ingredients, printed materials, kitchen supplies etc; fixed costs like kitchen equipment, website costs, banking charges etc).
About these terms
1 The Bookless Cook provides cookery instruction via hands-on classes, cookery demonstrations and other events such as talks (“events”). It is a sole trader enterprise with its registered address at PO Box 74334, London, SW19 9JP. It is operated by Mel Barrett (“I”).
2 These are the terms and conditions which apply to the events provided by The Bookless Cook.
3 These terms and conditions are available in the English language only.
4 When you make a booking with The Bookless Cook you accept these terms and conditions.
5 These terms and conditions may be updated from time to time, for example to reflect improvements to the Bookless Cook offering. It is your responsibility to check the latest terms and conditions at the time of booking.
6 These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with English law and in the event of any dispute the English courts shall have non-exclusive jurisdiction in relation to this agreement.
Bookless Cook Events
2.1 All events are delivered by Mel Barrett.
2.2 I shall undertake the provision of events with reasonable skill and care, however I do not guarantee that attendance at a Bookless Cook event will lead to any particular outcome.
2.3 I am entitled to make minor changes to the publicised timing and content of any Bookless Cook event, for example, if I need to substitute ingredients for any reason, or if my schedule is disrupted by factors outside my control.
2.4 You are not permitted to take any photos or make any audio or visual recordings at Bookless Cook events without my express permission.
2.5 You may be asked to leave an event if I think that your conduct is unacceptable (in my reasonable opinion), for example, if your behaviour is preventing others from enjoying the event. No refund of fees or any other costs will be made in these circumstances.
2.6 If you are attending an event which takes place in my home, you agree to treat my home and its contents with respect. I understand that, with the best will in the word, accidents can happen, however, if you cause any damage to the interior or exterior of my property or its contents as a result of not taking reasonable care, you may be asked to contribute to the cost of making good the damage.
2.7 If you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements and you are attending a scheduled, public event, please make this known at the time of booking by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk. I will always make an effort to provide at least one dish that everyone attending my classes can sample on the day, but cannot guarantee that there won’t be any cross-contamination, as I handle all ingredients in my kitchen, and I'm unable to keep separate utensils and equipment.
2.8 If you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements and you are attending a bespoke, private event, please make this known at the time of booking by completing the online questionnaire which I will send to you. I will do my best to take all your requirements into account but I cannot guarantee that this will be possible. In any case, I cannot guarantee that food prepared during the event will be free of allergens as all types of ingredients are regularly handled in my kitchen and there may be traces of allergens present despite my best efforts to avoid them. Therefore if you have an allergy you attend at your own risk.
2.9 Please notify me if you have any mental or physical health conditions which are relevant to the event, or which may affect your participation in the event, for example, if you are pregnant and therefore unable to eat certain foods. If you are attending a scheduled, public event, please notify me at the time of booking by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk. If you are attending a bespoke, private event, please notify me by completing the online questionnaire which I will send to you at the time of booking, or by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk at any time prior to the event taking place. All information received will be treated confidentially. I will do my best to provide thoughtful and careful consideration of your needs, however, as a sole trader operating a business from my family home, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to take any specific health requirements into account. Therefore if you have any mental or physical health conditions which require special treatment or equipment you attend at your own risk.
2.10 I retain full copyright of all Bookless Cook content. All material provided before, during or after an event, including, but without limitation to, cookery notes, aide-memoires and other information (in books, pamphlets, postcards, hand-outs or any other medium, including photos and videos) is the property of Mel Barrett and is protected by UK copyright laws. Unauthorized use of these materials may violate copyright, trademark or other laws. Any materials provided are for personal use only. Users may not sell or modify the materials or reproduce, display, publicly perform, distribute, or otherwise use the materials in any way for any public or commercial purpose.
Booking
3.1 Booking for scheduled, public Bookless Cook events must be done online via the third-party ticketing and registration platform Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.co.uk). The relevant booking pages on their website can be accessed via links from The Bookless Cook website. You should review Eventbrite’s policies as I do not accept any responsibility or liability for their policies. View the full Eventbrite terms of service here: (www.eventbrite.com/tos). Full payment for scheduled, public Bookless Cook events must be made at the time of booking. I am unable to accept cash or cheques directly or issue an invoice for payment.
3.2 Booking for bespoke, private Bookless Cook events must be done by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk. Once we have agreed a mutually convenient date and time, I will email you a questionnaire to capture the details I need to help me plan your event. Upon receipt of your completed questionnaire, I will send you a link to enable payment via the third-party ticketing and registration platform Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.co.uk). You should review Eventbrite’s policies as I do not accept any responsibility or liability for their policies. View the full Eventbrite terms of service here: (www.eventbrite.com/tos). Full payment for the event needs to be made within one week of me emailing you the questionnaire, otherwise your chosen date will be released. It is your responsibility to check your junk or spam folders and to follow up with me in the event that you have not received the questionnaire. I am unable to accept cash or cheques directly or issue an invoice for payment.
3.3 Payment for Bookless Cook events using the Eventbrite platform can only be made by credit or debit card.
3.4 For some events, a small booking fee may be charged in addition to the cost of the event (this is to cover the cost of the charges levied by Eventbrite, which unfortunately, due to the small scale of my operation, I am currently unable to absorb).
3.5 The contract between us will come into place upon confirmation of the booking. Confirmation of the booking takes place when The Bookless Cook sends you a booking confirmation email. It is your responsibility to ensure that the email address you provide at the time of registering for the event via the Eventbrite platform is valid.
3.6 Details of the prices of Bookless Cook events can be found on The Bookless Cook website. I am entitled to change prices at any time, however any price changes will not affect confirmed bookings.
3.7 Except as permitted by section 4.3 below, all bookings are non-transferable and must not be resold or passed on.
Refunds and Cancellation
4.1 You do not benefit from a legal cooling off period of 14 days for bookings for Bookless Cook events.
4.2 Due to the small scale of my operation, I am unable to offer refunds. If you are unable to make your booked event for any reason, including sickness or transport problems, it will not be possible for you to transfer to another event on a different date, however you can choose to have another person attend in your place. You must let me know in advance of the event if you are sending another person in your place and you can do this by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk or by phoning me on the mobile number provided in an email which I send out to participants seven days prior to the event taking place. The person attending in your place must read the Bookless Cook terms and conditions and must notify me in advance of the event taking place of any food allergies or special dietary requirements and any relevant mental or physical health conditions, by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk. I cannot guarantee that I will be able to take into account or make special provision for any allergies, special dietary requirements or health conditions experienced by your replacement.
4.3 I am entitled to cancel an event at any time prior to its commencement due to insufficient bookings or unforeseen circumstances eg illness. In the unlikely event of a course being cancelled, I will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible, and I will give you the choice of attending an alternative event within a reasonable period of time or refund any fees received in respect of the event. Fees will be refunded by electronic bank transfer. I will not refund any travel, accommodation or hospitality costs relating to a cancelled event.
My liability
5. 1 My total liability to you is limited to the fees you have actually paid for the relevant event and I shall not be liable for any loss of enjoyment or wasted expenditure. Personal arrangements including travel, accommodation or hospitality relating to a Bookless Cook event which have been arranged by you are at your own risk.
5.2 Please ensure you take care of your personal possessions at an event whether at my home or at an external venue as I cannot accept any liability for them unless loss or damage is caused by my negligence.
5.3. If you are participating in an event involving hands-on food preparation, please ensure you wear sensible clothing in order to minimise the risk of accidental damage to clothing or person (eg avoid dangly clothing which might trail in food or get caught in equipment). Please wear shoes which do not expose your toes (the sturdier the better). Please tie back long hair. Aprons will be provided for your use for all events which involve hands-on food preparation.
5.4 If you are participating in an event involving hands-on food preparation, please listen carefully to the health and safety information provided, and ensure you take reasonable care in the kitchen to minimise the risk of accidents happening. I shall be under no liability whatsoever for any injuries or damages you or any other person sustains, in connection with or resulting directly or indirectly from your preparation of food at a Bookless Cook event, save where such injuries or damages arise as a result of my negligence.
5.5 I shall be under no liability whatsoever for any injuries or damages you or any other person sustains, in connection with or resulting directly or indirectly from your preparation of food in your own home or on other premises using information imparted in connection with a Bookless Cook event.
5.6 You agree to not attend an event if you have been ill or become ill in the 48 hours before the event with an infectious illness or condition which could easily be passed on to other participants or contaminate food, e.g. heavy cold, flu, diarrhoea, vomiting bug, skin infections, ear or eye discharge, infected cuts, boils. If you are unable to attend the event due to illness unfortunately it will not be possible to refund your fee, nor will it be possible for you to transfer to another event on a different date, however you can choose to have another person attend in your place. You must let me know in advance of the event if you are sending another person in your place and you can do this by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk or by phoning me on the mobile number provided in an email which I send out to participants 14 days prior to the event taking place. The person attending in your place must read the Bookless Cook terms and conditions and must notify me in advance of the event taking place of any food allergies or special dietary requirements and any relevant mental or physical health conditions, by sending an email to info@thebooklesscook.co.uk (see 2.7 and 2.8). I cannot guarantee that I will be able to take into account or make special provision for any allergies, special dietary requirements or health conditions experienced by your replacement.
5.7 I do not accept any liability for damage to or loss of property from your car whilst parked on my premises. Please note my driveway is narrow.