Free Cancellation
Free Cancellation is included in all new bookings via our online website, Westhope Country Retreats.
If you cancel between 60 days and 3 days before the check in date, you will receive a full refund of the costs you have paid.
– This will be reimbursed at departure date of original booking.
– No explanation for the cancellation will be required.Cancellations must be received in writing, either by letter or e-mail. If you do not receive a written acknowledgement, you must assume that we have not received your communication.
However, if you cancel two days or less before check in date, you will not be reimbursed for your booking. However if we manage to re-let the accommodation and balance payment has been paid, 75% of the cost will be returned. An administration fee of £35 will be charged. Master Cancel only covers the cost of the accommodation and not any additional services booked.
Temporary reduced rate VAT
Following the Chancellor’s Summer Statement we here at Westhope Country Retreats have once again sought advice to gain clarity of what the VAT reduction objectives and intentions are for us in the Hospitality industry.
The reduction will see VAT reduce from 20% to 5%. The change comes into effect on 15th July 2020 and runs until 12th January 2021. This targeted support forms part of the Government’s plan to help restart the economy and support businesses most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. With Hospitality not only being significantly affected by the National lockdown there are now extensive guidelines in place to ensure that accommodation providers create a Clean, Safe environment for guests to enjoy their well needed vacation. The VAT reduction is designed to offer a level of assistance to fund these requirements and protect jobs and is only effective for the dates set out in the Governments Guidelines.
We are incredibly grateful for your support and pleased that we are able to open our Cottages again and sincerely hope you can understand that we are not in a position to make any further reduction in Booking costs at this time.
Please see below the Extract taken Directly from the HMRC website,
3.3 Protecting Jobs
The hospitality sector plays a vital role in UK life. Pubs, restaurants, cafés, and bars are mainstays of the nation’s high streets, and bring community, entertainment and great food and drink to millions, while the accommodation sector ensures that visitors can enjoy the sights, experiences and attractions the country has to offer.
These sectors are amongst the highest employing sectors across the UK, with over 2.4 million workers in hospitality, accommodation and attractions, equivalent to 8% of the entire UK workforce.23 They have also been among the hardest hit by the pandemic and necessary restrictions.
Although many hospitality, accommodation and attractions businesses have received significant government support through the job retention scheme, business rates holidays and lending guarantees, the nature of their businesses means that the lockdown has taken a heavy toll and many firms still face great challenges.
Workers in the hospitality sector are disproportionately young, with fewer qualifications, and therefore more likely to be unemployed for a long time if they lose their jobs. Workers in hospitality are also more likely to be female or from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background relative to the overall workforce.24 Supporting these sectors is therefore crucial to the government’s objective of preventing labour market scarring and ensuring opportunities for all.
Hospitality and tourism also play a vital role in local economies across the UK, in particular for Scotland, Wales and several regions of England. From Cornwall and Devon to Snowdonia and the Causeway Coast, from Cumbria and the Norfolk Broads to the Highlands and Islands, local communities and economies depend on visitors and these industries to support hardworking business owners and staff.
The government and devolved administrations have worked closely with businesses to develop guidelines to keep staff and customers safe. These guidelines include advice to businesses to take steps such as frequent cleaning, making sure risk assessments explicitly take into account COVID-19, and keeping temporary records of customers and visitors to support contact tracing.
As restrictions begin to be eased to make it possible for more businesses up and down the country to re-open, business owners have worked hard to implement the guidelines, taking appropriate precautions to protect their staff and customers. If businesses and customers follow the guidelines, this will allow people to start to return to normality in a safe way.
As the next step towards recovery, the best way to secure jobs in these sectors is to support demand for these businesses, giving them confidence to reopen. The Plan for Jobs announces targeted measures to encourage people to return to their normal habits and make the most of reopening within these sectors in order to support businesses and protect jobs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all of which will benefit from this support.
Policy Measures
Eat Out to Help Out – In order to support around 130,000 businesses and to help protect the jobs of their 1.8 million employees,25 the government will introduce the Eat Out to Help Out scheme to encourage people to return to eating out. This will entitle every diner to a 50% discount of up to £10 per head on their meal, at any participating restaurant, café, pub or other eligible food service establishment. The discount can be used unlimited times and will be valid Monday to Wednesday on any eat-in meal (including on non-alcoholic drinks) for the entire month of August 2020 across the UK. Participating establishments will be fully reimbursed for the 50% discount.
Temporary VAT cut for food and non-alcoholic drinks – From 15 July 2020 to 12 January 2021, to support businesses and jobs in the hospitality sector, the reduced (5%) rate of VAT will apply to supplies of food and non-alcoholic drinks from restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and similar premises across the UK. Further guidance on the scope of this relief will be published by HMRC in the coming days.
Temporary VAT cut for accommodation and attractions – From 15 July 2020 to 12 January 2021, to support businesses and jobs, the reduced (5%) rate of VAT will apply to supplies of accommodation and admission to attractions across the UK. Further guidance on the scope of this relief will be published by HMRC in the coming days.
Thank you So much for your support and understanding and we very much look forward to welcoming you back to Westhope Country Retreats.
Cancellation by us
We retain the right to cancel your holiday in advance for any reason which seems to us sufficient, we will refund any money paid to us for your visit minus expenses. In circumstances beyond our control for example fire, flood, exceptional weather conditions, epidemics, destruction/damage to the property (“force majeure“), we will refund any money paid to us for your visit minus expenses. No additional compensation, expenses or costs will be payable.
Deposit
A 25% deposit is required to confirm any bookings. When you submit a booking via our online reservation system you will receive an automatically generated booking summary by email to the email address you provide in the booking form. This does not form a contract between us. A contract shall only arise when your booking is subsequently confirmed in writing via a letter of confirmation sent by email and deposit funds have been received. A 2.3% booking fee will be charged , 50% with the deposit with the remaining to be paid with the balance.
Final Payment
The balance is due 6 weeks before the booking date. If an overdue balance is not paid by the deadline given within a written reminder it will be assumed you have cancelled and the property will become available for resale.
Security Deposit
A security deposit will be required and is payable 7 days before the booking date. The security deposit will be held by Holiday Rent Payment to cover any losses, damage breakages or losses to buildings, fixtures, fittings and articles belonging to Westhope Country Retreats and/or additional cleaning charges if the property is left in an unsatisfactory condition. The security deposit is held during your stay and will be refunded 10 days after your departure day, if there is no damaged the the property. Please note refunds can take up to 28 days to clear.
Security deposit amount per cottage:
The Cowshed £200
The Wain House £250
The Turnip House £250
The Milking Parlour £350
Troopers Barn £350
The Farm House £400
Loss of Property
We have a lost property box which holds left items for up to 3 months. After this time if the items have not been claimed by the owner they will given to charity or destroyed. Return of loss property must be paid for, minimum return costs are charged at £25.00 to include postage, packaging and time. Please be aware that larger items may be charged at a higher rate. Lost property is returned 2nd class with proof of postage.
Loss of Keys
Loss of keys will be charged at £25 per key.
Pets
Well-trained dogs (maximum of two) are accepted on the condition that they are not allowed on the furniture and especially the beds nor left unattended in the property. A charge of £25.00 per pet per visit above the allocated two up to four is charged. The holiday maker is liable for all damage caused by his / her pets. The holiday maker should remove all traces (inside and out) from the property of pet occupation before final departure. The property owner reserves all / part of the deposit in the event of damage, breakages levy an additional charge for any extra cleaning required after the holidaymaker’s occupancy.
Smoking and Fire Safety
Smoking is forbidden inside the property and all other buildings. Tea lights, candles, and fireworks and indoor fireworks are prohibited.
Arrival & Departure
All properties will be available from 5pm on the day of your arrival and should must be vacated by 9.30am on the day of your departure.
Liability
No liability is accepted by Westhope Country Retreats in respect of any death, personal injury, accident, damage, loss or inconvenience. You must take all necessary steps to safeguard and protect your personal property.
Force Majeure
No liability can be accepted by Westhope Country Retreats and no compensation will be paid where you or your personal property suffer any loss, damage, injury, disappointment, inconvenience or otherwise due to natural disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions.
Behaviour and Conduct
Consideration and respect for any neighbours or other persons or parties that have a connection with the Property. This includes refraining from abusing your stewardship of the Property or dangerous, offensive, violent or anti-social behaviour towards such persons or parties. Keep the Property and all furniture, utensils, equipment, fixtures and fittings in or on the Property in the same state of repair and condition as at the commencement of the Holiday Period and to ensure that at the end of that period the Property is left in the same state of order and cleanliness in which it was found. Westhope Country retreats may make an additional, reasonable charge for professional cleaning after your and your Guests’ occupancy as may be required to return the Property to its original state of cleanliness and tidiness.
Noise Nuisance
There is 10pm curfew with the use of hot tubs. Music outside the cottages is not permitted. Music indoors must be turned down with windows and doors closed by 10pm.