Terms

WINE COURSES – TERMS & CONDITIONS

By booking (or being booked on) any Wine Course or event with The London Wine Academy, whether via telephone, email, our website, or a booking form, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”).

Throughout these Terms and Conditions:

  • “We,” “Us,” and “Our” refer to The London Wine Academy.
  • “You” and “Your” refer to the customer.
  • “Course” or “Courses” refer to any Wine Course or Wine Event that you have booked or been booked to attend.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

  1. Standard of Service:
    We will use all reasonable care and skill in providing our wine courses.
  2. Booking Details:
    You are responsible for ensuring that all details provided during the booking process are accurate.
  3. Dietary Requirements:
    You must inform us of any food allergies or dietary requirements (for yourself or others in your booking) at least 7 working days before the course date so we can make the necessary arrangements. This also applies to any gift voucher recipients.
  4. Age Requirement:
    You must be at least 18 years old to attend any of our courses. We reserve the right to request proof of age before the course/event begins.
  5. Course Variations:
    While we aim to deliver courses as described in our promotional materials, we reserve the right to make reasonable changes to course content when necessary.
  6. Contact Details:
    It is your responsibility to notify us in writing if your contact details or dietary requirements change after booking.
  7. Photography:
    By attending a course, you consent to any photos taken on the day being used for marketing purposes. If you do not wish to be included, please notify the tutor at the start of the course.
  8. Booking Changes:
    Bookings can be transferred to another course or person, subject to relevant terms and conditions.
  9. Adherence to Instructions:
    All customers must follow any instructions or notices provided by staff or representatives during the course/event.
  10. Course Materials:
    While every effort is made to ensure course notes and materials are accurate at the time of print, we accept no responsibility for errors or omissions.
  11. Punctuality:
    Please ensure you arrive on time. Courses must start promptly, as food service times are pre-scheduled with the kitchen and cannot be altered. Late arrivals may be refused entry to avoid disrupting the class and the planned schedule.

PAYMENT FOR COURSES AND VOUCHERS

  1. Payment Terms:
    • Payment must be made in full at the time of booking. Your booking is only confirmed once we receive cleared funds.
    • All fees quoted include VAT unless stated otherwise. Corporate event fees are quoted exclusive of VAT.
  2. Order of Bookings:
    Places are allocated strictly in the order bookings are received, whether via telephone, website, or completed booking forms.
  3. Payment Deadlines:
    Full payment must be received before the course start date. We reserve the right to cancel bookings with outstanding payments. In such cases, any fees already paid will not be refunded.
  4. Telephone Bookings:
    Telephone bookings must be followed up with written confirmation via email from you.
  5. Per Person Pricing:
    • Course and voucher prices are advertised per person/ticket.
    • You must provide the contact details (email and mobile number) for each attendee in your party. If the booking is a surprise gift, please notify us at the time of booking.
  6. Booking Fee:
    A booking fee of £2.50 is charged per course ticket and is applied at checkout.
  7. Price Changes:
    Vouchers are valid for their monetary value and can be used toward any course. However, course prices may be subject to minor increases depending on the time of year your voucher was purchased. Price adjustments typically occur annually to account for inflation.

 

GIFT VOUCHERS

 

By purchasing or using a gift voucher, you agree to these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully.

VOUCHER VALIDITY

  1. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase (unless otherwise stated) and must be redeemed and the course attended before the expiry date.
  2. It is your responsibility to ensure the voucher balance is used before the expiry date. We do not send reminders.
  3. If you need an extension due to exceptional circumstances (e.g., medical reasons), you must request this before the expiry date. Extensions cannot be granted after the voucher has expired. A £25 per person admin fee applies

EMAIL VOUCHERS

  • Email vouchers are sent free of charge to the email address provided at the time of purchase.

VOUCHER REDEMPTION

  • Vouchers must be redeemed via our website; phone bookings are not accepted.
  • Pre-booking is required. Redemption details are included on your voucher.

REFUNDS

  • Vouchers are non-refundable and have no cash value unless cancelled within 14 days of purchase, as per the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation, and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.
  • If a specific course date was selected, our standard cancellation terms apply.
  • No credit or change will be given if the voucher value exceeds the course cost (e.g., a £100 voucher used for a £95 course).

MONETARY VOUCHERS

  • Monetary vouchers can be used for partial or full payment of a course.
  • If the course cost exceeds the voucher value, the remaining balance must be paid at the time of booking.

COURSE VOUCHERS

  • Course vouchers can be used for other courses. If you wish to change the course type, a £10 administration fee applies.
  • Vouchers hold the monetary value paid at the time of purchase.

TRANSFER

  • Vouchers can be transferred to another person with your consent but cannot be exchanged for cash.

LOST OR STOLEN VOUCHERS

  • You are responsible for keeping your voucher safe after receiving it via email.
  • If you lose your voucher, email us with the transaction reference or the purchaser’s name, and we can provide a replacement.
  • We cannot take responsibility for unauthorised use of a voucher if it has been shared or accessed without your consent.

CANCELLATIONS, RESCHEDULING & REFUND POLICY

1. Cancellation by Us

1a) Bad Weather, Terrorism, or Other Unforeseen Events
If we must cancel a course due to circumstances beyond our control—such as bad weather, terrorism, national pandemics like COVID-19, or other acts of nature—you can:

  • Reschedule your booking within 6 months of the original date, or
  • Transfer your booking to a friend, or
  • Request an open monetary voucher equal to the value of your original payment.

Note:
Monetary vouchers can be redeemed against any of our courses but are subject to potential price changes due to inflation. Refunds will not apply in these circumstances.

1b) Other Reasons
Occasionally, we may need to cancel a course due to low numbers or other unforeseen issues. If this happens, you can:

  • Rebook an alternative course (subject to availability). If the course fee differs, we will either refund you the difference or request additional payment.
  • Request a monetary voucher equal to your original payment, valid for 6 months.

If you used an open-dated or monetary voucher for your booking, your original voucher will be revalidated for 12 months. Refunds are not available for vouchers.

If you accept an open voucher as an alternative, the terms and conditions for open vouchers will apply.

2. Cancellation and Rescheduling by You

2a) General Rules

  • All cancellations or rescheduling requests must be made in writing (email) and acknowledged by LWA.

2b) Rescheduling with 3+ Weeks’ Notice

  • You can change your course date with at least 3 weeks’ notice. Charges apply as follows:
    • £35 per person for One-Day events.
    • £25 per person per class for short tastings.

2c) Rescheduling with Less Than 3 Weeks’ Notice
We understand that plans can change, but as a small business, we work hard to deliver high-quality experiences while managing the constraints of our venue agreements. Most of our classes are small and intimate, which is part of their appeal. However, this also means that cancellations can have a significant impact.

Our venues require confirmed numbers in advance, and we are charged for reserved spaces even if a participant cannot attend. Additionally, wine and food are preordered for each class, and it is often not possible to refill spaces at short notice.

Furthermore, if numbers drop below the minimum required by our venue to run the class, we may be forced to cancel the class for all attendees. This would be unfair to other guests who have made plans to attend.

For these reasons, we cannot accommodate class changes with less than 3 weeks’ notice. Similarly, changes due to medical reasons cannot be accepted with less than 8 working days’ notice, as the impact remains the same.

We appreciate your understanding of these policies, which are designed to ensure fairness to all our customers and the smooth running of our classes.

3. Transfers and Name Changes

  • You can transfer your place to someone else, provided you notify us in writing (email) at least 5 working days  prior to the event. ( to allow enough time  for any dietary requirements to be updated)
  • If less than 48 hours’ notice is given, the booking is non-transferable.
  • Name changes are subject to a £10 admin fee per change.

4. Illness or Non-Attendance

  • If you cannot attend due to illness, you can reschedule with at least 8  working days’ notice and  provision of a medical certificate. Fees apply:
    • 50% of the fee for One-Day events.
  • If you provide less than 7 working days’ notice or fail to attend due to illness, your booking is non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled.

5. Venue or Location Changes

  • We reserve the right to change the venue/location of your course in case of emergency, providing the course venue is within Zone 1.

6. Administration Fees

Administration fees include VAT and cover costs such as venue charges, delegate rates, staff expenses, and other related costs incurred on your behalf.

7. Non-Attendance (No-Shows)

If you fail to attend your course (a no-show), your booking will be forfeited, and you will not be able to reschedule or rebook. The standard cancellation terms apply.

Important Notes

  • We strongly recommend obtaining insurance to cover non-attendance of any booked course.
  • Please check your course is going ahead before arranging travel or accommodation, as we cannot be held liable for related expenses.
  • Nothing in these terms and conditions affects your statutory rights.

ABOUT THE LONDON WINE ACADEMY

This website, www.londonwineacademy.com (the “Website”), is operated by The London Wine Academy Ltd, a company registered in England under registration number 3890570. You can contact us via our contact form.

By accessing or using our Website or booking (or being booked on) any Wine Course or event with The London Wine Academy, whether by telephone, email, website, or booking form, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”). Please read them carefully. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not continue to use the Website or services.

Throughout these Terms:

  • “We,” “Us,” and “Our” refer to The London Wine Academy.
  • “You” and “Your” refer to the customer.
  • “Course” or “Courses” refer to the Wine Course or Wine Event you have booked or attended.

These Terms govern your use of the Website and our services and may be updated by us from time to time. Any updates will be effective immediately upon publication on the Website.

1. Accessing This Website

  • We reserve the right to modify or withdraw services on the Website at any time without prior notice.
  • We are not liable for the Website being unavailable for any reason at any time.
  • You may only use the Website for lawful purposes and must not use it in any way that is fraudulent or violates any local, national, or international laws.

If you provide feedback about any Wine Course or product, you agree to ensure your feedback is accurate, genuinely held, and not defamatory.

2. Cookies

  • We do not use cookies to collect personal information.
  • When you visit the Website, certain technical information (e.g., IP address, browser version, operating system) is logged for statistical purposes only. This data is used to improve the Website and does not include personal information.

3. Data Protection

We process personal data collected through the Website in accordance with our Privacy Policy. By using the Website, you consent to the terms of our Privacy Policy.

4. Links to Other Websites

  • While we carefully select external websites linked from the Website, we are not responsible for their privacy policies, terms, or content.
  • You are not permitted to create a link to this Website without our prior written consent.

5. Intellectual Property

  • The design, text, graphics, and other materials on the Website are the property of The London Wine Academy Ltd or its licensors.
  • You may electronically copy or print portions of the Website for personal research or informational purposes only. You must not alter, delete, or reproduce the content for commercial use without our prior written consent.
  • Our Wine Courses are the result of significant investment and development. Any attempt to copy, replicate, or infringe upon our programs will result in appropriate legal action to protect our rights.

6. Copying Our Courses

You are welcome to use the Website as an information resource, provided you do not alter or delete any content, web design, or layout. Commercial use of any materials from the Website is strictly prohibited without our prior written consent.

We have spent considerable time and resources developing our unique Wine Courses, recognised for their quality and value. To protect our reputation, we actively monitor and take legal action against any infringement.

7. Limitation of Liability

The materials on the Website are provided without guarantees or warranties of accuracy. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we exclude:

  • All implied conditions, warranties, or terms.
  • Liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage from the use or inability to use the Website or any linked websites.

You agree to follow any safety instructions provided during courses and maintain reasonable behaviour. We are not responsible for:

  • Damage to clothing or personal effects during a course.
  • Injury or damage caused by other participants’ actions or omissions.
  • Loss of personal items left at venues after a course.
  • Loss of income, profits, or contracts resulting from course cancellations or changes.

8. Jurisdiction and Applicable Law

These Terms are governed by English law, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Corporate, Group, or Bespoke Events – Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to any Corporate, Group, or Bespoke events booked with The London Wine Academy. Please read them carefully, as they outline the key details of your booking.

Confirming Your Booking

  1. A 50% deposit is required to confirm your Corporate or Bespoke Event booking. The remaining balance is due 10 working days before the event.
  2. Corporate or Group Events are private events specifically designed for you or your business and are not open to the public.

Deposits and Payments

  1. If event details are not finalised, you can secure your date and venue with a non-refundable holding deposit of £500 + VAT (or 10% of the total invoice, whichever is greater). This secures the booking for 10 days.
  2. The balance of the 50% deposit is due 10 days after the holding deposit is paid.
  3. For events less than 45 days away, the same non-refundable holding deposit applies, but the full 50% deposit is due within 5 working days.
  4. For events less than 30 days away, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Important Notes:

  • Once the venue is secured, we are contractually bound to their terms and costs incurred on your behalf. Failure to pay within the specified time may result in cancellation, with no refund of deposits.
  • If the venue has terms different from ours, we will notify you when confirming your booking.

Guest Numbers

  1. You will be charged based on the higher of the guaranteed guest numbers at booking or the actual number of attendees unless otherwise agreed in writing.
  2. If guest numbers fall below the minimum specified, no refunds or discounts will be provided.
  3. Final guest numbers cannot be changed after the confirmation deadline, which usually coincides with the 50% deposit payment date.

Dining Menus and Food Orders

  1. Please notify us of any dietary requirements when booking, and no later than 15 working days before the event.
  2. Any additional food or drink charges not included in your original booking will be payable.

Finishing Times

  1. Function rooms must be vacated by the time specified in your contract. Overruns may result in additional charges.

Cancellations and Rescheduling

Cancellations

  1. More than 15 weeks’ notice:
    • 50% of your deposit will be refunded.
    • A minimum cancellation fee of £500 + VAT will apply, along with any additional costs incurred on your behalf.
  2. 10–15 weeks’ notice:
    • Deposits are non-refundable.
    • Any costs incurred on your behalf will become payable immediately.
    • Rescheduling is possible (see the Rescheduling section for fees).
  3. Less than 10 weeks’ notice:
    • The full balance becomes payable.
    • If the balance payment is not received at least 21 working days before the event, we reserve the right to charge the card on file for the outstanding amount.

Rescheduling

  1. More than 12 weeks’ notice:
    • A £500 + VAT admin fee applies.
    • Any incurred venue or event costs will also be charged.
    • The new event date must be scheduled within 3 months of the original date, subject to availability.
  2. 6–12 weeks’ notice:
    • A £750 + VAT rescheduling fee applies.
    • Any incurred venue or event costs will also be charged.
    • The deposit will be transferred to the new booking.
  3. Less than 6 weeks’ notice:
    • Rescheduling is not possible.
    • No refunds are available, and the full balance of your booking must be paid within 48 hours.
    • We reserve the right to charge the card on file for the outstanding amount.

Additional Costs

  1. Any extra charges (e.g., additional services, food, or drinks) must be paid within 2 days of cancellation or rescheduling.
  2. Outstanding balances must be cleared at least 7 days before the event. We reserve the right to charge the card on file for unpaid amounts.

Additional Information

  1. All corporate event quotes exclude VAT.
  2. All general Website and Course Terms and Conditions apply unless inconsistent with these terms.