These terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) apply to each booking of a course, tour and/or activity and/or the hire of equipment, as detailed in the Booking Form or Hire Form, (“Services”) from Coquet Shorebase Trust Ltd (“Coquet”, “we” or “us”).

By making a booking for Services, whether through our website (https://www.coquetshorebase.org.uk/) (“Site”), by email or in-person, you agree that these Terms and Conditions apply to such booking.

You acknowledge that you have read all these Terms and Conditions and you agree to make sure all participants within your group (if you are booking on behalf of anyone other than yourself) are aware of and have accepted these Terms and Conditions.

1. About us and contact information
   • Coquet is a UK registered charity (Charity No. 1150215) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Company No. 06577073) with our registered office at The Braid, Amble, United Kingdom NE65 0WU.
   • How to contact us. If you wish to contact us in connection with your booking, please reach out to us by any of the following:
     • via the Contact Form on our Site;
     • by email at info@coquetshorebase.org.uk; or
     • by phone at 01665 710367.
   • How we contact you. If we choose to contact you, we will do so by telephone or by writing to you at the email address or postal address you provided to us in your Booking Form or Hire Form.

2. Making a booking
   • How to book. You can make a booking through our online booking system available via our Site, by telephone or in-person at our Amble site. To do so, please select the relevant course, tour and/or activity and/or equipment, your intended date and select the available time slot that you would like to choose. We will ask you to complete certain key information, such as your name, email address and any essential medical details. By completing a Booking Form or Hire Form, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
   • Suitability of activities. If you would like to check course suitability or availability, you may contact us by telephone or e-mail. The booking will then be confirmed in writing by email at our details set out under Section 2 above or through our online booking system with the course joining details.
   • Booking confirmation.
     • Your booking is confirmed when we issue an email confirmation (or in respect of in-person bookings, a receipt) in respect of your booking. You must advise us as soon as possible of any mistake in the booking confirmation.
     • We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that you and your party’s participation commences at the time booked and it shall be the responsibility of each participant to ensure that they arrive in sufficient time. Late arrivals may not be permitted to undertake the course or activities and no refunds or compensation will be payable in such circumstances.
     • You should carefully review these Terms and Conditions and the email confirmation of your booking. If there is a conflict or inconsistency between these Terms and Conditions and the email confirmation of your booking, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail.
   • What is covered by your booking. Your booking and the corresponding Fees (as defined below) includes the relevant activity, course or equipment specified in the booking confirmation. It does not include any personal insurance, snacks, lunch, beverages, optional adventures, gratuities and any other items not specifically mentioned as being included.
   • Additional information. If we require additional information after reading your Booking Form and/or Hire Form, we may contact you to request this information. We will not be responsible for supplying any Services late or not supplying any part of them if this is caused by you not giving us the information we need within a reasonable time of us asking for it.
   • We may refuse bookings. We reserve the right to refuse any booking request that you place with us. We will inform you of this and you will not be charged for any Services. Possible reasons for our refusal include:
     • your enquiry relates to an activity or a date for which we do not have availability;
     • we have identified an unexpected limit on our resources; or
     • for any other reason that means we cannot fulfil the booking request.
   • Changes to Services. We reserve the right to make changes to the Services at any time, whether to conform with any applicable safety, other statutory requirements or otherwise.

3. Fees and payment
   • The fees for the Services (“Fees”) will be set forth in the Booking Form and/or Hire Form.
   • We may require a deposit. We may require you to pay a deposit (“Deposit”) in respect of your booking, including in respect of any hire of equipment, and we will notify you upon making your booking if that is the case. You expressly agree that:
     • the Deposit is a deposit against any cancellation that falls within Section 2 (Cancellation with less than 7 days to go) and/or any loss of or damage caused to the equipment that you are hiring; and
     • in the event that there is any loss or damage to our equipment whilst in your possession, custody or control, or for which you are otherwise responsible, then we may retain such amount of the Deposit to cover the loss or damage to the equipment. This does not affect any rights or remedies that we may have at law against you or any participant if the value of the loss or damage exceeds the amount of the Deposit.
   • Payment methods. Payments can be made over the phone by debit or credit card, by cheque, BACS transfer or cash and must be received before the activity takes place or the Service is delivered. If preferred, we can issue an invoice upon request and you must pay each invoice in full within fourteen (14) days of the date of invoice (and in any event before the relevant activity takes place or the Service is delivered), in the currency specified in the invoice. Until we receive payment in full, we will not be obligated to provide the relevant Service to you.
   • Taxes and other duties. You agree that all amounts payable by you are exclusive of any amounts of value added tax chargeable from time to time (“VAT”), unless specified otherwise. If, between the date of invoice and the date we supply the service, legislation or a decision from a tax authority would require VAT to be added to the amounts that you have to pay, we will issue a separate invoice to you in respect of the VAT that must be paid, unless you have already paid in full before the requirement takes effect.

4. Your rights to cancel
   • Your rights to a ‘cooling-off’ period. Subject to the below, if you have made your booking online, then you have a statutory right to cancel the booking (and receive a full refund) within fourteen (14) days of entering into the contract (known as a ‘cooling off’ period):
     • If you require us to provide any Services within such fourteen (14)-day period, you acknowledge and agree that you waive any rights you have to such refund.
     • Some courses or activities may require a Deposit or payment in advance. If a Deposit has been used by us to purchase items for your course, such Deposit will be forfeit.
     • All cancellations and reductions in numbers should be notified to us as soon as possible by email, or by phone.
     • Any cancellations within the seven (7)-day period prior to the scheduled activity date will be a subject to Section 2 below.
   • Cancellations with less than 7 days to go. Any cancellations within the seven (7)-day period prior to the scheduled activity date will result in the individual making the booking being held liable for the full cost of the cancelled activity or reduction in numbers. Any refunds will be at the discretion of Coquet and are based on the following criteria:
     • Seven (7) days or more before the booked activity date: you can reschedule, change to a gift voucher to the same value, or request a full monetary refund.
     • Between four (4) days and two (2) days prior to the booked activity date: you can reschedule or request a gift voucher to the same value.
     • Less than two (2) days prior to the reserved booking date: no refunds or changes will be permitted.
     • Participants who fail to honour the reserved booking date will be unable to reschedule and will not be eligible for a refund.

• How to cancel your booking. If you wish to cancel your booking, please let us know by contacting us via our contact details set out at Section 2 above.

5. Our rights to cancel
   • Why we might cancel. We reserve the right to cancel a course at any time where numbers fail to reach a workable minimum, in which case a full refund of the applicable Fees will be given, or, where possible, an alternative course or activity offered.
   • Water-based courses. You expressly agree that all water-based courses are subject to suitable weather conditions. Should the course or part of the course need to be cancelled by Coquet Shorebase then either an alternative date will be agreed, or a full refund made.

6. Physical fitness, safety and equipment
   • Beware of the risk of these activities. The Services may comprise challenging courses or activities or sophisticated equipment, and participation is not without risk as falls or accidents could be fatal. All participants will receive safety training from an instructor.
   • Confidence in the water. In the interest of safety, those taking part in all water-based courses must be confident in water (except for those who have booked activities specifically aimed at building watersports confidence).
   • Physical fitness. You expressly agree that water-based activities are “assumed risk” sports, and the courses can be physically demanding, therefore a satisfactory state of health is essential. All participants must ensure that they are fit enough to complete the course before booking. If you are in any doubt about your fitness please consult with your doctor before booking.
   • Compliance with safety regulations. All participants on water activities must comply with all safety regulations notified by Coquet and follow instructions from Coquet staff and instructors. Failure to comply with this may result in the individual(s) being asked to leave the course without the right to a refund.
   • Appropriate dress. Participants must be dressed appropriately and we reserve the right to refuse admittance to any activities or courses to any participant who is not appropriately dressed. [Examples of appropriate dress include: [PFD/Lifejackets, PPE such as helmets and wetsuits suitable for the prevailing water/weather conditions ]
   • Use of equipment. You are fully responsible for any loss of or damage to equipment that we provide in connection with an activity or course, including all equipment that you have hired, while such equipment is in your possession or control, or in the possession or control of any participant within your group. You must at all times take reasonable care for your safety and the safety of others at whenever you use our equipment.

7. Conduct
   • The individual making the booking is responsible. If you are making a booking on behalf of a group, leaders of groups (including any in loco parentis) are responsible for the behaviour of all individuals within that group and must make every endeavour to ensure that each individual within the group complies with Coquet’s rules of conduct, as communicated by Coquet at the time of booking or of undertaking the course or activity.
   • Damage to Coquet equipment. If any item of equipment or Coquet furnishings are lost or wilfully damaged, then we may retain any Deposit paid to us by you and, if (in our reasonable opinion) the amount of the Deposit is less than cost required to repair or replace the item, the individual making the booking on behalf of the group will be charged with the full replacement cost of the item.
   • No alcohol, drugs or unruly behaviour. Coquet reserves the right to refuse participation to individuals that Coquet believes to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and in such circumstances, no refunds will be given.

8. Liability 

• Liabilities that cannot be limited by law. Nothing contained in these Terms and Conditions is intended to, nor shall, limit the liability of Coquet in respect of death or personal injury caused by the negligence of Coquet or of its employees, agents or contractors.
• Exclusions of liability. Except as otherwise provided in these Terms and Conditions:
  • Coquet shall not be responsible for any loss and/or damage of or to any property arising from the booking of, or participation in, the Services;
  • Coquet shall not be responsible for any loss and/or damage suffered by any person as a result of your or a participant’s failure to comply with these Terms and Conditions.
• Parking is at your own risk. Parking facilities are available at our site, and any vehicles are left at the owners’ risk and subject to any conditions and the payment of any fees as may be required by the provider of such facilities at the site location.
• Our maximum liability to you. Except as otherwise provided in these Terms and Conditions, Coquet’s total, aggregate liability under or in connection with these Terms and Conditions shall be limited to the refund of any Fees paid to Coquet.

9. Complaints
   • Should and complaint or problem arise please contact us, in writing or by phone, at our details set out under Section 2 above. We are grateful for any constructive feedback that may improve the quality of our courses.

10. Insurance
    • The activities always carry a degree of risk. The nature of adventure activities is that there will always be some degree of risk.
    • Our insurance does not cover you. We hold public liability insurance. Our insurance does not cover you for inherent risks or client negligence.
    • You are responsible for obtaining your own insurance. Whilst not mandatory, you may wish to arrange your own personal injury insurance. For your own safety, it is imperative that you abide by the decisions of our employees.
    • We may change planned routes and venues. We reserve the right to make changes to planned routes and venues because of adverse or impending conditions.

11. Persons Under 18
    • Supervising adults must be present. A participating adult (18+ years old) must be present on a course or activity in order to supervise any participants who is under 18 years old and is part of the same booking or group. In order to use the whole lake, at least one person in the group must be over 18.
    • Parental consent.
      • In respect of anyone under the age of 18 years taking part in any Coquet-organised or -provided activities, we must receive to our reasonable satisfaction parental consent to take part in such activities.
      • Parental consent forms are available in email format on request and must be completed prior to joining us on any activity unless the parent is taking part in the activity with them.
    • Younger children. Groups of younger children must keep within a designated area near the slipway and should have an adult on shore within sight of them during the hire period. They will need an adult to sign the hire forms. Children under 8 should only go afloat with a responsible adult in the same craft.

12. Data Protection

Your submission of personal information to us through the Site and in respect of the Services is governed by our Privacy Notice, which is available here: 

13. Governing law
    • These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English Law. Any dispute arising from, or related to, these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales

14. Miscellaneous
    • Publicity. You hereby permit us to publicise any feedback that you provide to us in connection with your booking, which may include publications via our website. We shall anonymise all feedback as it relates to you individually, unless you have given us express consent for us to identify you.
    • In the event that any provision of these Terms and Conditions is determined to be unlawful, void or unenforceable, such provision shall nonetheless be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and the unenforceable portion shall be deemed to be severed from these Terms and Conditions. Such determination shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any other remaining provisions.

No third party rights. A person who is not a party to these Archive Services Terms and Conditions has no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any of their terms.