Terms and conditions

We suggest that all prospective guests, read through the terms and conditions, for Dove Farm cottages, before booking, and in any case, prior to the date of their stay, so that any queries may be dealt with beforehand, to everyone’s satisfaction.

The Owners reserve the right to cancel a booking without compensation or refund, should guests choose not to respect, or agree to abide by any of the terms and conditions outlined below.

1. Bookings and payments

All bookings must be made by people aged 18 years or over. Initially bookings may be provisional - by telephone, or e-mail. There is no contractual agreement between the owners of Dove Farm and prospective guests, on the basis of a provisional booking. There is no set length of time for a booking to be held or reserved as provisional. It is at the discretion of the owners, and may vary, according to time of year and how busy the season is. No booking may be considered as confirmed until an agreed deposit has been received and funds cleared. This is generally 50% of total cost, unless otherwise agreed with owners.

When payment has been received, funds have cleared and the booking acknowledged by email, phone or in writing, – then a contract shall be considered to be entered into by both parties. The person, who agrees to be the named person making the booking, shall be the hirer.

Payment can be made by BACS, or cheque, payable to H W Stretton. We also accept credit/debit card payments over the phone. Please note there will be a handling charge for card transactions, per transaction. Based on the price of a weekend break involving the hire of all three cottages, this additional charge will be in the region of £12 per payment made.

The remaining balance is usually payable on arrival; however, in the case of late bookings and where premium booking dates are involved, payment may be requested in full, at time of booking, or in advance of arrival date.

Prices as advertised on the website and elsewhere include VAT, unless otherwise stated.

BBusiness bookings will have their own individual payment terms, according to the nature of their event. Preferred invoicing arrangements will be discussed at time of booking. A VAT receipt can be provided.

2. Cancellations

In the case of cancellation, it is recommended that the person making the booking, informs Dove Farm immediately.

It should be understood that deposits or first payments, made to secure the booking, are non-refundable.

However, the owners will do their very best, to re-book the properties. If the owners are successful in doing this, they will take a small administration fee and return the remainder of the first payment. However, this is solely at the discretion of the owners, and they may need to retain the first payment, if they are unable to re-book the properties to other guests.

Following a booking, in the unlikely event of a cottage(s) becoming unavailable due to special circumstances, every effort will be made to provide alternative accommodation, using nearby accommodation providers. If the alternative arrangement is unacceptable to guests, then a complete refund will be made, including the deposit.

In the event of guests being unable to travel to Dove Farm due to severe weather conditions, or other force majeure, a refund will not automatically be given. The owners may suggest alternative dates, or may offer to refund a percentage of the deposit/first payment made. Therefore, guests may wish to consider a cancellation insurance policy.

Guests may not transfer their booking to anyone else without prior consent of the owners.

3. Arrival and Departure

Hire of the cottage(s) begins at 4pm on the first day, and guests are requested to arrive no earlier than 4pm on the day of arrival, unless otherwise arranged and agreed in advance with the owners.

Guests are asked to vacate the cottages by 10.15 am on the day of departure, unless otherwise arranged and agreed in advance with the owners.

Some ‘two night’ weekend breaks are advertised with lazy checkout. Where this applies, guests are welcome to leave around lunchtime or early afternoon on the Sunday of departure.

It is strongly recommended that guests check arrival and departure times with the owners, if at all unsure about the terms outlined above.

4. Responsible Use

Arriving guests are requested to pay a responsible use deposit. This is £100 in the case of groups, and £50 for individual cottage hire. Responsible use deposits should be paid on arrival, and in cash. This amount is fully refundable, and will be refunded to guests, prior to their departure, subject to cottages, Dove studio, and other accessible areas of the farm and farm property, being left in the condition in which it was found.

5. Incidents occurring during stay

The Owners do not accept responsibility for faults in, or cessation of public supplies, including water or electricity, nor any claims against inconvenience caused by such incidences.

The owners reserve the right to refuse access to cottages, to arriving guests, and retain the right to repossess cottages, if it is reasonably believed that any damage is likely to be caused. Owners also reserve the right to repossess the cottage(s) if damage has already been caused. No refunds will be given in these circumstances.

Any complaints should be made known to the Owners during the period of hire. It is impossible for the owners to reasonably rectify any problems or causes of complaint, unless they are aware of the issues at the time.

6. Safety

Dove Farm has a no smoking policy in all self catering cottages and Dove studio. Smoking is permitted in the patio garden to the rear of the cottages, however, it is prohibited in and around the farmyard and barns.

Please ensure that children do not wander around the farm unsupervised. Dove Farm is a working farm and dangers should be noted and respected. A farm carries the same level of risk as working environments such as building sites or quarries.

Guests may be asked to leave immediately if their conduct is considered to infringe the Owners’ Terms and Conditions or is likely to impair the enjoyment, comfort or safety of other guests and/or staff. No refunds will be given in these circumstances.

7. Pets

Dogs are welcome by prior arrangement.

There are a maximum number of 2 dogs allowed to stay at the cottages at any one time.

Where guests invite day visitors to the farm, the Owners should be informed if the visitors would like to bring dogs with them. This permission will be given at the discretion of the owners.

Dogs are allowed access to all cottages and studio room. However, it is on the condition that they are not allowed on furniture, beds or chairs. Dogs should not be allowed to go upstairs into the bedrooms in Barn Owl cottage.

The owners of the dog(s) must ensure that all cottages are thoroughly hovered, prior to leaving. Any damage caused, or additional cleaning required will be charged to the person making the booking.

Dog owners should bring their pets own bedding.

In the interests of respect for other guests following on; dog owners are requested not to wash pet bedding in the washing machines provided in the cottages.

Dove Farm is a working farm, and there is always livestock about the place, including free range ducks and chickens. Dogs must be kept under control at all times, and on a lead around the immediate public access areas of the farmyard, car park and frontages of the cottages.

Guests are also asked to note that there are two farm dogs living at Dove farm, and the owners would not wish any incident to occur between the resident dogs and visiting pets.

There are walks from the farm gate, where guests’ dogs can run free, off the lead, as long as the dog’s owner is confident that the dog is well trained and remains under control, while off the lead.

Dogs must not be left unattended in the cottages at any time. It is unfair and unreasonable to expect a dog to settle in a new environment on its own. When guests request to bring their dogs with them, it is on the understanding that the dog is accompanying them on their holiday. Dove Farm does not provide a kennel service.

Guests intending to visit Alton Towers should consider these terms and conditions carefully, and perhaps make alternative arrangements for their dog.

Likewise, guests intending to visit attractions in the area, should consider the implications of not being able to leave their dog(s) unattended in the cottages. The alternative, would then be to leave their dog(s) in the car. It is often unwise, and in hot weather, can be dangerous to the dog’s life to do so. Dove Farm would not want to encourage the practice of leaving dogs in cars, whilst owners visit all-day attractions, and again, prospective guests are urged to think about their holiday plans in advance, and make suitable pet care arrangements for their dog’s well-being and welfare.

It is the dog owner’s responsibility to clear up all dog’s fouling before departure. That includes any fouling from grazing fields and pathways around the farm premises and farmland.

8. General

The number of persons occupying the cottages must not exceed that stated at the time of booking, unless agreed previously with the Owners.

Sub-letting of Dove Farm holiday cottages is strictly prohibited.

The Owners reserve the right to have access to the cottages at all reasonable times, with prior notice whenever possible.

The Owners endeavour to maintain high standards of comfort and cleanliness at all times. Guests must therefore undertake to keep all furniture, fittings and effects in the same condition in which they were found. If extra cleaning, or repairs are required after departure, any costs will be charged to the named person, responsible for the booking.

All damage must be reported to the Owners as soon as possible. Accidental damage or breakage of a minor nature will not normally be charged for, this is all considered to be part of family life – however, the Owners reserve the right to charge for any non-trivial damage, losses or additional cleaning required.

In the case where a responsible use deposit has been returned to guests, and significant damage, or need for additional cleaning, is subsequently discovered after their departure, the named person who made the booking, will be liable for any additional costs, and will be invoiced accordingly.

Mobile phone reception is patchy. Vodafone and Orange are the networks that currently offer the best coverage in the immediate area of Dove Farm.

The owners understand the difficulties that poor phone reception can bring and are happy for guests to use the landline at the farmhouse, whenever there is an important call to make. Likewise, guests are more than welcome, to give the landline phone number at the farmhouse, to friends and relatives, as a contact number for when they are staying at Dove Farm.

Wi-Fi, accessed via a password, is available, and free to use, in the cottages, though service can be a little intermittent at times.

9 Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that information provided on this site is correct. While misunderstandings can occur, information has been compiled in good faith.

Prices and services may be changed at the discretion of the owners and on occasions, may differ from what is shown on the site. Where owners are aware of such differences, they will be pointed out and explained to guests, so guests are able to make an informed choice. The owners do not accept liability for any information provided by other sites, via inbound and outbound links to this website.

10 Limitation of liability

The owners are not liable for any losses or damages resulting from information provided on the Dove Farm website, or from any of its associated sites, owned by Dove Farm.

The owners are not liable for any losses or damages incurred by guests during their stay at Dove Farm. This includes not being liable for damage to guests' property, personal injury, or damage to bicycles and cars.