Terms & Conditions
1. All bookings for catering or room hire must be confirmed in writing. The hirer shall be responsible for paying all charges, which will be invoiced after the event date and payable within thirty days of the invoice date. The Chamber reserves the right to charge interest at 3.0% over Nat West Plc base rate on outstanding accounts.
2. The Chamber of Shipping will charge a cancellation fee, if the hirer cancels a confirmed booking. The cancellation fee (Monday to Friday only, weekends not included) will be according to the following scale: where notice of cancellation is received between the following.
| 42 to 29 working days in advance of the event date, 10% of the room hire rate |
| 28 to 15 working days in advance of the event date, 25% of the room hire rate |
| 14 to 8 working days in advance of the event date, 50% of the room hire rate |
| 7 working days of the event date, 100% of the combined room hire and all catering charges including refreshments |
The hirer shall pay the cancellation fee within thirty days of the invoice date. A tentative booking that has not been confirmed in writing will be held for a maximum of 10 days from the date on which it was made. The Chamber reserves the right to require a deposit when a booking is confirmed.
3. The Chamber of Shipping reserves the right to cancel a booking if the holding of the event is prevented by circumstances beyond its control and shall not be liable for any loss or cost arising from such cancellation.
4. Where catering is being supplied, the hirer shall advise the Chamber of the number of people attending the event at least four working days before the event date. This number is the minimum on which the final invoice will be calculated.
5. Charges for catering and room hire are published separately by the Chamber of Shipping. Catering, hiring of round tables, chairs and linen which are hired in extra for an event, telephone calls, and photocopying charges are subject to VAT at 15%. Prices given for equipment hire, tea, coffee and biscuits are inclusive of VAT. Room hire charges are not subject to VAT.
6. Neither the hirer nor any person acting on his behalf shall impose any charge for any purpose on persons attending an event without the prior written consent of the Chamber of Shipping.
7. The Chamber of Shipping holds a licence for the sale of intoxicating liquor to members of the Chamber and those on the premises by invitation of the organisers of any reception or event. There are no cash bar facilities. The Chamber is not licensed for music, dancing or entertainment and no such performance shall take place on the premises.
8. The Chamber of Shipping shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to property belonging to the hirer or his guest nor any injury which may be incurred during the holding of an event except where death or personal injury is as a result of negligence on the part of the Chamber of Shipping. The hirer shall indemnify the Chamber of Shipping against liabilities for any such loss, damage or injury for which it is not responsible under this paragraph.
9. The hirer shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify the Chamber of Shipping against, any damage caused by the hirer or its guests, to any of the furniture, fitments or structures belonging to the Chamber of Shipping other than fair wear and tear.
10. Unless agreed otherwise with the Chamber of Shipping, rooms will be available for occupation 15 minutes before the time for which they have been booked.
11. The Chamber of Shipping premises shall be vacated by the hirer by 1.00pm in the case of morning events, 5.30pm in the case of afternoon or full-day events and 10.00pm in the case of evening events.