Last updated: 25th September 2026
This policy explains what personal information I collect when you enquire about, book or stay at Pots & Pans Cottage, what I do with it, who I share it with and what your rights are. I’ve tried to keep it short and in plain English.
Who I am
Pots & Pans Cottage is run by me, Cliff Lonsdale, as a sole trader. I am the “data controller” for the personal information described here. You can contact me about anything in this policy at admin@potsandpanscottage.com.
What I collect
- When you book: your name, email address, phone number, dates of stay, the number of adults and children, whether you’re bringing a dog, how you’d like the second bedroom set up, and anything else you choose to tell me in the booking form.
- When you pay: card and PayPal payments are handled by Stripe and PayPal, and I never see your full card details. I see a record of the payment (your name, the amount and the date). If you pay by bank transfer I see your name and payment reference on my bank statement.
- When you contact me: your name, email address and whatever you write, whether by the contact form, email or phone.
- If you book through Airbnb: the booking details Airbnb shares with me, such as your name, dates and number of guests.
- If you leave a review using the form on this site: your name and the review you write.
- When you visit this website: basic technical information such as your IP address and the pages you view, used for security, spam protection and simple visitor statistics.
Why I use it, and the legal basis
- To take and manage your booking: confirming it, taking payment, sending your arrival information and access details, preparing the cottage and dealing with any problems. The legal basis is that this is needed for our contract, or to take steps at your request before entering into one.
- To answer your enquiries. The legal basis is my legitimate interest in replying to you, or steps before a contract if you’re asking about a booking.
- To keep accounts and meet tax and other legal obligations. The legal basis is legal obligation.
- To keep this website secure and understand how it’s used. The legal basis is legitimate interests.
I don’t sell your information, and I don’t send marketing emails unless you’ve asked me to. After your stay I may email to say thank you and ask whether you’d like to leave a review. If you’d rather not hear from me, just say so.
Who I share it with
I only share what’s needed, with:
- My housekeeper, who looks after the cottage between stays: your name, dates, number of guests, whether you’re bringing a dog, the bedroom set-up and any notes relevant to preparing the cottage.
- Payment providers (Stripe and PayPal) and my bank, to process and record payments.
- The services that run this website and my bookings: WordPress.com (Automattic), which hosts the site, the booking calendar and the contact forms, and Google, whose services I use to keep booking records and send booking emails.
- Airbnb, if you booked through them.
- My accountant, HMRC or other authorities, where the law requires it.
Some of these providers store or process information outside the UK. Where they do, the transfer is covered by UK adequacy regulations or by approved contractual safeguards.
How long I keep it
- Booking and payment records: for as long as I need them for tax and accounting purposes, normally six years.
- Enquiries that don’t lead to a booking: deleted within 12 months.
Cookies
This site uses cookies that it needs to work properly (for example for the booking form and spam protection) and for simple visitor statistics. It doesn’t use advertising cookies.
Your rights
You have the right to ask for a copy of the information I hold about you, and to ask me to correct it, delete it, limit how I use it, or send it to you or someone else in a usable format. You can also object to me using it where I rely on legitimate interests. Some of these rights have limits. For example, I have to keep booking records for tax purposes. To make a request, email admin@potsandpanscottage.com. I’ll reply within one month.
If you’re unhappy with how I’ve handled your information, please tell me first so I can put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
Changes to this policy
If I change this policy I’ll update it here and change the date at the top.