Sozai Terms and Conditions
Cookery classes, Catering, Private dining and Events
These terms explain how to book with Sozai Cooking School, what to expect from our services, and the rules for payment, changes and cancellation. Please read them before booking and share the relevant information with your guests.
About these terms and your booking
1.1 “Sozai”, “we”, “us” and “the Company” mean the trader operating Sozai Cooking School, whose full legal name, business address and, where applicable, company registration details will be provided before you book and in your booking confirmation. “You” means the customer making the booking. A consumer is an individual acting wholly or mainly outside their trade or profession.
1.2 These terms cover scheduled in-person and online classes, private classes, catering, private dining, events and gift vouchers. Your written quotation and booking confirmation set out the agreed service, date, price, participant numbers, venue and any hire arrangements. Any agreed variation must be recorded in writing. Nothing in these terms removes statutory rights
1.3 A booking is confirmed when we accept it in writing and receive the payment required. Please check the confirmation promptly and tell us about any errors. The terms supplied before booking apply to that booking; later updates do not apply retrospectively without your agreement..
1.4 If you book for others, you must have authority to make the booking, share relevant participation and safety information, and ensure that personal information is shared lawfully. Please arrange for participants to provide sensitive health information directly where possible..
Prices payment and invoices
2.1 Scheduled classes require full payment to confirm a place. Private bookings require full payment unless the written quotation sets out an agreed deposit and balance timetable. Any additional £100 deposit must be expressly identified in the quotation as a booking payment or a refundable security deposit, with its purpose and refund conditions stated before payment.
2.2 Prices and all compulsory charges, including VAT where applicable, will be disclosed before booking. Optional extras require your agreement. Additional work, time, delivery or hire charges must be agreed in writing before being incurred.
2.3 Please pay invoices by the stated due date. Tell us about invoice queries promptly, preferably within seven days; this does not limit your right to challenge an error later. Any undisputed amount remains payable on time.
Cancellation notices refunds and consumer rights
3.1 All cancellations must be confirmed in writing to the Company by email to info@sozai.co.uk. Changes and rescheduling requests must also be emailed. Notice is measured from receipt of your email to the booked start time, or 08:00 on the booked delivery date for hired items, as explained in clause 6.2. Days mean calendar days; a business day is Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England. We will acknowledge your request; our acknowledgement is not a condition of valid notice.
3.2 The schedules below set out the normal cancellation charges and refunds. For consumers, any amount retained or charged must be fair and proportionate to our actual net loss directly caused by cancellation, allowing for costs saved, reasonable efforts to reduce losses and any replacement booking. We will reduce the charge where those losses are lower and explain its calculation on request. We will not recover the same loss twice. Administration charges must also be reasonable and reflect the work involved.
3.3 Date-specific catering and services related to leisure activities, including recreational cookery classes, generally do not carry the statutory 14-day change-of-mind cancellation right under regulation 28(1)(h) of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. This does not affect rights where we fail to provide the agreed service. Where a contract is not exempt, we will provide the applicable statutory cancellation information before booking; those rights take priority over these schedules
3.4 Refunds will be made to the original payment method unless otherwise agreed, without a refund fee, normally within 14 days of confirming entitlement and always within any statutory deadline. Refunds for voucher-paid bookings return to the voucher unless a statutory cash refund is due.
Scheduled cookery classes:
4.1 Cancellation and rescheduling are subject to availability and the following schedule, read with section 3.
7 days or more notice before the class start time: Full refund or reschedule subject to availability.
Less than 7 days notice before the class start time: Normally no refund or rescheduling. You may send a replacement under clause 4.3
4.2 The first eligible rescheduling is free. Subsequent eligible rescheduling requests carry a £25 administration charge per class per attendee, subject to clause 3.2. A new date is confirmed only when agreed in writing.
4.3 You may transfer your place to another suitable person by emailing their name and contact details, allergies, dietary requirements and access needs at least 24 hours before the class. They must meet any published age or participation requirements and accept these terms. We cannot promise to accommodate dietary requests made at short notice; please obtain confirmation before transferring.
Private classes catering private dining and events:
5.1 You must notify us in writing by email of any proposed changes to your booking, including changes to participant numbers, dietary requirements, timings or services, and provide full details. We will respond with a revised quotation reflecting the proposed changes and any applicable charges under these terms. Changes take effect only when you accept the revised quotation and we confirm the revised booking in writing. Until then, the existing booking remains in place. Final numbers and dietary requirements must be confirmed at least 15 days before the booked start time.
5.2 Cancellation of the whole booking and reductions in participant numbers follow this schedule. For reductions, the refund applies to the price attributable to the removed participants, with the revised quotation showing the resulting price and any applicable charges. The schedule excludes separately itemised hire rental charges, which follow section 6.
15 days or more notice before the booked start time: 100% refund
7 days more but less than 15 days notice before the booked start time: 50% refund
Less than 7 days notice before the booked start time: Normally no refund, subject to clause 3.2.
5.3 To reschedule, email us as soon as possible. With at least 15 days’ notice, the first agreed change of date is free, subject to availability. With less than 15 days’ notice, an £80 administration charge applies, subject to clause 3.2. Any unavoidable additional hire or third-party costs must be explained and agreed before you accept the new date. If no new date is agreed and you cancel, clause 5.2 applies. Charges already paid for the same loss will be credited.
5.4 Requests to increase numbers should be made at least seven days before the event. We will confirm whether we can accommodate them and the additional price. Additional payment is due when the increase is confirmed unless otherwise agreed in writing.
5.5 There is no refund solely because agreed food, drinks or services are not consumed or used. This does not affect remedies for services not provided or not supplied as agreed.
5.6 For off-site bookings, you must provide the agreed safe working space, facilities and access, and obtain any permissions for which the quotation makes you responsible. Let us know promptly about changes that may affect delivery or safe performance. Any resulting price change requires written agreement.
Hire items and tableware
6.1 Where an event involves hired items such as table linen, glasses or crockery, cancellation of those items is subject to the following rental charges. These apply to the rental price of the cancelled items, not to the entire event price, and remain subject to clause 3.2 and any applicable statutory cancellation right.
Notice before 08:00 on the booked delivery date
15 days or more : No rental cancelling charge
More than 5 days but less than 15 days: 30% of rental charges
72 hours or less : Full rental charges
6.2 All hire cancellations must be confirmed by email to info@sozai.co.uk. Deliveries are booked within the delivery window of 08:00–18:00, Monday to Friday. For the cancellation charges in clause 6.1, notice is calculated from receipt of your cancellation email to 08:00 on the booked delivery date, being the earliest possible delivery time, regardless of the actual delivery time. Exactly 15 days attracts no rental cancellation charge; 14 days attracts 30%; exactly five days attracts 50%; exactly 72 hours attracts full rental charges. The quotation must identify the booked delivery date, delivery window, rental price and any separate delivery or collection charges. Such separate charges are payable on cancellation only to the extent disclosed and reasonably incurred or unavoidably committed, subject to clause 3.2.
6.3 Hire rental charges are calculated separately from the service cancellation schedule in section 5. They must not be charged again within a catering or event cancellation fee. A change of delivery date or reduction of hired quantities may create cancellation costs for the affected items; these will be explained before you agree to the change.
6.4 You are responsible for reasonable repair or replacement costs for hired items or our tableware lost or damaged through your or your guests’ fault while in your care. We will provide an itemised explanation and supporting evidence. Charges will exclude fair wear and tear, pre-existing damage and damage caused by us, and will not exceed the reasonable loss incurred. Please report damage promptly.
Additional Charge for Private Dining
6.5 In case of our bringing our own tableware, any breakage or damage by the diners will be charged after the dinner.
Attendance hygiene and safety
7.1 Please arrive, or connect online, at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start. Late arrival may mean missing part of the class. Only booked participants may attend or access an online class unless we agree otherwise, including any necessary accessibility arrangements.
7.2 Do not attend if you have vomiting or diarrhoea, or until at least 48 hours after those symptoms have stopped. Contact us if you have another illness that may pose a food safety risk. Customer cancellation rules still apply, subject to section 3; a replacement may attend where section 4 permits.
7.3 Follow staff instructions on food hygiene and safe use of knives, heat and equipment. Tell us in advance about access needs so we can discuss reasonable adjustments. We remain responsible for providing our services with reasonable care and skill.
7.4 We may refuse admission or stop participation where reasonably necessary because of intoxication, threatening or disruptive behaviour, a serious safety breach or an infectious illness risk. Where practicable, we will explain the concern and allow it to be addressed. Any refund or charge will reflect the circumstances, service provided and reasonable loss, subject to your statutory rights.
7.5 Where alcohol is supplied, it will be supplied only in accordance with applicable licensing requirements and age restrictions. We may request proof of age and refuse service where legally required or necessary for safety.
Online classes and food taken away
8.1 We will send the ingredient list, equipment requirements and preparation instructions to your booking email address in good time. Unless expressly included in the booking, you must obtain suitable ingredients and equipment and arrange compatible software and a working internet connection. Contact us promptly if instructions have not arrived.
8.2 We are not responsible for problems caused solely by your equipment or connection. If a technical failure on our side prevents us from providing the class as agreed, we will offer an appropriate remedy, including a replacement class or refund where appropriate.
8.3 You must handle, transport, store, prepare and reheat ingredients and food safely, following our instructions. For food taken away, we will provide relevant storage, consumption and allergen information. You are responsible for following it and passing it to anyone who eats that food; this does not exclude our responsibility for unsafe food or incorrect information supplied by us.
Allergies and dietary requirements
9.1 Tell us about allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements at booking, and confirm them on arrival. Private event organisers must provide the information by the deadline in clause 5.1 and pass relevant allergen information to guests. Contact us before booking if an allergy may affect whether you can safely participate.
9.2 We will provide legally required information about the 14 regulated allergens in our food and drinks and take reasonable measures to manage allergens. For distance food orders, required allergen information will be available before purchase and at delivery. Applicable food labelling requirements will also be followed.
9.3 Our kitchens, classes and suppliers may handle allergens using shared equipment. We cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment or that every dietary request can be met. We will discuss whether we can safely accommodate your requirements and confirm any agreed adjustments. These statements do not remove our food safety obligations or excuse inadequate allergen controls.
9.4 Please do not consume food if you are unsure about its suitability; ask staff for information. If we cannot safely provide an adjustment agreed at booking, we will discuss an appropriate alternative or refund rather than require you to accept an unsafe option.
Changes or cancellation by Sozai
10.1 We may make reasonable minor changes to a tutor or ingredients without prior notice, provided that we maintain the agreed standard of service and accommodate confirmed allergies and agreed dietary requirements. We will tell you about material changes as soon as reasonably practicable. If we cannot provide the service substantially as agreed, you may decline the alternative and receive a refund for the affected service. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
10.2 If we cancel, including because of illness, venue unavailability or circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we will notify you as soon as practicable and offer an alternative date if available. You do not have to accept it. If no alternative is accepted, we will refund amounts paid for services and hire that we do not provide. Any further statutory remedy remains available.
10.3 Events beyond our reasonable control may delay or prevent performance. We will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and discuss alternatives. This clause does not allow us to retain payments for services not supplied or remove statutory rights. Personal travel disruption or illness affecting a customer is dealt with under the customer cancellation provisions.
Gift vouchers
11.1 Gift vouchers are valid for 24 months from purchase and for Sozai services or associated products eligible for voucher payment. The expiry date will be stated. Please retain proof of purchase and protect the code. Tell us promptly if a code is lost or stolen; we will assist where purchase and the unused balance can be verified, but cannot replace value already redeemed by an unauthorised person where we are not at fault.
11.2 To redeem, enter the code when booking online or contact info@sozai.co.uk for other eligible services. Any unused balance remains available until the voucher expires. Vouchers are not exchangeable for cash except where the law requires a refund.
11.3 You may cancel an unused voucher within 14 days of purchase by notifying info@sozai.co.uk, and we will refund the purchaser within 14 days using the original payment method. This contractual right also applies to in-person purchases. For distance or off-premises purchases, any applicable statutory cancellation right takes priority; an unequivocal cancellation statement may be used without a particular form.
11.4 If you wish to use a voucher to book a date-specific service during the first 14 days, we will explain before redemption how that booking affects cancellation rights. Cancellation of a class or event booked with a voucher follows the relevant service terms, subject to statutory rights. Redemption does not by itself remove any statutory right that still applies.
Liability and statutory remedies
12.1 We will supply services with reasonable care and skill. Consumers retain their rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, including repeat performance or an appropriate price reduction where legally available.
12.2 Nothing excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited. We do not require you to indemnify us for our own negligence or breach of duty.
12.3 For business customers only, subject to clause 12.2 and applicable law, our total liability arising from the booking is limited to the total price payable for that booking. We are not liable to business customers for indirect or consequential losses or loss of profit, revenue or business opportunity. These business limitations apply only to the extent legally valid and reasonable.
Personal information
13.1 We process personal information under applicable UK data protection law, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 as amended. Our Privacy Policy at www.sozai.co.uk explains purposes, lawful bases, retention, sharing and your rights. Acceptance of these terms is not consent to marketing.
13.2 Allergy and other health information may be special category data. We will use an appropriate lawful basis and special category condition, and obtain separate explicit consent where required. Please share only information needed for the booking. Withdrawing consent may affect an adjustment we can safely provide; we will discuss this with the participant. Any marketing consent is separate and optional.
Complaints governing law and contact
14.1 Please raise concerns with staff promptly so we can try to resolve them. Complaints may be emailed to info@sozai.co.uk with your booking details and the remedy sought. If a consumer complaint cannot be resolved internally, we will provide legally required information about an appropriate alternative dispute resolution body and whether we will participate.
14.2 These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. Business customers agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales. Consumers may also bring proceedings in the courts of the part of the UK where they live and retain any mandatory legal protections applicable to them.
14.3 If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue so far as legally possible. A delay in enforcing a right does not waive it.
Contact Sozai Limited
Email info@sozai.co.uk
Website www.sozai.co.uk
Updated 8th October 2026