By paying your deposit it will be deemed that you understand and accept the following terms and conditions.
Quotation:
Before placing your order, I will discuss designs for you to agree. We will agree a price in writing (email) relating to that design and the size of your cake.
Payments:
Payment by bank transfer (BACS) to my nominated bank account is preferred. Cash payments are acceptable.
I do not accept cheques
Deposit:
To secure the supply date in my diary, a non-refundable deposit is required as follows:
Celebration cake: £50
Wedding cake: £100
Biscuits: £ Negotiable depending on number ordered
Cup-cakes: £ Negotiable depending on number ordered
Taster Box: £35 (full price).
Final balance:
Celebration cake: Payment up until collection.
Wedding cake: Seven days prior to the event
Biscuits: Prior to posting or collection whichever the sooner
Cup-cakes: Payment up until collection.
Cancellation:
If cancellation of an order takes place more than 7 days before the agreed collection/delivery date I reserve the right to retain your non-refundable deposit. If cancellation takes place less than 7 days before the day of collection/delivery then I reserve the right to seek 100% of the order value.
Cancellation must be made in writing (by letter or email) and will only be deemed to take effect from the date your letter/email is received by me.
Should you need to postpone your event I will endeavour to transfer your order providing the date is suitable for me, otherwise it shall be treated as a cancellation (see above).
I retain the right to cancel the booking in unusual circumstances beyond my control, such as fire, power cut, ill heath, etc subject to which I will refund in full any money taken.
Alteration and Changes:
It is your responsibility to read and check the quote thoroughly; any amendments to the design, including cake flavours, should be made in writing.
If requested, I will endeavour to adjust the design, post-approval, but sometimes this may not be possible due to the nature of the request or amount of notice given. If the alteration affects the cost, or preparation work for the original design has already been undertaken (such as the purchasing of ingredients), then your balance will be adjusted accordingly.
As each cake is made individually by hand, whilst every effort is taken to ensure consistency, some variation may occur from the design agreed. I reserve the right to change or adapt the agreed design at any point if circumstances dictate it, for example, technical adjustments for stability, unavailability of ingredients etc.
All my cakes are generally suitable for vegetarians. Please be aware that although ingredients such as nuts can be removed from the cakes, I cannot guarantee that any of my cakes are 100% free of nut traces due to the manufacturing process used for some ingredients. It is the responsibility of the customer to ensure allergen information is passed on to those consuming the cake.
I currently do not make gluten-free or dairy-free cakes. I can provide a list of ingredients if requested.
While every effort is made to ensure all cakes are fully edible, it is standard practice for heavily decorated cakes to contain a small proportion of inedible items; it is the client’s responsibility to ensure these are removed by yourself/your caterer/guests before consumption, eg. support dowels and boards in tiered/sculpted cakes, ribbon, wires in sugar flowers, support sticks in modelled figures etc. I will verbally advise on such items at the time of collection or delivery.
Collection:
This is preferred for all of my cakes except wedding cakes. As a one-man business delivery is both time consuming and inefficient for me. Cakes can be collected free of charge from my home.
Celebration and wedding cakes can be very heavy, particularly fondant covered cakes. Please bear this in mind when collecting/carrying/transporting the cake yourself.
Cakes are presented for collection in a cardboard cake box. Do not place any objects on top of the cake box. Cake stands are not supplied.
After collecting the cake, I will not be held liable for any damage to the cake once it has left my possession. Tiered cakes are most at risk during transport and every care should be taken by you to ensure your cake is as safe and secure as possible during transit.
Any cakes not picked up within 1 hour of the agreed collection time will be held for a maximum of 48 hours. A new collection time (and day) will be arranged at my convenience. Cakes not collected after this time may be destroyed. In which case I reserve the right to seek 100% of the order value.
Delivery:
In circumstances where I agree to deliver a cake, charges are calculated on a mileage and time basis which we will agree.
I do not deliver to venues beyond 1 hour drive time.
If you choose delivery, it is my intention that your cake will be delivered in perfect condition prior to the start of your event. However, I ask for patience with factors that may be beyond my control (eg. accidents and traffic conditions) as I cannot be held liable for any such delays. For this reason, I recommend all cake orders are delivered at least 2 hours in advance of the event start time. It is your responsibility to ensure you inform me of the correct event time and location plus an accurate address and postcode of the venue. You should also provide me with an emergnecy telephone contact for the venue or client. In the unlikely event of late delivery, the maximum compensation will be a refund of the delivery charge.
I cannot be held liable for any damage that is rendered to the cake once it has been delivered.
Cakes are presented for delivery in a cardboard cake box. Do not place any objects on top of the cake box. Cake stands are not supplied.
Damage:
Please remember that cake decorations are very delicate items, and I cannot accept responsibility for damage that is done to the cake after it has left my possession.
If any damage is rendered to the cake after it has left my possession, then you can advise me and request a repair, which will be costed accordingly, including transport costs if appropriate.
Portion guide:
The number of servings per cake as detailed in quotes are a guideline only. Yield will vary dependent upon how the cake is cut, which is the responsibility of the customer/caterer. There is a portion guide on this website.
Best before date/storage conditions:
Fondant (or sugar paste) covered cakes should be stored in the cardboard box the cake is collected/delivered in, and kept in a cool (but not cold), dark place away from direct natural or artificial lights. Fondant-iced cakes can stay fresh for several days after receipt if it is stored correctly. (The sugar paste icing helps create a natural barrier from the air that causes cakes to go stale.)
Fondant covered cakes and modelled figures should not be refrigerated (nor stored in a plastic container), as it will cause condensation to form on the surface of the icing and give the cakes a ‘wet’ look, in which colours may run (though the taste will be unaffected).
My cakes are made of natural ingredients; because of this they will not have the extended shelf life of most supermarket cakes, which contain additives and preservatives to ensure their prolonged life. Freezing the cake however, preserves the taste of the sponge and icing as much as feasibly possible, and will be perfectly safe to eat, but please bear in mind that as with refrigeration it will affect the visual appearance of the icing, as condensation will form upon defrosting.
Food hygiene regulations recommend that food should only be frozen for a maximum of 3 months.
BUTTERCREAM CAKES
Buttercream covered cakes need not be refrigerated except in conditions of extreme heat. As noted above, refrigeration will affect the visual appearance of any fondant decorations, which will take on a wet look and may cause colours to run.
Food hygiene regulations recommend that food should only be frozen for a maximum of 3 months.
BISCUITS
These are individually wrapped in a cellophane bag with a label of ingredients. Provided these are stored in dry, preferably air tight, conditions they will remain edible for several weeks. Such orders can be posted within the UK only, using Royal Mail 48 Hour delivery service. A postage packing charge will be agreed. Alternatively, biscuits can be ordered direct from my ETSY website (see link on the Biscuits page of this site).
Should you have concerns about your cake, please notify me immediately upon collection/delivery of the cake so that I have the opportunity to rectify it in time for your event. All other concerns should be made in writing, and evidence of the fault should be included. Cake samples must be returned within 24 hours of collection/delivery. No refunds are given due to change of mind.
Refunds are at the discretion of Chris Dance Cakes Ltd