Cookie Policy
01What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file a website asks your browser to store on your device. It lets the site recognise that device on a later page or a later visit — which is how a basket survives you clicking through to another product, and how the site remembers you chose light mode.
This policy also covers similar technologies that do the same job by other means: local storage, pixels and tracking scripts. Where we say “cookies” below, we mean all of them.
Cookies set by this website are called first-party cookies. Cookies set by another company through this website — an advertising platform, for example — are third-party cookies.
02The rules, and what changed
Cookies in the UK are governed by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, not by UK GDPR directly. The general rule is that we must tell you about a cookie and get your consent before we set it — unless it is strictly necessary to provide the service you asked for.
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 added two new exemptions, so some cookies no longer need your consent:
First-party analytics, where the data is used solely to improve our own service and is not shared with a third party for that party’s own purposes. And appearance and functionality cookies, which adapt how the site looks or behaves to a preference you have expressed — the dark and light mode toggle on this site is exactly that.
Both exemptions still require us to give you clear information, which is what this page is for, and a simple, free way to object, which is in section 04.
The exemptions do not cover advertising, and they do not cover analytics whose data goes to a third party for their own use. Those still need your consent before anything is set.
Breaches of these rules now carry penalties of up to £17.5 million or 4% of worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher — raised from £500,000 by the same Act. We take them seriously.
03The cookies we use
Strictly necessary cookies are always on, because the site cannot function without them. Everything else is set out below.
Strictly necessary — no consent required
| Purpose | Set by | Typical lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping basket and checkout | WooCommerce (first party) | Session to 2 days |
| Keeping you logged in | WordPress (first party) | Session, or 14 days if you tick “remember me” |
| Security and fraud prevention | WordPress (first party) | Session |
| Remembering your cookie choices | [[ CONSENT TOOL ]] | [[ 6 / 12 ]] months |
Blocking these will stop parts of the site working, including adding to the basket and checking out.
Preference — exempt, but you may object
| Purpose | Set by | Typical lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| Remembering dark or light mode | This site (first party, stored locally) | Until you clear your browser data |
This holds nothing but your display preference. It does not identify you and is never shared. You can clear it in your browser at any time, or by switching the toggle back.
Analytics
| Purpose | Set by | Consent needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Which pages are read, how visitors arrive, which devices they use | Google Analytics | [[ CONFIRM AND DELETE THE WRONG HALF. The February 2026 exemption applies to FIRST-PARTY analytics whose data is not shared with a third party for that party's own purposes. Standard Google Analytics sends data to Google, so it is normally treated as requiring consent. If you have configured it so Google cannot use the data for its own purposes, the exemption may apply and you must instead offer a simple free way to object. ]] |
We use analytics to understand which guides and products people actually read, so we can write more of what is useful. We do not use it to identify individuals.
Advertising — consent required
| Purpose | Set by | Typical lifetime |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring which ads lead to enquiries and orders | Meta pixel | Up to 90 days |
| Measuring ad performance and showing you our ads elsewhere | Google Ads | Up to 90 days |
None of these are set unless you accept them. If you decline, you will still see advertising elsewhere on the internet — it simply will not be based on your visit here.
04Managing your choices
You are asked when you first arrive. You can change your mind at any time, and it costs nothing.
- Reopen the cookie settings — [[ LINK OR BUTTON THAT REOPENS YOUR CONSENT TOOL, e.g. a "Cookie settings" link in the footer ]].
- Object to the exempt cookies — the analytics and preference cookies described above. Use the same settings panel, or email [[ EMAIL ]] and we will action it.
- Withdraw consent entirely — decline everything in the settings panel, and clear existing cookies in your browser.
Withdrawing consent does not affect anything that was lawful before you withdrew it.
We do not treat you differently for saying no. Nothing on this site is withheld from visitors who decline non-essential cookies.
05Browser controls
Every major browser lets you see, block and delete cookies. The settings are usually under privacy or security:
- Chrome — Settings, then Privacy and security, then Third-party cookies.
- Safari — Settings, then Safari, then Advanced (iPhone and iPad) or Preferences, then Privacy (Mac).
- Firefox — Settings, then Privacy & Security.
- Edge — Settings, then Cookies and site permissions.
Many browsers also offer a private or incognito window, which discards cookies when you close it.
Blocking all cookies will break the basket and checkout on this site and on most others.
06Third parties
Where a third-party cookie is set with your consent, that company processes the data under its own privacy policy as well as ours. We do not control what they do with it, which is why we ask you first.
| Company | What for | Their policy |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics and advertising | policies.google.com/privacy | |
| Meta | Advertising measurement | facebook.com/privacy/policy |
Both are based outside the United Kingdom. Where data leaves the UK we rely on the safeguards described in our privacy policy.
07Your wider privacy rights
This page covers cookies only. Everything else — what we collect when you order or enquire, why, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and your rights of access, correction, erasure and objection — is in our privacy policy.
If you are unhappy with how we handle cookies or any other personal data, please tell us at [[ EMAIL ]] first. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office on 0303 123 1113 or at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.
08Changes to this policy
We review this page whenever we add or remove a tool that sets cookies, and at least once a year. The version and date at the top tell you which one is current.
A cookie policy that describes tools you no longer run, or misses ones you have added, is worse than none — so if you spot something here that does not match what your browser shows, please tell us.