Terms & Conditions

In these terms and conditions of trade, the following words shall have the following meanings:

• “The Company” means Balmule House, which is the trading name of Torridon Properties Limited.
• “The Customer” means the person, firm or company that engages the Company to provide the Services of Balmule House.
• “The Services” means the provision of event support services, marquee, AV hire, entertainment, florists, catering services, function services and supply of Consumables.
• “Consumables” means the food, drink, wines, spirits supplied by the Company at the Event.
• “The Event” means the wedding, meeting, conference, function, or specified occasion; the date of which has been agreed by the parties at which the Company is engaged to provide the Services.
• “The Venue” means the entire Balmule Estate including Balmule House and surrounding grounds.

Consumables

Our approved caterers, if used, have the sole right to the provision of Services in their designated areas at the Event and no Consumables may be brought into these areas. With the Company’s prior consent, customers may supply their own beverages and a corkage charge will be applied. Bar services will be provided by our caterers and will be sold on a cash basis unless instructed otherwise.

Definition of Exclusive Use

Exclusive use of Balmule House applies to the Ground, First and Second Floors, which accommodates a maximum of 20 guests in eight bedrooms and the two-bedroom master suite.

The offices of Balmule House are located, within an apartment with a separate access, in the basement of Balmule House and are excluded from the exclusive use offering. A Balmule House staff member will be on the premises, or available by phone, at all times in case of emergencies. 

Number of Attendees

The number of attendees at each function must be communicated to Balmule House at the time of booking.  Thereafter, numbers must not exceed the agreed number of attendees in order to comply with insurance requirements and Health and Safety regulations.

For catering purposes, the Customer must confirm the final expected number attending not less than 14 days prior to the Event.  Charges for the Services will be based on that number or the number actually attending, if greater.  If the Company provides the Services for any number less than the expected number, the Company’s charge to the Customer based on the agreed number previously advised will, nevertheless, apply in full.

Venue Hire

You must ensure that guests enter and leave Balmule Estate quietly, without disturbing local residents. Balmule House is surrounded by working farms and great care must be taken not to jeopardise the wellbeing of animals, crops or damage to machinery. 

Nothing may be affixed to the walls, masonry, marquees or any part of the property without prior, written permissions.

The throwing of rice or confetti is prohibited both inside the building and the immediate vicinity of Balmule House, however you can use biodegradable rose petal confetti (outside only). The lighting of sparklers, fireworks or any other potentially hazardous materials is also prohibited.

Fireworks and other pyrotechnic displays

Fireworks must be supplied and ignited by an approved fireworks supplier/company.  Chinese lanterns are not allowed.  Flammable decorations must be treated with a flame-retardant coating.

Candles

Candles may only be used in designated spaces and in suitable receptacles. Unfortunately, candles may not be lit in the house, apart from in locations previously agreed by Balmule House staff.

Cautionary Deposit

The cautionary deposit is your acceptance that if damage were to occur to the property during your stay/Event, you fully understand that you will be accountable for covering the cost of repair.  The cautionary deposit for your Event is £1,000 (one thousand pounds) and will be due for payment seven days prior to the Event. Cautionary deposits will be returned seven days after the Event, assuming no quotes are required for specialist cleaning etc.  Please note, your cautionary deposit can only be paid by bank transfer.

Cars

All cars and vehicles must be driven at no more than 10 miles per hour on the estate and are parked at your own risk.  Balmule House does not accept any responsibility for damage to, or theft from, or theft of, vehicles parked within the grounds.

Parking

For large events and weddings, a parking attendant will be provided to ensure that the maximum 25 vehicles can be accommodated and, if necessary, removed at short notice. Keys to any cars left overnight by non-residents must be left at the Balmule office. Should the need arise, Balmule employees are insured to move vehicles left overnight on the estate.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted inside Balmule House at any time.

Safety of guests

Guests should be aware of the stream and the potential danger.  While it is not deep, the muddy banks are slippery and should not be ventured onto.  Children should be accompanied at all times.  Please note, the Company will not be held liable for any personal injury or loss of property for guests, invitees or third-party providers venturing onto the river embankment.

Insurance

We recommend that you take out adequate insurance (holiday or wedding) to cover all costs arising from cancellation to protect both our interests.  We recommend that you take out this insurance as soon as you book your stay or wedding at Balmule House, and we reserve the right to determine the adequacy of such insurance.  For wedding insurance, it is important to let the insurance company know that you will have exclusive use of Balmule House for at least three days, rather than the usual one, and whether any of your suppliers are providing equipment before or after the period of exclusive hire.  We request that you provide us with a copy of this insurance cover.

Fire Safety

As part of our fire safety protocols it is both an insurance and a health and safety requirement that we know who is staying at Balmule House. 

Stag or Hen Parties

We are sorry, but stag or hen parties are not permitted at Balmule House unless agreed to ahead of booking.

Visitors

Friends are able to visit you in the property but cannot stay overnight unless they are a registered residential guest.  This is an insurance and a health and safety requirement, and is strictly non-negotiable.  Customers will be asked to vacate the property if they do not adhere to this condition of their stay. Non-residential guests are welcome between 10:30am and midnight.

Pets

Pets may be welcome but only with prior agreement. Balmule sits in a rural location and is surrounded by farms. We would expect any pet owners to agree that the worrying of livestock would not be tolerated by our neighbours. 

Charges

All charges are subject to Value Added Tax, where applicable.

All payments are required in pounds sterling.

The Company reserves the right to require a non-refundable partial payment equal to 40% of your Event cost which is payable at the time of the Customer securing their booking. Payment of your deposit assumes these terms and conditions have been read and are agreed to.  Balance payments for weddings are due six months prior to arrival and vacation rentals are due three months prior to arrival.

Any additional late charges will be payable seven days after your Event.

A booking will not be considered confirmed until the designated deposit has been paid in full.

The Company reserves the right to cancel the provision of Services to any Event for which payments have not been made by their due dates.

The company reserves the right to make additional charges for Events commencing before or running on beyond the normal operating hours (8:00am to midnight).

Customers must pay the balance of any outstanding charges within 14 days of the invoice date.

The Company reserves the right to charge interest on overdue accounts at a rate of 2% per month.

All queries relating to amounts invoiced must be notified in writing to the Company within 7 days of the issue date of the Event invoice.

If the Customer fails to make payment of any charges by the due dates, then, without prejudice to any other rights or remedy available to the Company, the Company shall without liability to the Customer, be entitled to cancel the provision of the Services and any orders for future Services from the Customer and charge the Customer the cost of recovery of outstanding payments.

Cancellation by the Company

The Company reserves the right to cancel the provision of the Services to an Event and terminate this Agreement and the rights granted to the Customer in any of the following circumstances:

• The Venue has to be closed for reasons beyond the Company’s or Customer’s control.
• The Customer is already in arrears with any payment due to the Company. 
• The Customer is in breach of any of these terms and conditions of hire and fails to rectify such breach within 7 days of written request by the Company.
• A petition is presented, or a resolution is passed, for the winding up of the Customer (except for the purpose of a reconstruction, amalgamation or members’ voluntary liquidation), or the Customer stops, or threatens to stop, payment of its debts, or ceases, or threatens to cease, to carry on its business.
• An encumbrance takes possession, or a receiver is appointed over the whole or part of the assets or undertaking of the Customer.
• The Customer is unable to pay its debts within the meaning of Section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or any future modification of that Act.
• An application is made to the Court under Section 9 of the Insolvency Act 1986 for an Administration Order in relation to the Customer, or if the Customer passes a resolution for the making of any such application to the Court.
• A proposal is made under Section 1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 for a voluntary arrangement in relation to the debts or affairs of the Customer.
• The Customer shall convene a meeting of, or propose to enter into any arrangement, with its creditors generally or the Customer (being an individual) is adjudicated bankrupt or dies.

Cancellation by the Customer

A confirmed booking shall only be deemed to be cancelled when the Company receives written notification of the cancellation.  Where a Customer cancels the provision of the Services, the Customer shall pay to the Company the following charges:

• For exclusive use bookings, the 40% partial payment will be forfeited as long as the booking is made 90 or more days prior to check-in.  Within 90 days the full amount will be forfeited.
• For weddings, the 40% partial payment will be forfeited as long as the booking is cancelled 180 days or more prior to check-in.  Within 180 days the full amount will be forfeited.

Liability

The Company shall not be liable to the Customer due to any delay in performing, or any failure to perform, any of the Company’s obligations in relation to the Services if such delay or failure is due to any cause beyond the Company’s reasonable control.  In such circumstances, the charges payable by the Company may be subject to abatement by a fair and reasonable apportionment.

The Company shall have no liability to the Customer for any consequential loss to the Customer arising out of or in connection with the provision of Services pursuant to the terms and conditions (except in respect of death or personal injury resulting from negligence), and the total liability of the Company for any other loss of the Customer shall not exceed the price payable by the Customer for the Services.

Payments

Payments can be made by electronic transfer to:

Bank                                RBS, Edinburgh Castle Street Branch, 109-109a George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JW

Account Name               Torridon Properties

Sort Code                       83-18-44

Account number            00729975

IBAN number                 IBAN GB68RBOS83184400729975

Customers must accept all international bank fees associated with deposits and payments. 

We can also accept all major credit cards. A 3.5% merchant fee is applicable to all credit card payments.

General

No variation to these terms and conditions shall be effective unless agreed in writing and signed on behalf of the Company and the Customer.

These terms and conditions shall prevail over any conditions offered by the Customer.

If the expression “the Customer” refers to more than one person, those persons shall be jointly and severally liable under these terms and conditions.

These terms and conditions shall be governed and construed in accordance with Scots Law and each party agrees to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish Courts as regards any claim or matter arising.

All details are correct at the time of publish.  However, you may be advised of slight variations in specification and charge should circumstances dictate.