Cutting Edge Catering Terms and Conditions
1. Definitions
“Additional Charges” means the additional charges that may be payable as set out in clause 10 (Additional
Charges).
“Cost” means the total cost of the Event as set out in our quotation.
“Event” means the event for which you have made an Order.
“Order” means your order for the catering goods and/or services supplied by us.
“Schedule” means the schedule at the end of these Terms.
“Terms” means these terms and conditions.
“you” or “your” means the customer making the Order.
“we”, “us” or “our” means Cutting Edge Catering of 66 Clements Close, Spencers Wood, Reading RG7 1HH.
2. Orders

Enquiries for Orders can be made by email to [email protected].

In response to your enquiry, we will discuss your requirements with you if necessary and provide a
quotation which will be valid for 14 days. Prices provided in a quotation are not subject to VAT.

We will always endeavour to provide a menu and service based on a specific budget providing the quality of
our food and service is not compromised. If a quotation we have supplied is not acceptable, we will adjust
it wherever possible to lower the cost, but only if we can successfully achieve this.

We cannot guarantee the availability of any particular item of food or drink, but where such an item is
unexpectedly unavailable, we will use all reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.

The notice we require for making an Order is set out in the Schedule.

We require confirmation of your Order by email to [email protected] confirming you:
 accept our quotation;
 accept these Terms; and
 agree to pay a non-refundable deposit as set out in the Schedule.

We reserve the right to amend any of the figures in our quotation after it has been accepted by you, but
only if deemed necessary by us to fulfil the Order or to meet additional requirements specified by you
including without limitation an increase in numbers as set out in clause 4 (Final Numbers).

These Terms will become binding on you and us when we confirm to you by email that we are able to
provide you with the Order and you have paid the deposit due as set out in the Schedule. At this point a
contract will come into existence between you and us. If you issue a purchase order, our acceptance of
your Order shall not constitute acceptance of any terms and conditions which may be contained within that
purchase order.

If you wish to cancel an Order before it has been fulfilled, please see your right to do so in clause 8
(Cancellation by you).
3. Deliveries

Deliveries of Orders will take place before 12 noon on the required day unless otherwise agreed.

Delivery will be completed when we deliver the Order to the address you have given us. Someone must be
available at this address to sign for the Order to acknowledge receipt and confirm that it complies with the
details set out in the Order. The contents of the Order will be your responsibility from completion of
delivery.

Notwithstanding the previous sub-clause, if you are a private individual, you have legal rights in relation to
any part of the Order with which you are not satisfied or which is not as described. Advice about your legal
rights is available from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Trading Standards office. Nothing in these
Terms will affect these legal rights.
4. Final Numbers

We require confirmation of final numbers as set out in the Schedule.

Once final numbers are confirmed, we will not accept a decrease and the final confirmed numbers will be
charged for. However, we may accept an increase in numbers as set out in the Schedule and the final
balance of the Cost due will be adjusted accordingly.
5. Payments Due

Subject to clauses 8 (Cancellation by you) and 9 (Cancellation by us), in relation to the Cost you agree to pay
a deposit and the balance as set out in the Schedule.

The following will be payable within 14 days of invoice separately after an Event (unless otherwise agreed):
 additional services or equipment booked after the Order has been confirmed; and/or
Page 1 of 6
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 any extra expenses incurred by us over and above the Cost including without limitation any Additional
Charges.
Payment Terms

Payment terms in relation to deposits and the balance of the Cost due are as set out in the Schedule.

All payments shall be made by bank transfer to our account as set out in your invoice or by cash in person.
Unfortunately we are unable to accept credit or debit cards.
Late Payment

If any payment is not received when due, we shall be under no obligation to fulfil the Order.

Whilst allowing for unfortunate and unavoidable reasons for late payment, we reserve the right to charge
interest to you on the overdue amount at the rate of 3% a year above the base lending rate of Lloyds TSB
Bank plc from time to time. This interest shall accrue on a daily basis from the due date until the date of
actual payment of the overdue amount, whether before or after judgment. You must pay us interest
together with any overdue amount.

However, if you dispute an invoice in good faith and contact us to let us know promptly after you have
received an invoice that you dispute it, the above interest provision will not apply for the period of the
dispute.
Cancellation by you
Cancellation by you if you are a private individual
Before we begin to provide the Order, you have the following rights to cancel an Order, including where you
choose to cancel because we are affected by an event beyond our control or if we change these Terms to your
material disadvantage:

You may cancel an Order within the timescale set out in the Schedule by contacting us. We will confirm your
cancellation by email to you.

If you cancel an Order as above and you have paid a deposit for an Order and no services have been
provided to you, we will refund the deposit to you.

However, if you cancel an Order as above and we have already started work to fulfil your Order by that
time, you will pay us any costs we reasonably incurred in starting to fulfil the Order, and this charge will be
deducted from any refund that is due to you or, if no refund is due to you, invoiced to you. We will tell you
what these costs are when you contact us to cancel. However, where you have cancelled an Order because
of our failure to comply with these Terms (except where we have been affected by an event beyond our
control), you do not have to make any payment to us.
Cancellation by you if you are a business
If you cancel your Order, all deposits paid will be retained and we shall be entitled to charge a cancellation fee as
set out in the Schedule.
Cancellation by us

We may have to cancel an Order before the Event due to an event beyond our control, the unavailability of
key personnel or key materials without which we cannot provide the Order. We will promptly contact you if
this happens and the following will apply:
 if you have made any payments in advance for the Order that has not been provided to you, we will
refund these amounts to you;
 where we have already started work on your Order by the time we have to cancel as above, we will not
charge you anything and you will not have to make any payment to us.

We may cancel the contract for the Order at any time with immediate effect by giving you written notice if:
 you do not pay us when you are supposed to as set out in clause 6 (Payment Terms). This does not affect
our right to charge you interest under clause 7 (Late Payment); or
 you break the contract in any other material way and you do not correct or fix the situation within 5 days
of us asking you to do so in writing.
Additional Charges
Additional Charges may be any or all of the following:

Staff Charges
 Charges for waiting staff are calculated on the length of time required unless otherwise agreed at the
time of Order confirmation.
 The hourly rate chargeable for each member of service staff ranges from £10.00 per hour for waiting
staff to £15.00 or more per hour for chefs, cooks, management and event supervisors.
Page 2 of 6
 These prices are a guideline and will depend on the style of Event, distance involved, length and timing
of Event and level of staff required. Staff required for Events booked to take place on Bank Holidays will
be charged at a higher hourly rate to be advised on request.

Travel Charges
Travelling costs will generally be built into a quotation where the venue is locally sited to Reading. Free
delivery applies to any venue within a 10 mile radius of our base at Spencers Wood in Reading. Venues
outside a 10 mile radius of this base will be subject to a delivery charge one way based on mileage at
45p/mile.

Overtime Charges
In the event that staff may be required to remain at an Event longer than originally expected, additional
charges may apply at our reasonable discretion in accordance with the rates referred to above under Staff
Charges. This may be due to schedules running for longer or extra services required which you have
requested.

Setting up Charges
If we have to set up any furniture at the Event venue and/or dismantle it afterwards, a fee will be charged in
accordance with clause 12 (Conditions to fulfil Orders). A price can be provided for setting up if necessary.

Equipment Charges
 If refrigeration is not provided as set out in clause 12 (Conditions to fulfil Orders), refrigeration units will
be hired where necessary and charged for accordingly. These may be in the form of mobile refrigeration
trailers, refrigerators and chest freezers.
 An additional charge may be levied for equipment that needs to be delivered to upper levels at the
Event venue or areas with difficult access.

Cleaning, Breakages, Loss or Damage Charges
 A small charge may be made if the condition of the kitchen/preparation areas does not meet our criteria
before we use them. If we have found the cleanliness of the kitchen/preparation areas to be
unsatisfactory following a site visit under clause 11 (Site Visit), we will notify you if we intend to make a
charge and the amount of that charge so that our criteria are met.
 A charge will be made for any items of crockery, cutlery and glassware that we have provided that are
returned dirty, damaged or broken or are missing. A charge will also be made if we have to make a
subsequent trip to collect any outstanding items.
 Any breakages, loss or damage to any equipment we have provided which may be our property or
equipment that has been hired specifically for the Event, will be charged for. This includes damage to
linen due to cigarette or candle burns and melted candle wax or by way of any other cause. Substitute
equipment is not acceptable unless otherwise agreed.

Clearing or Collection After the Event
Should it be necessary for us to return to the venue the day after an Event to complete final clearing and
collection of equipment not possible on the day for whatever reason, ie schedules running longer than
expected, hired equipment still in use, loss of light etc, a small charge may be levied. If we have opted to
collect equipment the following day or have arranged for hired equipment to be collected after the Event,
this will have been taken into account within the quotation.

Rubbish
A charge may be made for disposal of rubbish in accordance with clause 13 (Rubbish).
11. Site Visit

We may make a site visit initially to inspect the premises where an Event will take place to ensure:
 that the venue is suitable for the level of catering you have instructed us to undertake;
 the cleanliness of the kitchen/preparation areas where the food will be prepared and stored is
satisfactory; and
 any health and safety issues which affect both guest and our staff during the Event are considered.

You agree to provide us with access to the venue for these purposes at our reasonable request.
12. Conditions to fulfil Orders
We will not be liable for any delay or non-performance where you have not provided us with the facilities or
complied with these conditions as set out below:

Crockery, cutlery and glassware
All crockery, cutlery and glassware that we have provided are to be cleaned and ready for collection by the
end of the day, unless otherwise agreed.
Page 3 of 6

Facilities
Facilities and serving/dining areas must be clean and functional with safe access for both guests and our
staff who will be using the kitchen, food preparation and service areas. If the rules and recommendations
for any venue impose a maximum number of people it will hold, we will not intentionally contravene those
rules. Similarly with marquees, we advise that you select a reputable marquee hire company that will
provide expert advice on the size required in terms of numbers and style of Event intended to take place
within it. An adjoining kitchen tent may be required, and we will be happy to liaise with the marquee hire
company in terms of what we will require to undertake the style of catering required by you.

Refrigeration
Refrigeration and suitable safe storage for food to keep it safe from spoilage is required as they are
essential.

Washroom
Washroom facilities must be available to staff, away from food service and preparation areas. For Events
where these facilities are not in-situ, suitable facilities must be hired.

Essential amenities
Essential amenities must be supplied to enable us to fulfil the Order including without limitation:
 a fresh regulated water supply;
 lighting and heating;
 adequate electrical power points.

Marquee Events
 For marquee Events, we recommend that an expert is on hand for the duration of the Event to deal with
any problems that might occur.
 We will submit a list of any electrical equipment we require, to allow the marquee company or electrics
expert to calculate how much power will be required so that a suitable generator may be hired, unless
adequate power can be sourced from an in-situ power supply.
 We advise that adequate cover is provided at any Event to protect guests and catering staff from the
weather elements.

Adequate ventilation
Adequate ventilation is required if employing gas equipment in the form of ovens, hot cupboards, etc. Any
gas equipment hired will be sourced from a reputable hire company that regularly maintains its equipment
to ensure that it functions correctly.

Sufficient parking
Sufficient parking must be supplied for our members of staff requiring transport.

Furniture
Tables and chairs need to be arranged and set up prior to our arrival. Dismantling or clearing of any
furniture and equipment supplied by a hire company is the responsibility of the hire company. It is the
responsibility of the hire company to remove any furniture from the venue if required. An additional charge
may be levied if we have to set up or dismantle furniture.
13. Rubbish
Unless otherwise arranged, rubbish will be neatly bagged up in rubbish bags provided by us and left for disposal
or collection. Alternatively, a separate charge will be made for the disposal by us of rubbish. The cost will
depend on precise requirements and we may recommend a Grundon skip or similar (events waste).
14. Venue Clearing
We are responsible for the final clearing and cleaning of the kitchen facilities at the venue, restoring them only
to the condition found on our arrival. You are advised to book venue cleaners where appropriate to restore the
facilities to their original order, ie toilets, floors, etc. It is your responsibility to dismantle and dispose of party
decorations, melee, banners or related trimmings and empty cigarette sand bins.
15. Insurances

We are registered with the Environmental Health Division of Wokingham Borough Council and possess full
Public and Products Liability and Employers Liability Insurances.

We are fully compliant with HACCP and SFBB (Safer Food Better Business for Caterers).

We hold a current Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering and 5 Stars Scores on Doors.

You are strongly advised to take out full insurance cover for the Event and particularly for any breakage,
damage or loss of hired equipment as no claim can be accepted by us.
Page 4 of 6
16. Liability

We shall be under no liability for any delay or failure to provide an Order as a result of any act or event
beyond our control including without limitation in the event we cannot serve food in a marquee if gale force
winds or other adverse weather conditions make it dangerous to do so.

If we fail to comply with these Terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable
result of our breach of the Terms or our negligence, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that
is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if they were an obvious consequence of our breach or if
they were contemplated by you and us at the time we entered into this contract.

We do not exclude or limit in any way our liability under or in connection with this contract:
 for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or
subcontractors; or
 for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
 to any other extent not permitted by law.

Whilst every care is taken by our staff at all times, we advise that you must provide your own protective
table covers to prevent heat damage or spillage caused by food and/or drink as we will not be liable for any
such accidental damage.
17. Information About us and How to Contact us

We are a sole trader established in England and Wales. Our address is at 66 Clements Close, Spencers
Wood, Reading RG7 1HH.

If you have any questions or if you have any complaints, please contact us. You can contact us by
telephoning 07795 188122 or by e-mailing us at [email protected].
18. How We may Use your Personal Information

We will use the personal information you provide to us:
 to provide the Order;
 in relation to your payment for the Order if necessary; and
 to inform you about similar products or services that we provide, but you may stop receiving such
information at any time by contacting us as detailed in clause 17 (Information About us and How to
Contact us).

We will not give your personal data to any third party without your prior consent.
19. Changes to Terms

We may revise these Terms from time to time including without limitation in the following circumstances:
 changes in how we accept payment from you; and/or
 changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements.

If we have to revise these Terms, we will give you at least 2 weeks’ written notice (or such other period of
notice as we consider reasonable in the circumstances) of any changes to these Terms before they take
effect. Following our notification, you can choose to cancel the contract in accordance with clause 8
(Cancellation by you).
20. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by English law. We both agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English
courts.
Page 5 of 6
Schedule - Booking and Payment Terms
The following terms apply unless otherwise agreed with us - we can be flexible depending on your circumstances so please ring us to discuss any changes you might
require to these terms.
Private Individuals
Numbers
Minimum
Notice
required
Up to 10
6 days
Balance of Cost due
(payable on receipt of
invoice)
1 day before Event
Cancellation rights
No increase allowed
Deposit due at time of Order
confirmation as % of Cost
(payable on receipt of invoice)
50%
7 days
18 days
Up to 3 days before Event
Up to 10 days before Event
50%
50%
7 days before Event
14 days before Event
Within 7 days of placing Order
Up to 28 days before Event
Minimum
Notice
required
Notice of Final
Numbers required
before Event
Up to 30
6 days
4 days
Increase of
confirmed Final
Numbers
accepted
No increase
allowed
Deposit due at time of
Order confirmation as %
of Cost (payable within 7
days of invoice)
50%
Balance of Cost
due (payable
within 14 days
of invoice)
On day of
Event
31+
14 days
7 days
Up to 3 days
before Event
50%
On day of
Event
11 – 100
101+
Businesses
Numbers
Notice of Final
Numbers required
before Event
4 days
Increase of confirmed
Final Numbers accepted
14 days
6 weeks
Within 4 days of placing Order
Cancellation Fees
(payable within 14 days of invoice)
No charge if Order cancelled 6 days or more before
Event
25% of balance of Cost due if Order cancelled 4 or 5
days before Event
50% of balance of Cost due if Order cancelled 2 or 3
days before Event
100% of balance of Cost due if Order cancelled 1
day before Event
No charge if Order cancelled 22 days or more
before Event
25% of balance of Cost due if Order cancelled
between 15 and 21 days before Event
50% of balance of Cost due if Order cancelled
between 8 and 14 days before Event
100% of balance of Cost due if Order cancelled 7 or
less days before Event
Page 6 of 6