Group Escape Houses is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal data is handled securely and transparently. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who We Are

Group Escape Houses operates as a data controller for the personal information we collect from you. Our registered office is:

Group Escape Houses
Room 12, 11a North Street, Portslade, Brighton BN41 1DH
Email: hello@groupescapehouses.co.uk

2. What Information We Collect

We collect and process the following types of personal data:

Information you provide to us:

Name, email address, phone number
Enquiry details including preferred dates, group size, and your enquiry message
Account details if you create an account (email address and password, or magic-link sign-in)
Trip planner content if you use it, such as trips, budgets, polls, and expenses
For property owners: property and business details, and payment details for listing subscriptions (collected and processed securely by Stripe — we do not take payments from guests)
Correspondence and communications with us

Information we collect automatically:

IP address and device information
Browser type and version
Pages visited and links clicked
Time spent on pages
Referring website

3. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

Contract Performance:

Providing account and trip planner features you have signed up for
Processing property owner listing subscription payments (via Stripe)

Legitimate Interests:

Passing your enquiry to the relevant property owner so they can respond to you directly — this is the reason you contacted us, and we cannot provide it without sharing your details with the owner
Sending you an email acknowledging your enquiry
Passing experience enquiries to the third-party suppliers who deliver them
Providing customer support
Improving our website and services
Analysing customer behaviour and preferences
Preventing fraud and ensuring security
Sending service updates and important notices
Sending a one-time follow-up email 7–21 days after your enquiry to ask whether you went ahead and booked

Your accommodation contract, if you go ahead, is with the property owner rather than with us. We handle your enquiry on the basis of our legitimate interest in running the platform and your expectation that an enquiry will reach the owner. You can object to this processing at any time using the contact details below.

Consent:

Sending marketing emails about offers, new properties, and inspiration
Using cookies for analytics and personalization (see the Cookies section below)

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your data based on:

Contract: Processing necessary to provide a service you have signed up for — your account and trip planner, or an owner listing subscription. Note that any accommodation contract is between you and the property owner, not with us
Legitimate Interest: Processing necessary for our business operations, provided it doesn't override your rights
Consent: Processing you have explicitly agreed to, which you can withdraw at any time
Legal Obligation: Processing required by law, such as tax and accounting requirements

5. Who We Share Your Data With

We may share your personal data with:

Property Owners: To facilitate your enquiry and potential booking
Experience Providers: Third parties delivering add-on services where applicable
Payment Processors: Stripe (for property owner listing subscriptions)
Email Service Providers: Resend (with Gmail SMTP as a fallback) for sending enquiry acknowledgements, follow-ups, and account emails
Analytics Providers: Google Analytics / Google Tag Manager and Vercel Analytics
Legal Authorities: If required by law or to protect our rights

We never sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers are based outside the UK and EEA. Where data is transferred internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:

Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK ICO
Adequacy decisions recognising equivalent data protection standards
Provider certifications ensuring GDPR-level protection

7. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy:

Enquiry and Account Data: For as long as your enquiry or account remains active, or until you ask us to delete it
Owner Subscription and Billing Records: 7 years, to meet tax and accounting requirements
Marketing Data: Until you unsubscribe or withdraw consent
Website Analytics: In line with our Google Analytics and Vercel Analytics retention settings
Customer Support: Kept while it is useful for supporting you, then reviewed and deleted when no longer needed

Other than the billing records we are legally required to keep, we review retention periodically rather than deleting data automatically on a fixed schedule. If you want your data removed sooner, ask us using the contact details below and we will delete it unless we are legally required to keep it.

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your data in certain circumstances
Right to Restriction: Request we limit how we use your data
Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for marketing purposes
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time for processing based on consent
Right to Lodge a Complaint: Complain to the ICO if you believe we have breached data protection laws

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@groupescapehouses.co.uk. We will respond within one month.

9. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:

Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
Marketing Cookies: Track your activity for advertising purposes (with consent)

Analytics and marketing cookies are only set if you allow them, and you can choose each separately. Our cookie banner lets you accept all, reject all, or open “Manage preferences” to allow analytics without allowing marketing (or the other way round). Essential cookies cannot be switched off because the site does not work without them. You can change or withdraw your choice at any time using the “Cookie Preferences” link in the website footer, or through your browser settings.

10. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including:

SSL encryption for data transmission
Secure payment processing through PCI-DSS compliant providers
Regular security audits and updates
Access controls and staff training
Secure backup systems

11. Marketing Communications

With your consent, we will send you marketing emails about:

New property launches
Special offers and discounts
Party planning tips and inspiration
Seasonal promotions

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or contacting us directly.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by email or through a notice on our website. Please check this page regularly for updates.

14. Contact Us

For questions about this privacy policy or to exercise your data rights, please contact:

Data Protection Contact
Group Escape Houses
Room 12, 11a North Street, Portslade, Brighton BN41 1DH
Email: hello@groupescapehouses.co.uk

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Phone: 0303 123 1113

Last updated: 24 August 2026

Privacy Policy & GDPR