Terms of Hire

Let’s get things straight: we know hats are just frivolous items, a fun addition to an outfit. But they’re also expensive, extremely delicate and prone to damage and wear and tear.

Here are our Terms of Hire - you’ll need to read and agree to these Terms when you hire from us.

Our agreement with you

All hirers must read and agree to these Terms before ‘we’ (Cotswold Hat Club) hire a hat to ‘you’ (the person hiring the hat).

If you’re a Cotswold Hat Club member, we’ll ask you to read and agree to these Terms at the start of each annual subscription.

If you’re a one-off hat hire customer, we’ll ask you to read and agree to these Terms every time you hire a hat.

What you pay

When you hire a hat from us, here’s what we charge you:

  • Hire Fee 

  • Deposit
    This is a flat rate of £50 per piece.
    If you hire regularly from us, we may waive this.

  • Postage and packing
    Typically £10 to £15 per box.

Delivery

We send all hats via Royal Mail Special Delivery service with guaranteed next day delivery before 1pm.

The delivery is tracked and we’ll send you the tracking number after we’ve posted your hat.

When to return hats

Hat hire covers 5 to 7 days except during Royal Ascot week where we might require pieces back quickly.

If you hire a hat for a weekend event (Friday, Saturday or Sunday), you must return it no later than the following Tuesday.

If you hire a hat for a weekday event (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday), you must return it no later than two working days after the event unless we have mutually agreed on a longer hire period.

If we don’t receive the hat back by the day you agree with us, we’ll charge you an extra day’s hire for each day it’s late.

If you decide you need the hat for longer, just let us know as soon as possible and we can adjust your payment accordingly - and make sure we don’t hire the hat to someone else! 

We don’t give refunds if you don’t wear the hat, it isn’t suitable or the event is cancelled.

How to return hats

You agree that you’ll return the hat(s) you hire from us in the exact condition you hired it or that you’ll pay to repair or replace it. 

To post it back to us, we recommend using the box the hat arrived in. Wrap the hat carefully to avoid damage in transit and tape up the box securely. We enclose an address sticker for you but the return postage cost is the responsibility of the hirer.

The hat is your responsibility until it's delivered to us. Make sure you get proof of postage from the Post Office.

If you lose the address sticker, the address for return of headpieces is:
The Cotswold Hat Club
Fountain Court
Digbeth Street
Stow on the Wold
GL54 1BN

Damage and repairs 

When you hire a hat from us, you must keep it safe. The deposit you pay would only cover minor repairs. If you’d like to know the cost of replacing the hat, in the unlikely event the hat is lost, stolen or damaged beyond economical repair, just ask us.

‘Damage’ includes:

  • loss of decorations or embellishments

  • marks or spoilage from water, oil or make-up

  • scratches, rips, holes or tears

If you return a hat with damage but our milliner believes it can be repaired, you agree to pay for the repairs and also postage if it has to be posted to the milliner. 

If you return a hat with damage that means we can’t hire it out again, you agree to pay the full cost of replacement. We don’t deduct the hire charge from this cost.

The important thing is to let us know ASAP if your hat has been damaged. Please don’t just post it back and hope we won’t notice. (We will.) 

And finally… have fun!

We’d love to see a photo of you wearing the hat at your event! Most of our customers have no problems with their hat hire and we’re delighted to share our collection of hats with you.

If you have any questions or concerns, get in touch.