1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, to keep them secure, and to give the operator information about how the site is used. Similar technologies — such as local storage — work in comparable ways, and this policy covers them together as "cookies".
2. How we use cookies
gracechurchhotel.co.uk is designed to use as few cookies as possible. The core pages of the site function without any non-essential cookies. We group the cookies and similar technologies used on this website into the four categories below.
2.1 Strictly necessary cookies
These are required for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are set only in response to actions you take, such as navigating between pages or submitting a form. They do not store personally identifiable information.
| Cookie / storage | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| gh_cookie_consent | Records your cookie consent choice so we do not ask again on every visit. | 12 months |
| Session storage (form state) | Temporarily holds enquiry-form input during your visit so it is not lost if you navigate between pages. Cleared when you close the tab. | Session only |
2.2 Performance cookies
These help us understand how visitors use the site — which pages are visited and for how long — so we can improve it. Performance cookies are set only with your consent.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga (where enabled) | Website analytics identifier used to distinguish visitors in aggregate statistics. | 13 months |
| _ga_* (where enabled) | Stores analytics session state for aggregate reporting. | 13 months |
2.3 Functionality cookies
These remember choices you make to give a more personal experience — for example your preferred language or region. They are set only with your consent.
| Cookie / storage | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| gh_preferences | Remembers display preferences such as reduced-motion choices where you have set them. | 6 months |
2.4 Targeting / advertising cookies
We do not use targeting or advertising cookies on this website, and we do not allow third parties to set advertising cookies through it.
3. Third-party content
Some pages embed content from third parties — most notably the Google Maps embed on our Contact page. When you interact with embedded content, the third party may set its own cookies. Google may set cookies such as NID and SOCS when the map loads. These cookies are governed by Google's own privacy policy; we have no control over them. If you prefer not to receive them, you can decline non-essential cookies and view our registered office address as written text on the same page instead.
4. Managing and withdrawing consent
You can manage cookies in any of the following ways:
- Consent choices on this site — where a consent banner is shown, you can accept or decline non-essential cookies, and you can change your choice at any time by clearing the gh_cookie_consent cookie and revisiting the site.
- Browser settings — all modern browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Guidance is available in your browser's help menu. Blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect how the site functions.
- Contact us — if you have questions about cookies or wish to withdraw a consent you have given, email info@gracechurchhotel.co.uk.
5. More information
For details of how we handle personal data more broadly — including your rights and how to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, ico.org.uk) — please see our Privacy Policy.
6. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example when the cookies we use change. The version published on gracechurchhotel.co.uk is the version in force, and the date of the latest revision appears at the top of this page.