BOTTLE BOND LIMITED – CUSTOMER STORAGE TERMS & CONDITIONS
Last updated: 30 July 2025
These Terms and Conditions apply to the provision of storage and related services by Bottle Bond Limited.
We may update these Terms from time to time. The most current version will always be available at www.bottlebond.co.uk/terms.
1. Definitions
In these Terms the following expressions have the meanings set out opposite them.
"Bottle Bond", "we", "us" means Bottle Bond Limited (company no. 16390036) registered at 71-75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ, United Kingdom.
"Customer", "you" means the person placing Goods into storage with Bottle Bond.
"Goods" means bottled wine, spirits or associated packaging placed into storage under these Terms.
"Market Value" means the value determined by Whisky Stats, Spirit Radar or another source we mutually agree.
"Services" means the bonded storage, handling, insurance and ancillary services we provide under these Terms.
"Working Day" means a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday) when banks in London are open for business.
"Fee Schedule" means our price list as communicated to you at sign‑up (and as updated by notice to you).
2. Formation of Contract
A contract incorporating these Terms comes into existence when we issue a written Storage Confirmation at its sole discretion. We are under no obligation to accept Goods or provide storage services unless and until such confirmation is issued. Any variation to these Terms shall not be binding unless agreed in writing by an authorised signatory of Bottle Bond.
following receipt of your Goods or when you otherwise confirm acceptance in writing. No variation is binding unless agreed in writing by an authorised signatory of Bottle Bond.
3. Scope of Services
3.1 We will arrange storage of the Goods in a secure HMRC‑approved bonded warehouse operated by our appointed third‑party warehousing partner.
3.2 Service levels (indicative):
(a) Inbound: Goods will be receipted and visible on your inventory within 15 Working Days of arrival at the warehouse.
(b) Outbound: Duty‑paid orders will be ready for collection/despatch within 10 Working Days; under‑bond within 15 Working Days of your complete instruction and payment of all sums due.
(c) Environment: Target storage temperature 11–13 °C and relative humidity 60–70 %.
3.3 We (and/or the warehouse) may move Goods within the facility provided environmental parameters are maintained and Goods remain identifiable to you.
3.4 Sale Assistance (optional): On your written instruction, we may assist with the sale of Goods as your agent or by introducing you to a third‑party platform or auctioneer. You must be 18+ and we may require identity/age verification and other documents before proceeding. We do not guarantee price, timing or sale outcome. Our commission/fees and any marketplace costs are set out in the Fee Schedule and/or will be confirmed before we proceed. You are responsible for any costs incurred and taxes/duties arising on a sale.
3.5 Documentation: We will provide documentation of your inventory and movements by email PDF, and may introduce an online account in the future.
4. Ownership, Third‑Party Warehousing & Risk
4.1 Ownership: Title to the Goods remains with you at all times; nothing in these Terms transfers ownership to Bottle Bond.
4.2 Third‑party facilities & location changes: Our storage facilities may be operated by a third party. We may change the warehouse provider and/or the location of our storage facilities at any time and will take all reasonable care to ensure continuity of service.
4.3 Risk: Risk passes to us when the Goods are signed in at the warehouse and remains with us until the earlier of (i) hand‑over to you or your carrier, or (ii) hand‑over to a third party nominated by you.
5. Charges, Billing & VAT
5.1 Fee Schedule: Storage and service fees are as set out in your Fee Schedule provided at sign‑up (as updated by notice).
5.2 Billing method: You may choose annual or quarterly billing at sign‑up.
5.3 Invoicing: We will invoice on your selected billing cycle (annual or quarterly) based on the anniversary of your sign-up date. For example, if you select quarterly billing starting on 1 March, invoices will be issued for each completed quarter (e.g. 1 March–31 May, 1 June–31 August, etc.). Invoices for any ad-hoc services will be issued upon completion. Your first invoice is due on acceptance of your Goods. All invoices are payable within 10 Working Days.
5.4 No pro‑rata refunds: Storage fees are payable for the selected billing period in full and are non‑refundable if you remove Goods mid‑period. Example: if you choose annual billing on 1 January and withdraw all Goods on 1 July, fees for the whole year remain payable and are not refunded.
5.5 VAT status & price changes: We are not currently VAT‑registered and therefore do not charge VAT. If we become VAT‑registered, charges will be treated as VAT‑exclusive and VAT will be added at the prevailing rate from the effective date. We will give you at least 28 days’ prior notice. We may also update the Fee Schedule; any change will be notified in advance and will take effect from your next billing period unless stated otherwise.
5.6 Third‑party rate reviews & pass‑through: Our warehousing partner reviews rates periodically (typically annually) and may change the charges they invoice to us. Where our underlying costs increase, we may update the Fee Schedule and pass through such increases. We will give you at least 28 days’ prior notice, and unless we state otherwise, changes will apply from your next billing period.
5.7 Payment method & late payment: Payment is by bank transfer unless we agree otherwise. Interest accrues on overdue amounts at 5% per annum above the Bank of England base rate, from due date until payment is received in full.
6. Insurance
6.1 We will keep the Goods insured at our expense for their full Market Value against physical loss or damage whilst stored.
6.2 Where loss is purely cosmetic (for example label or capsule scuffing) and caused by the warehouse or carrier, compensation will be limited to 10% of Market Value per affected item.
6.3 We may, at our option, replace an item with the same item in equivalent condition and provenance instead of paying cash. We will, on request, provide evidence of insurance in place.
7. Rejection, Returns & Disposal
7.1 Inspection & right to reject: The warehouse may inspect Goods on arrival. We may reject and refuse to store any Goods that, in our reasonable opinion, are or appear to be (including but not limited to): leaking or with a leaky cork, tamper‑evident seal/capsule broken or compromised, suspected counterfeit or altered (including irregular serials/duty stamps or manipulated labels), exhibiting abnormal ullage or heat damage, infested/contaminated packaging, or lacking adequate provenance or required documentation.
7.2 Costs & returns: If Goods are rejected, you must pay all associated costs of return, redelivery, disposal or other handling we reasonably incur. We will notify you and request your instruction for return or disposal.
7.3 14‑day deadline: If you do not pay the required charges and collect/arrange return of the rejected Goods within 14 days of our notice, we may dispose of the Goods (including destruction where appropriate). If we reasonably suspect the Goods are counterfeit or unlawful, we may withhold and notify law enforcement or other authorities and dispose of them as required by law.
8. Customer Obligations
8.1 You warrant that the Goods are genuine, in good condition, free from third‑party claims, and that you have the legal right to store them.
8.2 You will provide all information reasonably required for us to comply with HMRC and other applicable laws.
8.3 All charges must be paid in full before requesting removal of Goods.
9. Access & Inspection
9.1 Visits to inspect Goods must be booked at least 5 Working Days in advance and are subject to warehouse health & safety rules. You are responsible for any damage caused during a visit.
9.2 Condition reports can be requested for the fee in the Fee Schedule and will be provided within 5 Working Days
10. Withdrawal / Removal
10.1 You may withdraw all or part of your Goods on not less than 2 Working Days’ written notice, provided all outstanding charges have been settled.
10.2 If Goods are removed, risk transfers to you once the Goods leave the warehouse and you are responsible for any duty or taxes becoming payable.
11. Default, Lien & Sale Rights
11.1 If any sum remains unpaid 30 days after falling due we may: (a) suspend Services; (b) exercise a lien and retain Goods; and/or (c) after giving at least 28 days’ notice, sell all or part of the Goods as your agent. Sale proceeds will be applied to discharge sums owed plus reasonable sale costs, any balance being remitted to you.
12. Claims, Liability & Indemnity
12.1 Our liability for loss, misidentification or damage to Goods is limited at our option to (a) replacement with the same item in equivalent condition and provenance, or (b) payment of the Market Value.
12.2 In all other cases our aggregate liability in any 12‑month period is limited to the total storage charges you have paid or are payable to us in that period.
12.3 We do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or any liability that cannot legally be excluded.
12.4 We are not liable for normal ageing, maturation or natural cork‑related deterioration of the Goods.
13. Data Protection
Each party shall comply with applicable Data Protection Legislation.
14. Force Majeure
Neither party is liable for failure to perform caused by events beyond its reasonable control provided that we shall use reasonable endeavours to mitigate any loss suffered.
15. Termination
You may terminate on 60 days’ written notice; we may terminate on 60 days’ written notice. The following terms apply based on your billing arrangement:
Advance Billing (Annual Plans):
If you have paid in advance for a fixed term (e.g. annual billing), no refunds are issued if you terminate early. If we terminate early, we will refund any unused portion of the prepaid term beyond the 60-day notice period, calculated on a pro rata basis.Arrears Billing (Quarterly Plans):
Charges are invoiced after each billing period. You remain liable for storage costs during the 60-day notice period, even if the billing date falls after termination. No partial refunds apply, but we may waive charges for unused days at our discretion if the Goods are removed early and storage services cease.
Clauses 4–7, 11–12, and any other clauses intended to survive termination shall continue in effect.
16. General
16.1 We may amend these Terms by giving you at least 30 days’ written notice.
If you are on quarterly billing, the updated Terms will take effect from the start of the next billing cycle following the notice period.
If you are on annual billing, the updated Terms will take effect at your next renewal, unless the change is required by law or regulation, in which case it may apply sooner.
If you do not agree with the changes, you may terminate the agreement by giving written notice within the 30-day period.
16.2 These Terms are governed by English law and the courts of England & Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.
16.3 No third party has any right to enforce these Terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
16.4 Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer under applicable law. If any part of these Terms conflicts with your legal rights, those rights will take precedence to the extent required by law.
17. Consumer cancellation
17.1 Your right to cancel: If you are a consumer and you enter into these Terms at a distance (e.g., online, by email or telephone), you may cancel within 14 days from the day after we confirm your storage account/acceptance. You may use any clear statement to cancel (email is sufficient).
17.2 Requesting an immediate start: If you ask us to start services during the 14‑day period (for example by arranging delivery of Goods to the warehouse), you agree that we may begin providing storage and related services immediately upon receipt. If you later cancel within the 14‑day period, you will pay for services provided up to the time you tell us you wish to cancel (including inbound handling/admin and storage up to that date).
17.3 What happens to your Goods on cancellation: On cancellation, we will make your Goods available for collection or, if you prefer, arrange delivery at your cost. If you do not collect or arrange return of your Goods within 14 days of cancellation, standard storage charges may continue to apply until removal is completed. If the Goods remain uncollected 30 days after cancellation — or within 14 days if payment is overdue or the Goods are rejected under Clause 7 — we may dispose of the Goods in accordance with Clause 7.3.
17.4 Refunds: We will refund any sums you have paid for services not provided as required by law, using your original payment method where possible. This section prevails over any contrary term (for example, the no pro‑rata refunds rule does not affect your statutory cancellation rights).
Advisory & Valuations Disclaimer: Any market commentary, valuation sources or guidance we provide are general information only, not investment advice, and we do not owe you any advisory or fiduciary duties. We do not undertake to update any such information.