By paying a deposit and securing an order with Food by Becs, you are agreeing to and accepting the terms and conditions outlined below.

Allergen information

If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please make me aware of this when making your enquiry.

Whilst I take the utmost care to meet your needs, please be aware that I run a small kitchen where all orders are prepared using the same equipment, therefore allergen traces may be present. I follow strict guidelines to minimise cross contamination, such as making allergen-sensitive orders separately, clear labelling & thorough cleaning, nonetheless I understand that this still may not be suitable for those with more severe allergies. If you have any concerns, please get in touch.

The following allergens are handled in the Food by Becs kitchen: wheat (gluten), dairy, eggs, peanuts, nuts, sesame, soya, mustard, celery, fish, sulphites, lupin.

Payment

Payments are to be made via bank transfer, the details of which you will receive when booking your order. Orders are not secure without a payment.

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required in order to secure your booking. You may also pay up front in full if preferred. Initial payments are to be made within 48hrs of receiving your quote & payment details in order to secure your required date. Any remaining balance will be due 7 days before your booked date.

For bookings made within 2 weeks of your order date, payment is required up front in full.

Signature cakes require payment up front in full as they are designed as a less expensive option, minimising both preparation & admin time.

Collection

Collection is the preferred option for all orders (not including weddings). My address will be given once your order has been placed, and a collection time arranged. Please be prompt for your collection time as this time has been set aside to ensure that I am home and available to hand over your order. If you expect to be late, please contact me as soon as possible to inform me. If necessary, with suitable notice, a new time can be arranged. If you are over 30 minutes late, and no notice has been provided, you risk missing the opportunity to collect your order.

Transporting your cake

When carrying your cake, always carry the box from the bottom – do not hold the sides as they may press into the cake and damage the design.

During transportation, cakes are best placed on a flat surface such as the boot or foot well of your car. If you are concerned it may move, items such as coats or bags can be used to carefully hold your cake box in place. Please do not place cakes on the seat of your car or have a passenger hold the cake. These are less stable positions and more likely to cause damage to your cake from sudden movements and bumps in the road.

During warmer weather, it is advisable to keep your cake cool during transportation in order to preserve its integrity. This is especially applicable should you need to travel to a venue with your cake.

Once your order has been handed over, I cannot take responsibility for any damage that may occur during transportation. If you are concerned there is a flaw with your order, please contact me as soon as possible (see Complaints below).

Delivery

If you require delivery, I am available during the evening on weekdays with more flexibility on weekends. Charges for local delivery for standard (single tier) cakes are between £5-£10 for the area between Lancing and central Brighton.

Delivery for wedding cakes and tiered celebration cakes will incur a charge based on the distance of the venue and time taken to set up your order.

Cancellations

Cancellations will incur a loss of the 50% deposit fee as they are non-refundable.

If you have paid in full and notice is given up to 7 days prior to your booking, you will be eligible for a 50% refund. This also applies to signature cakes.

If, due to unexpected circumstances, you need to move your order to a different date, I will endeavour to move your booking if there is suitable availability for the required date. If I am unable to move your booking, it will be treated as a cancellation.

Cake storage & consumption

Buttercream cakes are best kept and consumed at room temperature, but if you have been advised to store your cake in the refrigerator in order to preserve the design during warmer weather, ensure that you bring it to room temperature for an hour or two before cutting & serving. Depending on the cake, it will last for 3-5 days before going stale. To keep it as fresh as possible, cover any exposed sponge with cling film, or store leftovers in an airtight container.

Cakes containing fresh cream or cream cheese must be kept refrigerated & will have a shorter shelf life. If your cake contains homemade curd, store it in the fridge & bring to room temperature before consuming.

Weather/environmental conditions

During very high temperatures, I cannot be held responsible for any damage incurred due to the weather conditions, or as a result of venues/environments that are poorly ventilated and not kept cool in hot weather. I will take all the precautions that I can to ensure that your cake is presented as best as possible when delivered or handed over to you, but cannot guarantee that it will stay in perfect condition for the duration of your event when left unrefrigerated in hot weather.

Cake design & inedible decorations

When ordering a bespoke cake, it will be a Food by Becs original. I will happily accept images for inspiration to be created in my style, but I do not directly copy cakes.

If you require any alterations to be made to your design, relevant notice of at least 5 days is required to enable these changes to happen. Depending on how big the alteration is, there may be a charge to do so.

As a buttercream cake maker, themed cakes often require toppers to add to the decoration. These are an additional cost to the cake and are not included in any base prices. Toppers and other additional elements such as flowers & certain fondant features (such as unicorn horn & ears) are purely decorative, inedible elements to your cake, so please ensure that these are removed from your cake before consuming.

Wedding cake set up

As a wedding client, it is your responsibility to ensure that a display area is arranged & prepared for your cake. I would also strongly advise that you give some thought to how you would like your wedding cake table to look. After spending hours discussing & creating your own personal design with you, it is such a shame to see wedding cakes tucked in a corner instead of proudly on show! Discuss the options with your wedding venue for displaying your cake, or, if you are setting this up yourself, consider the best arrangement for your chosen venue.

Wedding venues often have a cake stand that you can use, but it may be worth hiring or purchasing a special cake stand for your display if your venue either cannot provide you with one, or theirs isn’t suitable for your tastes. Unfortunately, I do not have cake stands for hire as I do not have space to keep them.

Complaints

If you have any concerns about your order, please inform me as soon as possible along with evidence of the fault so that the product can be assessed. I cannot be held responsible for damage incurred during transportation of a collected cake (see Transporting your cake).

In the event of concerns over a wedding or large party cake provided for a venue, please contact me as soon as possible so that I have the opportunity to make any amendments.

You will only be eligible for a refund if your uneaten cake is returned, and is unsuitable for consumption or not as described in your quote.