Terms and Conditions
Payments
Payment for your stay must be made using a valid debit or credit card.
For standard (flexible) bookings, unless payment has already been made in full, the remaining balance will be charged to the card provided 72 hours before your scheduled arrival date. It is the guest's responsibility to ensure that valid payment details are provided and that sufficient funds are available. If payment cannot be successfully processed, we reserve the right to cancel the booking.
For non-refundable bookings, full payment is required at the time of booking. If payment cannot be collected automatically, we may contact you to arrange payment. Failure to make payment within the requested timeframe may result in your booking being cancelled.
We may pre-authorise or verify the validity of the payment card provided before arrival.
Once you have checked in, no refunds will be given for any unused nights, early departures, or changes to your reservation, except where required by law.
For reservations made through third party sites the process may differ;
For reservations made via Hostelworld you will receive a secure payment link via email in order to make payment for your stay.
Cancellations
Flexible Bookings
Flexible bookings may be cancelled or amended free of charge up to 72 hours before the scheduled arrival date.
Cancellations or amendments made within 72 hours of arrival, or failure to arrive without prior notice (a "no-show"), will result in the full cost of the booking being charged.
Cancellation requests must be made through the platform on which the booking was made, or by emailing thewalrushostel@gmail.com for direct bookings.
Non-Refundable Bookings
Non-refundable bookings require full payment at the time of booking.
If payment cannot be collected automatically, we will send a secure payment link. Failure to complete payment within the requested timeframe may result in the booking being cancelled.
Non-refundable bookings cannot be cancelled, amended or refunded, except where required by law.
No-Shows
If you do not arrive on your scheduled arrival date and have not contacted us about a delayed arrival, your booking may be treated as a no-show.
We may contact you to confirm whether you still intend to stay. If we do not receive a response within the timeframe given, we reserve the right to cancel the remaining nights of your booking and release the accommodation for resale.
No-show charges and refunds will be subject to the cancellation and rate conditions applicable to your booking.
Group Bookings
Group bookings (and other reservations over £300 total) require a 25% non-refundable deposit to secure the reservation. The remaining balance must be paid 30 days before the scheduled arrival date.
Failure to make payment by the required dates may result in the booking being cancelled.
If your group is arriving by coach, please contact us in advance so we can advise on suitable drop-off and parking locations.
To help us allocate beds together where possible, we recommend informing us in advance that your reservation is part of a group. While we will make every effort to accommodate groups in the same or nearby rooms, this cannot be guaranteed and is subject to availability.
Invalid Payment Details
If the payment card provided is invalid, expires, or payment cannot be successfully processed, we may contact you to request alternative payment details. If valid payment details are not provided within the requested timeframe, we reserve the right to cancel the booking.
Cancellation by The Walrus Hostel
In exceptional circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to fire, flood, serious damage to the property, government restrictions or other events preventing us from accommodating your booking, we reserve the right to cancel your reservation.
If this occurs, we will offer either:
a full refund of any payments made to us; or
the opportunity to rebook for a future date, subject to availability.
We shall not be liable for any additional costs incurred as a result of such cancellation, including travel or other third-party expenses.
Age and ID Policy
Guests under the age of 18 are welcome to stay only in private rooms or dormitories booked exclusively by their family or group. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who is 18 years of age or older and may not stay in shared dormitories with other travellers under any circumstances.
All guests, including children, must present a valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. We may also request additional documentation, such as proof of parental or legal guardianship, where appropriate.
In accordance with our premises licence, guests under the age of 18 are not permitted in the bar after 7:00pm and must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian while in the bar at all times.
If you are travelling with anyone under the age of 18, we recommend contacting us before making your reservation if you are unsure whether your booking complies with our policy.
If a booking is made that does not comply with our age policy, we reserve the right to cancel the reservation or refuse check-in. Where cancellation results from the guest not complying with this policy, the applicable cancellation terms will apply.
Check-in and Check-out
Check-in
Check-in is available from 3:00pm on the day of arrival. Guests who complete our online check-in before arrival may be able to access their room from 2:30pm, subject to availability.
If you arrive before your room is ready, you are welcome to leave your luggage with us free of charge until check-in.
All guests must present a valid government-issued photo ID upon arrival. Accepted forms of identification include a passport, national identity card, or driving licence. We reserve the right to refuse check-in if suitable identification cannot be provided.
Check-out
Check-out is by 10:00am on the day of departure.
Please ensure that all personal belongings have been removed from your room before checking out. Guests are welcome to use our luggage storage facilities after check-out, subject to availability, but all belongings must be removed from the room by 10:00am.
Guests who remain in their room after the check-out time without prior agreement may be charged a late check-out fee of £9. Additional charges may apply where a significant delay affects room cleaning or the check-in of arriving guests.
Guest Behaviour
The comfort, safety and security of our guests, staff and neighbours are our highest priority. All guests are expected to behave in a respectful and responsible manner throughout their stay.
The Walrus Hostel reserves the right to refuse accommodation, cancel a booking, or require any guest to leave the property immediately, without refund, if their behaviour is deemed unacceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:
Violent, threatening or abusive behaviour.
Harassment or discrimination towards guests or staff.
Excessive noise or repeated disturbance to other guests.
Damage to the property or its contents.
Theft or attempted theft.
Bringing unauthorised visitors into the hostel.
Failure to follow reasonable instructions from members of staff.
Any behaviour that compromises the safety, comfort or security of guests, staff or local residents.
Guests are responsible for any damage caused to the property during their stay and may be charged for the cost of repair or replacement where appropriate.
Guests must ensure that entrance doors close securely behind them and should not permit unknown individuals to follow them into the hostel accommodation.
For group bookings, the group organiser is responsible for ensuring that all members of the group comply with these Terms and Conditions. If one or more members of a group behave in an unacceptable manner, we reserve the right to require the entire group to leave the property where necessary.
Visitors
For the safety and security of our guests, only registered guests with a valid reservation are permitted in the hostel accommodation.
Visitors who are not registered guests are not permitted in the hostel, guest rooms or other accommodation areas.
Guests must not allow any unauthorised person to enter the hostel accommodation or share access codes, keys or entry devices with anyone who is not registered to stay.
Any guest found allowing unauthorised access to the hostel may have their booking cancelled and be required to leave the property without a refund.
Food and Drink
To help maintain a clean and comfortable environment for all guests, food and alcoholic drinks are not permitted in guest rooms.
Guests are welcome to consume food in the designated communal areas and use the guest kitchen.
Smoking and Vaping
Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited anywhere inside The Walrus Hostel, including guest rooms, corridors, bathrooms and other indoor areas.
Guests who smoke or vape inside the building may be required to leave the property immediately without a refund and may be charged for any additional cleaning, damage or fire alarm call-out costs resulting from their actions.
A designated smoking area with ashtrays is available outside the bar for guests who wish to smoke or vape.
Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol purchased from the bar may be consumed in the designated licensed areas only and must not be taken into guest rooms or other areas where alcohol consumption is prohibited.
Guests under the age of 18 must not consume alcohol anywhere on the premises. Any underage guest found consuming alcohol, together with any adult who has supplied alcohol to them, may be required to leave the property without a refund.
The Walrus Hostel operates a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs. Guests found possessing, using, supplying, or under the influence of illegal drugs may be refused accommodation or required to leave the property immediately without a refund. Where appropriate, incidents may be reported to the police.
Personal Property
Guests are responsible for the security of their personal belongings throughout their stay.
Personal lockers are provided in guest rooms, and luggage storage is available for storing larger items, subject to availability. Guests are encouraged to keep their belongings securely locked at all times and should never leave personal items unattended.
We strongly recommend that valuable items, including cash, passports, travel documents, jewellery, laptops, tablets, cameras and other electronic devices, are kept with you or otherwise securely protected at all times.
The Walrus Hostel accepts no responsibility for the loss, theft or damage of personal property, however caused, except where liability cannot be excluded under applicable law.
Damage to Hostel Property
Guests are responsible for taking reasonable care of The Walrus Hostel's property, facilities and equipment during their stay.
Any damage to the building, furniture, fixtures, fittings, equipment or other property caused by a guest, whether deliberate, accidental or as a result of negligence, may be charged to the guest responsible. This includes the reasonable cost of repair, replacement, cleaning or any additional expenses incurred by The Walrus Hostel as a result of the damage.
We reserve the right to charge the payment card provided at the time of booking for such costs, where appropriate, and may request payment before departure where necessary.
Deliberate or serious damage may result in the booking being terminated immediately without a refund and may be reported to the police where appropriate.
Liability
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
Subject to the above, The Walrus Hostel's liability for any loss or damage arising from your stay shall be limited to the total value of the accommodation booked with us.
We are not responsible for any indirect or consequential loss, including loss of enjoyment, travel costs, missed connections or loss of income, except where such liability cannot legally be excluded.
Privacy and Your Information
We collect and process personal information only where necessary to manage your booking, provide our services, comply with our legal obligations and improve your experience with us.
Your personal information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, store and protect your data, as well as your rights under applicable data protection legislation.
By making a booking with The Walrus Hostel, you acknowledge that your personal information will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Accessibility
The Walrus Hostel is a five-storey historic building and does not have a lift. As a result, all guest accommodation is accessible only by stairs.
Guests may be allocated a room on any floor of the building and, where staying in a dormitory, may also be assigned either a top or bottom bunk, subject to availability.
If you have reduced mobility, difficulty using stairs, or any accessibility requirements, we strongly encourage you to contact us before making your reservation. We will be happy to discuss your needs and advise whether our accommodation is suitable for you.
While we will always do our best to accommodate reasonable requests, we cannot guarantee ground-floor accommodation, lower bunks or specific room locations unless these have been confirmed by us in advance.
Errors and Omissions
While we make every effort to ensure that the information on our website, booking platforms and other communications is accurate and up to date, errors or omissions may occasionally occur.
We reserve the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions relating to prices, availability, descriptions or other information at any time. Where a correction affects an existing booking, we will contact you as soon as reasonably practicable to explain the situation and discuss the available options.
If an obvious pricing or booking error has occurred, we reserve the right to cancel or amend the booking and, where applicable, provide a full refund of any payments already made.
Room rates and availability are subject to change until a booking has been confirmed.
Booking Acceptance
All bookings are subject to availability and confirmation by The Walrus Hostel.
We reserve the right to refuse or cancel any booking where we reasonably believe that accepting the reservation would breach these Terms and Conditions, compromise the safety or security of our guests or staff, involve fraudulent activity, or for any other legitimate operational reason.
Where a booking is cancelled by us before check-in for reasons unrelated to the guest's conduct or breach of these Terms and Conditions, any payments received by us will be refunded in full.
Lost Property
Guests are responsible for ensuring that they take all personal belongings with them when they check out.
Any property found on the premises may, at our discretion, be retained for up to 90 days from the date it is found. After this period, unclaimed items may be donated, recycled or otherwise disposed of.
If you believe you have left an item behind, please contact us as soon as possible at thewalrushostel@gmail.com with a description of the item and the dates of your stay. While we will make every reasonable effort to locate lost property, we cannot guarantee that items will be found or returned.
Any costs associated with returning lost property, including postage or courier charges, are the responsibility of the guest.
The Walrus Hostel accepts no liability for the loss, theft or damage of personal belongings, except where liability cannot be excluded under applicable law.
Changes to These Terms and Conditions
We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in our services, business practices or legal requirements.
Any changes will be published on our website and will apply to bookings made after the revised Terms and Conditions come into effect.
The Terms and Conditions that were in force at the time your booking was made will continue to apply to that booking, unless a change is required by law or we notify you otherwise.
We recommend reviewing these Terms and Conditions before making a reservation to ensure you are familiar with the latest version.