Terms of Service
Nookery Book Club
Terms of Business for Members
Business name: Nookery Book Club Ltd trading as “Nookery Book Club”.
Company registration number: 16542357
Registered/contact address: Nookery Book Club Ltd, Office 1, Izabella House
24-26 Regent Place, City Centre, Birmingham, B1 3NJ
General contact: hello@nookerybookclub.com
1. Introduction
These Terms of Business set out the basis on which members may join, attend and participate in our book clubs, reading groups, online sessions, in-person meetings, workshops, author events, social events and any other activities organised or promoted by us. By becoming a member, booking a place, attending an event or accessing our member materials, you agree to comply with these terms.
2. Definitions
In these terms,
“we”, “us” and “our” mean Nookery Book Club Ltd trading as “Nookery Book Club”.
“Member” means any person aged 18 or over who joins, subscribes to, books, attends or participates in our clubs or events.
“Club” means any in-person or online book club session, reading group or member activity.
“Event” means any meeting, workshop, author talk, social gathering, live stream, online discussion or other activity organised or promoted by us.
“Materials” means reading guides, discussion prompts, frameworks, event formats, slides, recordings, templates, branding, written content and other resources supplied by us.
3. Membership
3.1 Your membership is a rolling monthly subscription which renews automatically each month until cancelled. There is no minimum commitment beyond the current monthly period.
3.2 Membership is for one named club and includes a place at one allocated meetup in each monthly billing period, access to its official member community, and invitations to additional member activities. Additional events may require a separate booking and fee. Author appearances and optional extras are not guaranteed. Books, travel, refreshments and separately priced events are not included.
3.3 Your membership begins once you submit the sign-up form on the website and process payment. It is the responsibility of the member to check their junk/spam folder for any emails, and we cannot be held liable for any pertinent email that is unread. We recommend adding “@nookerybookclub.com” to your safelist.
3.4 AOL/Yahoo/Hotmail/MSN/Live.com/Outlook users – we highly recommend the above.
3.5 For any issues with sign up and email delivery, please contact membership@nookerybookclub.com.
3.6 Membership is personal to the member and must not be transferred, shared, resold or used by another person under any circumstances.
3.7 It is the members responsibility to provide accurate registration, booking and contact information at all times, we will not be held responsible if incorrect information is provided in the course of your membership.
3.8 We may set eligibility criteria, capacity limits, waiting lists, membership categories and attendance rules for particular clubs or events.
3.9 We may refuse, suspend or terminate membership where we reasonably believe a member has breached these terms, acted inappropriately, misused our format or branding, or created a safeguarding, reputational, legal or operational risk.
3.10 Any attempt to advertise to, or solicit our membership without our explicit permission will be met with extreme prejudice.
4. Payments and Failed Payments
4.1 You authorise the payment method agreed at checkout for the stated recurring amount. We show all compulsory charges and applicable taxes before payment. No optional extra is charged without agreement.
4.2 If a payment fails, we will retry after 5 days then again after 7 days. We may then suspend unpaid future access and give a further seven days to resolve it before ending membership. We stop renewals during suspension and do not accumulate new subscription periods while access is suspended.
4.3 We seek only payment properly due for the period or services supplied, taking account of any cancellation or refund right.
5. Cancellations, Transfers and Refunds
5.1 Cancellation and refund terms may vary depending on the membership, event type, venue commitments and notice given.
5.2 Unless we state otherwise, missed sessions are not refundable and places are not transferable.
5.3 We may cancel, postpone, reschedule or move an event online where reasonably necessary or for circumstances outside our control.
5.4 To cancel, email membership@nookerybookclub.com or use the cancellation option in your member account where available. We aim to confirm within three working days.
5.5 Transfers are not permitted.
5.6 Cancellation ends membership at the end of the paid period. No refund or pro-rata refund is available unless you have requested a cancellation and been charged before your request has been actioned.
5.7 Cancelling a direct debit or payment via your bank does not constitute a cancellation, please email us at membership@nookerybookclub.com
5.8 Tell us promptly about a payment dispute; nothing prevents use of your bank's lawful dispute procedures.
5.9 Any attempt to submit a charge back or payment dispute with your bank before contacting the Nookery will result in a lifetime ban.
5.10 You have a statutory cooling off period of 14 days from the date of your initial payment only. If you engage with the community, it’s resources, attend an event or club, you waive your right to a full refund.
6. In-Person Clubs and Events
6.1 Members must follow venue rules, arrival procedures, health and safety instructions and any reasonable directions given by our team, facilitators or venue staff.
6.2 Members are responsible for their own travel, personal belongings and conduct while attending in-person activities.
6.3 We may change venues, seating arrangements, timings, facilitators or event formats where reasonably necessary.
6.4 Members must not bring guests unless guests have been booked in, approved by us and accepted these terms.
7. Online Clubs and Digital Participation
7.1 Online sessions may be delivered using third-party platforms. Members are responsible for having suitable internet access, equipment and software.
7.2 Members must not share joining links, passwords, recordings, screenshots, chat transcripts or access details with non-members.
7.3 Members must join online sessions from an appropriate environment and must not record, livestream, capture or redistribute any session without our prior written consent.
7.4 We may remove a participant from an online session if their behaviour, background activity, username, comments or conduct is inappropriate, disruptive, unsafe or inconsistent with these terms.
8. Protection of Format, Content and Branding
8.1 Our club format, event structure, discussion methods, member experience, reading guides, materials, names, logos, visual identity, tone of voice, taglines, session frameworks and branded concepts are valuable business assets.
8.2 Members must not copy, reproduce, adapt, imitate, rebrand, commercialise, publish, distribute, teach, licence or use our format, materials or branding to run a competing or similar club, event, workshop, course, membership, community or commercial activity without our prior written consent.
8.3 Members may use materials for their own personal participation only and must not share them outside the membership.
8.4 No rights in our intellectual property, goodwill, brand identity or business format are transferred to members.
8.5 Any unauthorised use of our format, materials or branding may result in termination of membership and will lead to immediate further action to protect our rights.
9. Safeguarding and Member Welfare
9.1 We are committed to running our clubs and events in a way that helps prevent harm, harassment, bullying, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Members must behave respectfully and must report any concern about safety, wellbeing, conduct or inappropriate behaviour as soon as possible to the organiser or designated safeguarding contact.
9.2 Although our clubs are adults-only, we recognise that some adult members may be adults at risk or may disclose concerns about abuse, neglect, exploitation, harassment or coercion.
9.3 Members must not use club activities to groom, exploit, harass, intimidate, discriminate against, isolate or pressure another person.
9.4 Members must not seek to contact, pressure or pursue another member outside approved or appropriate channels where that contact is unwanted, intrusive or creates a safeguarding concern.
9.5 We may take immediate action where safeguarding concerns arise, including removing a person from an event, suspending membership, contacting emergency services, making a referral to appropriate safeguarding authorities or preserving records.
9.6 We may require facilitators, volunteers or staff to follow safer recruitment, conduct, training and reporting requirements appropriate to their role.
10. Code of Conduct
10.1 Members must treat others with dignity, courtesy and respect, including where opinions differ.
10.2 Members must not engage in abusive, threatening, discriminatory, defamatory, sexually inappropriate, aggressive, disruptive or unlawful behaviour.
10.3 Members must respect confidentiality where personal stories, sensitive experiences or unpublished writing are discussed.
10.4 Members must not promote unrelated businesses, political campaigns, fundraising, recruitment activity or third-party services without our permission.
10.5 Members must follow any community guidelines, safeguarding policy, photography policy, social media policy or event-specific rules issued by us.
11. Photography, Recording and Publicity
We may take photographs, video clips or screenshots at events for operational, archival, marketing or community purposes where lawful and appropriate. Members must tell us in advance if they do not wish to appear in publicity materials. Members must not photograph, record or publish images or recordings of other members without appropriate consent. Separate consent arrangements will apply where children, young people or adults at risk are involved.
12. Data Protection and Privacy
We will handle personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection law and our privacy information. We will only collect and use member information for clear purposes connected with membership, bookings, safeguarding, communications, administration, legal compliance and service improvement. Members must not misuse personal data, contact details, images or private information about other members.
13. Books, Third-Party Content and Accessibility
13.1 Members are responsible for obtaining their own books, e-books, audiobooks or other reading materials.
13.2 Views expressed by authors, speakers, facilitators or members are their own and do not necessarily represent our views.
13.3 We aim to make reasonable adjustments where possible if members tell us about access needs in advance.
13.4 Some books or discussions may involve sensitive themes. Members are responsible for deciding whether particular reading material is suitable for them or for anyone they are responsible for.
14. Liability
Nothing in these terms limits or excludes liability where it would be unlawful to do so. Subject to that, we are not responsible for indirect losses, loss of opportunity, personal arrangements, travel costs, third-party platform failures, member behaviour or losses arising from a member’s failure to follow these terms. Members remain responsible for their own wellbeing, property, conduct and decisions while participating in our clubs and events.
15. Suspension and Termination
We may suspend or terminate a membership, booking or access to any club or event if a member breaches these terms, behaves in a way that is unsafe or inappropriate, misuses our intellectual property, fails to pay sums due, damages our reputation, causes disruption or creates a safeguarding, legal or operational risk. We may also remove access while we investigate a concern.
16. Changes to These Terms
We may update these terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, safeguarding practice, technology, venues or business operations. The latest version will apply from the date it is published or otherwise notified to members.
17. Governing Law and Disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. We encourage members to raise concerns with us first so that we can try to resolve them informally. Nothing in these terms affects any legal rights that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.
18. Member Acknowledgement
By joining, booking, attending or participating, members confirm that they have read, understood and agreed to these Terms of Business, including the provisions protecting our format, materials, branding, safeguarding arrangements and community standards.