Privacy policy.

Last updated: 18/06/2026

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you visit our website, make an enquiry, or book a stay with us. It applies to the website at dukehousesuffolk.com and to bookings made directly with us.

We are committed to handling your information responsibly and in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who we are

For the purposes of data protection law, the data controller is:

Christopher Watson, trading as Duke House, Upper Holton, Suffolk, IP19 8NN

Email: info@dukehousesuffolk.com

References in this policy to "we", "us" and "our" mean Duke House, Suffolk.

2. The information we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

  • Booking and enquiry information: your name, email address, postal address, phone number, the dates and property of your stay, number of guests, and any requests or requirements you tell us about.

  • Payment information: card payments are processed securely by our payment provider, Stripe. We do not see or store your full card details. We receive limited information such as confirmation that a payment succeeded, the last four digits of the card, and the cardholder name.

  • Communications: the content of messages you send us by email, through the website, or via a booking platform, and our replies.

  • Information from booking platforms: where you book through a third party such as Airbnb or Booking.com, that platform shares limited details with us so we can host your stay (typically your name, dates, guest numbers and a contact method).

  • Technical and usage information: when you visit the website we may collect your IP address, device and browser type, and information about how you use the site, through cookies and similar technologies. See section 7.

3. How we use your information, and our lawful bases

We use your information to:

  • Take and manage your booking, and provide your stay (lawful basis: performance of a contract with you);

  • Respond to enquiries and communicate with you about your booking (contract, and our legitimate interests in responding to you);

  • Take payment and, where applicable, handle a security deposit or charges for damage (contract, and our legitimate interests in protecting our property);

  • Meet our legal and tax obligations, including keeping financial records (legal obligation);

  • Maintain the security and proper functioning of our website (legitimate interests);

  • Send you marketing about Duke House Suffolk, where you have agreed to receive it or where we are otherwise permitted to (consent, or legitimate interests in promoting our business to existing guests). You can opt out at any time. See section 10.

4. Who we share your information with

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as needed to run our business, with:

  • Guesty, our property management and reservation system, which stores guest and booking records;

  • Stripe, our payment processor;

  • Squarespace, which hosts our website;

  • Cloudflare, which supports the secure operation of our booking system;

  • Professional advisers (such as our accountant) and, where required, HMRC and other authorities;

  • A prospective buyer or successor if we sell or restructure the business.

Booking platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com act as independent controllers of the information you give them. Their own privacy policies govern how they use it.

5. International transfers

Some of our service providers, including Stripe, Squarespace and Cloudflare, are based in or process data in the United States or other countries outside the UK. Where your information is transferred outside the UK, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as UK adequacy regulations or the International Data Transfer Agreement (or its equivalent), so that your information continues to be protected.

6. How long we keep your information

We keep booking and enquiry information for as long as needed to provide your stay and to deal with any follow-up matters, and after that for as long as we are required to for legal, tax and accounting purposes (generally six years for financial records). We keep enquiries that do not lead to a booking for a shorter period. We will delete or anonymise information when we no longer need it.

7. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies. Some are necessary for the site and booking system to work. Others help us understand how the site is used so we can improve it. Non-essential cookies are only set with your consent, which you can manage through the cookie banner or your browser settings.

8. Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

  • Ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;

  • Ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete;

  • Ask us to delete your information in certain circumstances;

  • Object to, or ask us to restrict, certain uses of your information;

  • Ask us to transfer your information to you or another provider in certain circumstances;

  • Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@dukehousesuffolk.com. We will respond within the time limits set by law. There is normally no charge.

9. Keeping your information secure

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access. Payment card details are handled directly by Stripe over an encrypted connection and are not stored on our website.

10. Marketing

If we send you marketing emails, every message will include an easy way to unsubscribe. You can also ask us to stop at any time by emailing info@dukehousesuffolk.com. Opting out of marketing will not affect emails we need to send you about a booking you have made.

11. Children

Our website and bookings are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect information from children except as part of a booking made by a responsible adult who is travelling with them.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The version in force is the one published on this page, with the date it was last updated shown at the top.

13. How to contact us, and your right to complain

If you have a question or concern about how we handle your information, please contact us first at info@dukehousesuffolk.com.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK regulator for data protection:

Information Commissioner's Office Website: ico.org.uk Helpline: 0303 123 1113