About this policy
This Cookie Policy explains how The Cotswold Barn uses cookies and similar storage and access technologies on thecotswoldbarn.co.uk, including the direct-booking journey provided through Lodgify.
In this policy, “cookies” is used as a convenient shorthand for cookies and similar technologies that store information on, or access information from, your device. This can include local storage, pixels, tags and similar technologies.
Jacqueline Maguire and Michael Maguire, trading in partnership as The Cotswold Barn.
Abingdon House, Blackwell Road, Tredington CP, Stratford-on-Avon, England, CV36 4PA.
Email: [email protected]
For information about how we use personal data more generally, please read our Privacy Policy.
01What are cookies and similar technologies?
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on your computer, phone or other device. Cookies can help a website work, remember choices, support security and bookings, or measure how people use a site.
Similar technologies can perform comparable functions without using a traditional cookie. They may include local storage, tracking pixels and scripts or tags. UK rules apply according to what the technology does, not simply what it is called.
02The legal framework
Our use of cookies and similar technologies is governed principally by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, as amended (“PECR”). Where the information involved is personal data, the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 may also apply.
PECR was amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. The current rules contain specific exceptions where prior consent is not required, including certain technologies used solely for transmission, strictly necessary services, statistical purposes, appearance or functionality preferences, and emergency assistance.
We use the cautious approach of requiring consent before non-essential analytics or marketing technologies are activated, unless a particular technology has been deliberately configured so that a statutory PECR exception applies. Where we rely on the statistical-purpose or appearance exception, we will provide clear information and a simple, free way to object.
Advertising, retargeting or other tracking used for online advertising is not treated as essential and will not be activated before valid consent where consent is legally required.
03The categories we use
Strictly necessary
These technologies are needed to provide a service you have requested or to make core website and booking functions work. They can include security, session management, page navigation and parts of the booking process. Where the PECR “strictly necessary” exception applies, consent is not required.
Preferences and functionality
These may remember choices such as language, currency, dates or other settings. Some uses may fall within PECR’s appearance or functionality exception where all legal conditions are met; otherwise they are controlled through your cookie choices.
Analytics and statistics
Analytics can help us understand which pages are useful, how visitors move around the site and how the website performs. We currently treat analytics as optional unless a particular analytics use is configured to fall within PECR’s statistical-purpose exception.
Marketing and tracking
These technologies may be used to measure advertising or track activity for marketing purposes. They are not necessary for you to browse or book and are not activated before valid consent where consent is required.
04Cookies and technologies used on this website
The site is built using Lodgify and uses a Google tag for website measurement. Cookie names can change when Lodgify, Google or other service providers update their technology. The table below therefore identifies the technologies and cookie patterns we currently expect to use, together with their purpose and typical duration.
| Provider / technology | Example cookie or storage name | Purpose | Category | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lodgify | _ldgfy_* |
Supports website and booking preferences such as dates, searches, language or currency. | Necessary / preference, depending on purpose | Session or, for some booking defaults, up to 1 year |
| Lodgify | ngx_geoip_cc |
Uses country information to help present country-related website or checkout settings. | Preference / functionality | Usually session |
| Lodgify consent controls | Consent / preference cookie name may vary by platform version | Remembers the cookie choices you make so the banner does not need to ask on every page. | Strictly necessary | Set by the platform; reviewed when configuration changes |
| Google Analytics 4 | _ga |
Distinguishes users for website analytics. | Analytics | Up to 2 years by default, subject to browser limits and our configuration |
| Google Analytics 4 | _ga_<container-id> |
Persists Google Analytics session state. | Analytics | Up to 2 years by default, subject to browser limits and our configuration |
| Lodgify checkout / payment journey | Session, security and booking cookies; names may vary | Supports availability searches, reservation details, checkout, security and payment-related functionality. | Strictly necessary / functional | Session or as required for the booking function |
Lodgify hosts and supplies parts of the website and booking process, and third-party providers may update cookie names or durations. We review this policy when we make material changes to the website or our tracking setup. A browser's own privacy settings can also shorten the life of a cookie.
If we introduce a new analytics, advertising, social-media tracking or similar technology, we will update our consent controls and this policy before relying on it where the law requires us to do so.
05Third-party services and booking pages
Our website and booking journey use services supplied by third parties. In particular, Lodgify provides website and reservation technology, and Google may provide analytics where that category is enabled.
When you follow a link to a separate third-party website, including a payment provider, map service, social network or another external service, that third party may use its own cookies under its own privacy and cookie notices. We do not control cookies placed on a genuinely separate third-party site.
A simple link to a social-media page does not, by itself, mean that we use social-media tracking on this website. If we embed or enable social-media tracking technology in future, we will reflect that in our cookie controls and policy.
06Consent, objections and changing your preferences
When cookie consent is required, non-essential technologies should not be activated until you have made a valid choice. Our cookie controls are intended to give you clear options to accept, reject or customise non-essential uses.
Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw it at any time. It should be as easy to reject optional cookies as it is to accept them. Changing your mind does not affect the lawfulness of processing that took place before you withdrew your consent.
Where we rely on PECR's statistical-purpose or appearance exception instead of consent, you will be given a simple and free means to object. If you object, the relevant storage or access must stop.
You can change your choices using the cookie-preference control made available on the website. If your browser or device has cleared site data, you may be asked to choose again.
We may ask for a fresh choice if the cookies or purposes we use change materially, or where it is otherwise appropriate to refresh consent.
07Browser controls and deleting cookies
Most browsers allow you to view, delete or block cookies, and some can block third-party cookies or clear site data automatically. The precise controls depend on your browser and device.
Blocking all cookies may affect features that depend on essential session or booking technology. Browser settings are additional controls; they do not replace the choices we are required to provide on the website where PECR requires consent or a simple means of objecting.
08Updates, privacy rights and contact
We may update this Cookie Policy when our website, providers, legal requirements or use of storage and access technologies changes. The date at the top of the policy shows the latest revision.
Where cookies or similar technologies involve personal data, you may have rights under UK data protection law. These are explained in our Privacy Policy.
If you have a question about our use of cookies or wish to raise a privacy concern, contact: [email protected].
You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Visit ico.org.uk for current information about making a complaint.
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