This policy explains scope, lawful basis, principles underpinning UK GDPR compliance. It supports trust, enhances performance, clarifies consent, control, transparency across pages, devices, sessions. Proceeding enables preference management, withdrawal, permission updates anytime. Understand essential, analytics, functionality technologies delivering personalised experiences whilst safeguarding data through robust governance, retention, accountability, audits, notices outlining purposes, durations, partners, choices. Updated November 2025.
On first arrival, our site explains cookies succinctly, outlining reasons, scope, lawful basis. A cookie consent banner requests agreement before non-essential technologies operate, presenting clear options across pages, devices. Preferences save locally, persisting between visits until changed. You can reopen controls anytime via settings, adjusting categories without losing functionality. These tools support performance, reliability, security while respecting autonomy. Choices synchronise promptly, reflecting immediately. Continuing absent acceptance only enables essentials required for core features, maintaining fairness, transparency throughout use, everywhere consistently.
Transparency, purpose of cookies, and Privacy Policy reference
Technologies on this site improve navigation, measure usage, personalise features, bolster security. For context about data handling, see our Privacy Policy reference within on-site documentation. We use website cookies and tracking solely for defined purposes, retaining auditable records detailing consent decisions.
Key transparency commitments
- Explanations outline aims, durations, categories, partners, management routes.
- Controls reachable through settings, enabling changes anytime without disruption.
- Evidence verifies choices using timestamps, demonstrating accountability across updates.
Cookies are small files that remember your browser or device. We use tracking technologies to recognise returns, keep preferences, measure performance, and protect logins. Some last for a session; others persist until removed or expiry. Certain tools operate across pages or domains to maintain continuity. You can revisit settings and update choices quickly through the same control, with changes reflected promptly during subsequent visits.
Definition of cookies and device identifiers
Browser cookies store small values in the browser for settings and sign-in state. Pixels are single-pixel images that trigger a request, recording an event. Local storage keeps larger key–value data inside the application. Unique device IDs distinguish hardware or apps. Identifiers are read on visit, refreshed when preferences change, and removed on expiry according to each category’s configuration, applied securely.
Cookies and personal data relationship (non-identifying vs potentially identifying)
Cookie data often stays non-identifying when handled as anonymised usage statistics. Risks rise if tokens are paired with account records or precise network details. We limit fields, strip direct identifiers, aggregate results, and shorten retention. Optional tools rely on consent; essentials operate for security, fraud prevention, or service delivery. Decisions are logged with timestamps and category notes, enabling audits. You can revise preferences anytime, and those updates propagate quickly across pages, keeping controls consistent sitewide.
To keep choices clear, we use a simple framework: role, origin, and duration. This structure—our cookie categories explained—appears across sections, helping you compare purpose and scope quickly. It also shows how retention works so you can decide what to allow, limit, or disable across visits.
By lifespan: session cookies vs persistent cookies
We distinguish session cookies from longer-lived identifiers. Session items support continuity while you navigate, then vanish when the browser closes. Persistent records retain selected settings, signed-in state, or analytics preferences until expiry or manual deletion. Retention typically spans minutes, hours, or several months, depending on category, purpose, and risk. Timeframes reflect configuration and regulatory guidance.
| Type | Typical duration & examples |
|---|---|
| Session | Ends on browser close; keeps navigation continuity, short-term forms. |
| Persistent | Days to months; remembers preferences, sign-in state, analytics tags. |
By domain: first-party cookies vs third-party cookies
Origin matters. First-party cookies come from our domain and power preferences, authentication, and core analytics configured by us. Third-party tools load through embedded scripts and may set their own tags for measurement or advertising. Controls differ: you can manage ours directly here, while external settings sit with each provider. We minimise sharing and enforce reviews.
| Origin | Purpose & control notes |
|---|---|
| First-party | Essential features, on-site measurement; managed within site preferences. |
| Third-party | Analytics, advertising, embeds; governed by each provider’s settings. |
By storage: browser cookies vs Flash cookies
Storage layer shapes control. Browser cookies live in the browser store and are read on each request; you can clear them via settings. Flash objects reside within the player container and require separate removal steps. Knowing where values sit helps you delete items precisely and keep privacy controls effective. Platform guides explain additional removal paths.
| Storage layer | Deletion method & common use |
|---|---|
| Browser | Clear via browser settings; preferences, sign-in state, essentials. |
| Flash | Remove through player controls; legacy media settings, playback data. |
Further reading: AboutCookies resources
Want context beyond this policy? Reputable guides cover terminology, settings, and case studies on data protection cookies. Use them to deepen understanding, compare approaches, and refine your choices without relying on outdated forum advice sources.
Here’s the short map of our tags: purpose, origin, duration. With cookie categories explained upfront, you can see what keeps pages running, what remembers choices, what measures visits, and what funds advertising. Scan the table, pick the mix you want, and adjust later in settings. Clear names, plain aims, and typical retention help quick decisions. You can revisit controls anytime without breaking essential site features.
| Type | Core purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Keep site operational | Routing, load balancing, fraud checks |
| Preference | Remember choices | Language, region, UI state |
| Functionality | Enable features | Comments, chat, media players |
| Analytics | Measure usage | Page views, events, funnels |
| Marketing | Advertising support | Segmentation, capping, attribution |
Essential cookies (navigation, page loading, core functionality)
Under our essential cookies definition, these items keep accounts secure, pages routing correctly, and forms stable. They handle login sessions, fraud checks, rate-limiting, and load balancing. Switch them off and parts of the site fail. Values rotate quickly and use SSL where supported, reducing risk while maintaining consistent delivery for core navigation, content rendering, and payment handshakes at peak traffic.
Preference & functionality cookies (language, region, comments, live chat)
These tools remember settings, shape features, and cut friction. With preference cookies switched on, the site recalls language, region, chat state, and layout choices. Turn them off and content still loads, though prompts repeat and widgets may feel bare, requiring extra clicks on return.
- Primary language selection setting
- Region preference flag
- Chat widget state memory
Analytics cookies (traffic, behaviour, geolocation) incl. Google Analytics
To improve journeys, we use google analytics cookies to count pages, events, funnels, referrers, devices, and approximate location. GA4 sampling may apply during spikes. IP handling is configured to mask where possible. Reports aggregate results rather than expose granular identifiers. Findings highlight broken flows, surface content gaps, and guide experiments. No messages or payment details enter reports. Dashboards track trends over time, not people, supporting decisions without storing profiles personally.
Marketing cookies (personalised ads, banners, interstitials)
Marketing cookies UK help control exposure, tailor creatives, and connect outcomes to campaigns. Partners may receive tags for measurement under contracts. Participation is optional and can be withdrawn in settings. When disabled, ads still appear, using contextual signals instead of profiles, and fewer partner calls run across pages.
- Frequency capping per placement
- Relevance scoring for audiences
- Attribution windows for conversions
On this site, third-party cookies may be set by analytics, hosting, chat, testing, or advertising vendors. These tags help deliver uptime, diagnose issues, and measure audience reach within our legal and editorial standards. Affiliate measurement uses redirect IDs and non-identifying summaries to attribute referrals fairly while preserving reader choice through clear controls and documented governance.
Service providers and partners acting on our behalf
Some providers operate under contract to deliver core services: analytics, CDN acceleration, experimentation, live chat, and uptime monitoring. They act solely on our instructions, with safeguards set in agreements and policies. Choices recorded through the consent management platform define which tools run, while compliance files store vendor scopes, dates, jurisdictions, and review outcomes.
- Analytics operations
- CDN delivery
- Live chat support
Affiliate tracking links and performance measurement
When you click a partner link, affiliate tracking cookies record the referral so we can measure outcomes responsibly. Tags set limited windows, then expire automatically. Reports aggregate counts, not identities, and support editorial independence. We review partners, caps, and data scopes routinely, aligning campaigns with clear disclosures, user choices, and international standards.
- Click timestamp
- Referring page URL
- Order value figure
Use our on-site controls to manage cookies settings at any time. Open the banner or settings icon, review categories, and save changes instantly. Revoking optional tools may reduce convenience but core pages still work. You can also clear previously stored data through your browser. Choices apply per browser and device, so repeat updates where you use the site most days.
Opt-out from third-party services (e.g., Google Analytics opt-out)
Vendors offer cookie opt-out tools and add-ons, but they work per browser and device by default.
- Open the vendor panel, choose categories or measurement tags, then save your selection.
- Install the extension if offered; confirm it blocks scripts on the current setup.
- Repeat steps on other browsers and devices, since settings do not carry across.
Changing browser settings: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari (desktop/mobile), Chrome
Find controls in privacy menus.
- Chrome: open chrome cookie settings, search cookies, choose block, allow, or clear.
- Safari desktop: Preferences → Privacy, manage cookies, enable restrictions, remove stored data.
- Safari iOS: Settings → Safari, tap Advanced → Website Data, delete items.
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security, Cookies and Site Data, set behaviour.
- Legacy IE: Internet Options → Privacy, adjust slider; consider upgrading for support.
How to disable Flash cookies
Some players store data as flash cookies, known as local shared objects.
- Open player settings; find storage or privacy controls for website data.
- Remove entries for this site, or lower space limits for items.
- Disable saving if offered, then test video playback still works correctly.
These terms may change to reflect new laws, regulator guidance, or added features. To maintain GDPR cookie compliance, we will signpost significant updates on prominent pages and stamp each revision with an effective date: November 2025. Please review periodically to understand current practices and choices.
When we change this policy and how we notify you
We will update cookies policy when laws shift, regulator guidance changes, new vendors integrate tools, or site features evolve. Notices appear clearly in banner areas, policy header, and account settings. Each revision lists an effective date and version marker. Please review periodically to stay informed about scope, impacts, and timing.
