Houghton Hall – Privacy & Cookies Policy
 
Last updated: 2 March 2026

This Privacy & Cookies Policy explains how Cholmondeley and Houghton Estates Limited ("Houghton Hall", "we", "us") collects, uses and shares personal information when you visit houghtonhall.com, purchase tickets, subscribe to our newsletter, enter promotions, or interact with us. It also explains our use of cookies and similar technologies.

1. Who is the data controller and how to contact us
Cholmondeley and Houghton Estates Limited (company number 15267860) is the data controller for the purposes of UK data protection law. You can contact us at info@houghtonhall.com or via the Houghton Hall Estate Office.
2. Scope
This Policy applies to our website (houghtonhall.com), our ticketing and booking systems, newsletters, and our pages/applications on third‑party platforms (e.g., our official social media accounts).
3. Personal data we collect
We collect: (a) information you provide directly (e.g., name, email, phone, postal address, social media handle) when you subscribe to newsletters, buy tickets, complete forms, enter a contest, or contact us; (b) transactional data related to bookings and attendance; (c) communications preferences and consents; and (d) technical/usage data collected via cookies and similar technologies (e.g., IP address, device identifiers, pages viewed, interactions, approximate location).
4. Sources of personal data
We collect personal data directly from you, automatically via cookies and similar technologies when you use the Site, and from third‑party providers that support our operations (e.g., ticketing, email delivery, analytics), in each case as permitted by law and subject to your choices.
5. Purposes for which we use personal data
We use personal data to: (i) provide and improve the Site, events and services; (ii) manage bookings, payments and customer support; (iii) send service and transactional communications; (iv) personalise content and experiences; (v) run promotions/contests; (vi) ensure security and prevent fraud; and (vii) comply with legal obligations.
6. Marketing communications (email/SMS)
We send newsletters and promotional messages only with your consent or as otherwise permitted by law. You can opt out at any time via the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us.
7. Advertising and social media marketing (Custom Audiences)
With your explicit consent, we may use your email address (in a privacy‑protective hashed form) to create advertising audiences on platforms such as Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (Facebook/Instagram) and similar providers. This allows us to show you and people with similar interests relevant Houghton Hall content and offers. We do not upload your data to such platforms without your consent.
You may withdraw consent at any time via our preference centre or by contacting us. When we share hashed identifiers with a platform, they are used solely to match our records with platform users for audience creation and are not added to platform profiles or used for any purposes outside our instructions, as described by the relevant platform policies.
8. Cookies and similar technologies
 We use cookies, web beacons, pixels (including, where you consent, the Meta Pixel), SDKs and similar technologies to operate the Site, understand usage and, with consent, to measure and deliver personalised advertising. You can control your preferences via our cookie banner and settings at any time.
8.1 Cookie categories
• Strictly Necessary Cookies – required for core functionality such as security, network management and accessibility (always active).
• Performance/Analytics Cookies – help us analyse Site traffic and improve performance.
• Functional Cookies – remember your settings and preferences.
• Advertising & Social Media Cookies – set by us and our partners (e.g., Meta) to build audiences, deliver and measure personalised ads across websites and apps.
8.2 Consent and control
Advertising & Social Media cookies are only used if you opt in. You can Accept All, Reject All (except strictly necessary) or set granular preferences. You can change your choices at any time via the banner or the “Cookies” link in the footer. Advertising scripts are blocked until consent is given.
9. Legal bases for processing
We rely on: (a) performance of a contract (e.g., ticketing); (b) our legitimate interests (e.g., Site security, analytics using aggregate data); (c) compliance with legal obligations; and (d) your consent (e.g., newsletters, SMS, Advertising & Social Media cookies, and custom audience uploads).
10. Sharing of personal data
We do not sell your personal data. We share data with trusted service providers that process it on our behalf (e.g., ticketing, payment processing, email delivery, IT/hosting, analytics, advertising providers where you have consented). Where we use advertising platforms, we share only the minimum necessary information, often in hashed or aggregated form, and always in accordance with your choices.
11. International transfers
Some service providers may be located outside the UK. Where this occurs, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place (for example, UK International Data Transfer Agreements or Standard Contractual Clauses) to protect your information.
12. Data retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, including to satisfy legal, accounting or reporting requirements. We apply defined retention periods for different data types and delete or anonymise data when it is no longer needed.
13. Your rights
Subject to conditions under data protection law, you have rights to request access, rectification, erasure, restriction, data portability and to object to certain processing. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw consent at any time. To exercise your rights, contact info@houghtonhall.com.
14. Children
Our Site is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal data from them. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us so we can delete it.
15. How to complain
If you have concerns about our use of your personal data, please contact us first. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
16. Changes to this Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page with a new “Last updated” date. Your continued use of the Site after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.
 
Cookies Pop-Up
First Layer Banner:
We value your privacy
We use cookies to make our site work and to improve your experience. With your permission, we’ll also use cookies to measure usage and serve personalised ads (including on social media).
Choose: Accept All, Reject All, or Customise.
Include link to Privacy Policy and T&C pages.
Second‑layer “Customise” (with categories):

• Strictly Necessary (Always On)

• Required for core site functionality, security, and network management.

• Performance/Analytics (toggle)

• Help us understand traffic and improve the site.

• Functional (toggle)

• Remember choices like language or region.

• Advertising & Social Media (toggle)

Allow us and our partners (e.g., Meta) to show relevant ads and measure their performance. May set cookies and read identifiers across sites/apps.
 
Newsletter form consent
Add these unticked checkboxes next to your newsletter signup:

1. Email marketing consent

• “Yes, please send me news and offers from Houghton Hall by email.”

1. Advertising audiences consent (explicit)

• “Yes, also use my email to create advertising audiences on platforms like Meta (Facebook/Instagram) so I can see more relevant Houghton Hall content. You can withdraw any time.”

 
Your acceptance of these terms
Your continued use of the site after any changes to this policy will be considered acceptance of those changes.

Contacting Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact us at Houghton Hall Estate Office or email us at info@houghtonhall.com. This document was last updated on 25 May 2018.