Cookies
What are Cookies?
Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information, often including a unique identifier, which are downloaded to your computer when you visit a website – if your browser preferences allow it. Cookies are then accessed by the originating website on each subsequent visit. Cookies are useful because they allow a website to recognise a user’s computer.
How are cookies used on our website?
The cookies we use are there to allow you to perform the services you require and to assist us in providing a better website for our users. We do not use cookies to store information that identifies you as an individual. Details on cookies used are provided below. We encourage you to accept the cookies we serve. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by our or any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. Please see the ‘How to control and delete cookies’ section for more information.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics cookies to hold information about your visit to our site. This helps us better identify the use and popularity of our services and how successfully the website is functioning. If you do not wish us to do this, you can opt out of the Analytics service by installing an add-on for your browser. This can be found at http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. Alternatively you can delete/restrict the cookies as for any other cookie – see ‘How to control and delete cookies’ for more information.
Types of cookies
Session cookies are created temporarily when a user visits a website. Once the user leaves the site/closes the browser, the session cookie is deleted. A persistent cookie file remains on the user’s computer and is re-activated when the user visits the website that created that particular cookie. These cookies expire after a certain period (set in the file), or can be removed manually.
Classification of cookies
The cookies on this website have additionally been categorised based on the categories found in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UK Cookie Guide:
| Category | Description |
| Strictly necessary cookies | These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the website. |
| Performance cookies | These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies don’t collect information that identify a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. |
| Functionality cookies | These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make [such as your username, language or the region you are in] and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, a website may be able to provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing in a cookie the region in which you are currently located. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages you can customise. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for such as watching videos or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymised and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites. |
| Targeting/advertising cookies | These cookies are used to deliver adverts more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of time you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign. |
Cookies used on our website
| Cookie Name | Cookie Description | Cookie Classification | Cookie Behaviour |
| PHPSESSID | This cookie is part of the scripting language that runs our site, and allows information to be passed between pages as you navigate through the site. For instance, should you use the online booking enquiry form, if you need to go back and correct any information on the form, this cookie helps by ensuring you don’t have to type in all the information again. This cookie does not store any personally identifiable information and is deleted when you close your browser. | Strictly necessary cookie | Session cookie – disappears when the user closes the browser. |
| _utma | Google Analytics. Used by Google Analytics to track user count of visits to a site, when a first visit was, and a last visit. | Performance cookie | Persistent cookie, lasts for 2 years |
| _utmb | Google Analytics. Used by Google Analytics to track exactly when a user visits a site. | Performance cookie | Persistent cookie, lasts for 30 minutes |
| _utmc | Google Analytics. Used by Google Analytics to track exactly when a user leaves a site. | Performance cookie | Session cookie – disappears when the user closes the browser. |
| _utmz | Google Analytics. Used by Google Analytics to track how a user got to this site (where from), what link was used, what part of the world. | Performance cookie | Persistent, lasts for 6 months. |
| Cookieconfirmed | We ask a question about if you’re happy for us to use cookies on our site. This cookie stores your answer to that question so that we don’t have to keep asking you it every time you visit. | Strictly necessary cookie | Persistent, lasts for 90 days. |
How to control and delete cookies
You can manage cookie usage through your browser settings. The help function in your preferred browser should provide you with the correct information. Some browsers provide helpful cookie guides:
Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95647&p=cpn_cookies
Firefox: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Cookies
Internet Explorer: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278835
Safari 5 for Mac: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Safari/5.0/en/9277.html
Opera: http://help.opera.com/Linux/10.50/en/cookies.html
Alternatively, http://www.allaboutcookies.org provides advice on how to do this, and further information on cookies and how to manage them.
N.B. In the case of some mobile devices, it may be necessary to consult the device’s instruction manual to manage cookies effectively.
Need more information?
If you have any questions or comments about our cookie policy, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]
