Top Tier Tea Hire – Terms & Conditions

Thank you for choosing Top Tier Tea Hire, for your special event! We aim to make hiring our vintage crockery and accessories as smooth and lovely as your celebration. Please read through our terms and conditions before booking.

Hire Period

Our standard hire covers 1–3 days, allowing for delivery, your event day, and collection. If you require items for a longer period, just let us know – we're happy to chat.

Booking & Payment

  • A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking. Your date is not reserved until this deposit is received.

  • The balance is due 7 days before delivery.

  • Payment is accepted via bank transfer or PayPal.

  • Minimum order is £50. We can cater for events of up to 120 guests.

  • You may increase your order anytime (subject to availability), and reduce your order up to 7 days prior to delivery. Changes made after this may incur charges.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel your booking, please email us. The following charges apply:

  • Less than 21 days before event: 50% of total order

  • Less than 10 days: 60% of total order

  • Less than 5 days: 80% of total order

Inventory & Responsibilities

  • A signed inventory will be completed at delivery and collection.

  • All items remain the property of Top Tier Tea Hire at all times.

  • The hirer is responsible for all hired items from delivery until return, including if left at another location.

  • Please handle all items with care. We use genuine vintage pieces, which may show gentle wear (such as fading to gilt) but will never include chipped or cracked items.

Damage Deposit

A damage deposit is required separately and will be refunded after all items are returned and checked. Deposits are as follows:

  • £50–£75 (up to 25 guests)

  • £75–£100 (25+ guests)

  • 50% of total hire for orders over £400

This must be paid via bank transfer and is usually refunded within 48 hours of the items being returned in good condition.

If items are missing or damaged, there will be a replacement cost incurred.

Orders over £400 incur a 10% cleaning charge.

Handling & Hygiene

  • Please do not place any items in the dishwasher or microwave.

  • Kindly empty sugar bowls, milk jugs, and teapots before repacking.

  • Gold-plated cutlery must be hand-washed by the client to avoid tarnishing.

  • Teapots and lids must be wrapped separately for hygiene and protection.

If repacking is incomplete upon collection, we may charge:

  • £15 per 15 minutes for repacking

  • £10 per 15 minutes waiting time if items are not ready at the agreed collection time

Delivery & Collection

  • Free delivery for orders over £150 within 5 miles of our Kent base

  • Free collection is included for all orders

  • Orders under £80: Collection only, unless agreed otherwise

  • Delivery minimums:

    • Central London/Congestion Zone: £150

    • 25+ miles: £150 minimum order

    • 40+ miles: £200 minimum order

Please contact us for a custom delivery quote if you’re outside the standard area – we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

And Finally...

We do the washing up, so you don’t have to! Just give everything a quick scrape and empty, and we’ll take care of the rest.

If you have any questions, would like to make changes, or just want to chat about your plans – get in touch! We're here to help make your event beautiful and stress-free.