Cancelling hen do weekend in UK - right to refund?

CW2710 · 19 May 2020 at 7:17PM

Hi,
I'm getting a tad stressed arranging my hen do which is due to take place in mid-August. We're going to a holiday home in the UK, a group of 18 for two nights. My bridesmaid has enquired with the house about their policy regarding the current situation as we thought it was now time to look into possible cancellation particularly as it's likely we will move the wedding (originally in September) until next year. We've already paid half of the balance, with the other half due in mid June. The house said that they weren't offering any refunds at all, even if they are forced to cancel due to the coronavirus, they will just offer us exactly the same weekend next year so August 2021. I'm not sure whether they can refuse any sort of refund, given they'd have to cancel us, not the other way round? We aren't keen on rescheduling, mainly because I'm hoping for a rescheduled March wedding (if thats even possible), so a hen do five months later doesn't really work! In my eyes, we have paid money towards a specific date, and if the house cannot fulfil this due the government guidelines, we are entitled to at least some of our money back? The plan was to wait it out and assumed that if the guidelines are extended further than July, the house would have to give us a refund, but after speaking to them, we're now not sure. Their T & C's on the website seem to state that they aren't liable for absolutely anything at all, it doesn't mention them having to cancel specifically, but basically says they "will not be liable for damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience whether to person or property which the tenant or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of or in any way connected with the letting,[...]or resulting from any other cause whatsoever".
We didn't take out specific insurance for the trip however my bridesmaid says she paid on her credit card so would be perhaps be able to claim our money back that way, if the house is within their rights not to offer a refund?
I completely appreciate that this holiday home is a small business and in the scheme of things there's more important things to worry about. We do very much hope to be attend in August as planned if that's possible but I'm a little concerned about what will happen if we can't go as lots of family & friends have paid out now. I'm also not sure whether to pay the rest of the balance, knowing that we potentially won't get it back? Does anyone have any advice on this?
Thanks so much!