Hunt rules
& terms.

The organiser and these rules

Each published hunt is operated by Black Tide Hunts (the “Organiser”). The specific hunt page, checkout page and confirmation email form part of these rules. The Organiser must publish its legal business name, registered or trading address and a working contact email before a hunt accepts real paid entries.

By purchasing an entry or otherwise taking part, you agree to these rules and any hunt-specific instructions. If there is a conflict, the hunt-specific instructions apply to that hunt.

Eligibility

• You must be aged 18 or over when you enter.
• You must be legally resident in, and physically able to take part from, the territory stated on the individual hunt page.
• Employees, contractors and immediate family members of the Organiser, or anyone directly involved in creating or hiding that hunt, may not enter it.
• You must provide accurate contact details and be able to prove your identity and age if reasonably requested.

One clue, one person, one chance

Each person may buy only one entry for a particular hunt. An entry gives you access to the hunt riddle; it does not buy the prize and it does not guarantee a result. Entries are personal, non-transferable and may not be shared, resold, copied, published or used for a group attempt unless the Organiser expressly permits it in writing.

How a hunt works

1. Choose a hunt while pre-orders are open and complete checkout.
2. Once payment has cleared, you will receive an order confirmation.
3. At the published clue-release time, every paid entrant receives the same riddle at the same time by email and in their private Clue Vault.
4. The first eligible entrant to locate the treasure and complete the verification instructions wins the stated prize.

Email delivery can be affected by providers and devices. The Clue Vault release time is the controlling time if there is a delivery delay; entrants should check their inbox, spam folder and Clue Vault.

Skill, risk and no guaranteed prize

A Black Tide Hunt is designed to be solved through skill, judgement, knowledge, observation, speed and decision-making. It is not a purchase of a prize, a savings product or a guaranteed return. You may not solve the riddle, reach the location first, find the treasure or receive any prize. Only enter if you can afford to lose the full entry cost.

The Organiser must ensure the final competition mechanism complies with applicable law. If a paid-entry structure requires a genuine skill test or an accessible free-entry route, that arrangement must be established and displayed clearly before the hunt goes live.

Prize pot and winner verification

Every hunt states its minimum prize and the current advertised prize pot. Where a hunt says that entries increase the pot, the amount shown is the amount recorded by the Organiser at that time and may update as eligible payments are confirmed. The final prize and any non-cash prize details will be confirmed in the hunt-specific instructions.

The claimed winner must follow the verification process at the location and provide reasonable evidence of identity, location and compliance with these rules. The Organiser may disqualify a claimant where there is evidence of cheating, rule-breaking, impersonation or false information. Once a valid claim is confirmed, the hunt closes and other entrants will be notified.

Safety, access and conduct

• Do not trespass, climb, dig, enter water, damage property, disturb wildlife or put yourself or anyone else at risk.
• Obey all laws, signage, landowner requirements and reasonable directions from emergency services or site staff.
• Do not drive, cycle or otherwise travel unsafely while reading or attempting to solve a clue.
• Do not harass other entrants, members of the public or the Organiser. Threatening, abusive or discriminatory behaviour is not tolerated.
• Stop immediately if a location is unsafe, inaccessible or conditions make participation unsuitable.

You take part entirely at your own risk. The Organiser does not accept responsibility for loss, injury or damage caused by your unsafe, unlawful or negligent conduct, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

Payments, cancellations and refunds

Payment is due before an entry is confirmed. A payment that fails, is reversed or is subject to a chargeback does not create a valid entry. Before the clue is released, cancellation and refund rights will be handled in accordance with applicable consumer law and the hunt-specific terms. After the clue has been released or access has been supplied, an entry fee will normally be non-refundable except where required by law.

The Organiser may cancel, postpone or materially change a hunt where necessary for safety, legal, technical, operational or force-majeure reasons. If this happens, the Organiser will explain the options available, which may include rescheduling, a replacement hunt, credit or a refund where appropriate.

Privacy and communications

The Organiser uses the details you provide to administer your entry, take payment, send confirmations, release the clue, verify a winner and contact you about a material change to your hunt. Marketing messages must be optional and you can unsubscribe at any time. A privacy notice explaining the lawful basis, retention period, processors and your data rights must be published before live sales begin.

Disqualification and decisions

The Organiser may refuse, suspend or disqualify an entry that is incomplete, fraudulent, automated, abusive, shared, resold, paid for using an unauthorised method or otherwise breaches these rules. The Organiser’s reasonable decision on administration and verification is final, subject to your statutory rights and any applicable regulator or court.

Governing law and updates

These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have jurisdiction, unless mandatory local consumer law says otherwise. The Organiser may update these rules for future hunts. The version accepted at checkout applies to your entry, except where a change is required by law or improves your rights.