Britain’s Best Christmas Lights

^{The following terms and conditions apply to the Compare the Market ‘Britain’s Best Christmas Lights 2026’ competition (the “Competition”).  By taking part in the Competition, you accept and agree to these terms and conditions. If you do not agree with any of the terms and conditions, then you should not take part in the Competition.}  

^{1. Who can enter:} 

^{1.1 Compare the Market Limited, of Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS (the “Promoter”), is running the Competition. The Promoter has appointed Taylor Herring Limited (“Taylor Herring”) to assist with the judging process, communications with the Winner and the arrangements for the Crowning Moment (each as defined below) on its behalf.}  

^{1.2 This Competition is open to individuals who are: (a) UK residents during the Entry Period and prize fulfilment period; (b) aged 18 years or over; (c) the owner of, or a resident at, the Property (as defined in paragraph 1.3); and (d) not employees of the Promoter or Taylor Herring, the Guest Judge (as defined in paragraph 4.4), their families or anyone else connected with the Competition. No third party entries, bulk entries, or entries submitted by agents will be accepted.}  

^{1.3 In these terms, the “Property” means the private residential property in the United Kingdom that is shown in your Entry. You are the owner of the Property if you own it (whether freehold or leasehold), and you are a resident at the Property if you live there as your main home (including as a tenant). If you are a tenant or leaseholder, you confirm that you have any permission required from your landlord or freeholder to decorate the Property as shown in your Entry and, if you are the Winner, to host the Crowning Moment.}  

^{1.4 The Promoter (or Taylor Herring on its behalf) may at any time ask you to provide proof that you meet the eligibility requirements in this section 1, such as a utility bill, council tax bill or tenancy agreement dated within the last three (3) months. If you do not provide satisfactory proof when asked, your Entry may be disqualified.}  

 ^{2. How to Enter:}  

^{2.1 To enter the Competition, you must, during the Entry Period, email christmas@comparethemarket.com with:} 

^{a. one or more clear photographs of the Property decorated for Christmas (up to [five (5)] images in total, each no larger than 35 MB) (“Entry Images”);}  

^{b. your full name, email address, telephone number and city/region;}  

^{c. a short description of why you think the Property should be named Britain’s Most Christmassy House (up to [500] words) (“Supporting Information”); and}  

^{d. confirmation that you meet the eligibility requirements in section 1.} 

^{2.2 Entries to the Competition are limited to one (1) per person and one (1) per Property. If more than one Entry is received for the same Property, only the first valid Entry received will be considered.}  

^{2.3 Your Entry Images and Supporting Information (together, your “Entry”) must comply with the requirements below. By submitting an Entry, you confirm and warrant that:} 

^{a. the Entry Images show the Property as decorated for Christmas, and were taken by you or the photographer has given you permission to submit and license them as set out in these terms;} 

^{b. the Entry Images have not been generated or digitally altered (including using artificial intelligence) in a way that misrepresents the Property or its decorations (minor edits such as cropping or colour correction are permitted);} 

^{c. the Property will be decorated to a standard which is substantively similar in quality and scale to the Entry Images;} 

^{d. the Entry does not infringe the copyright, trade mark, privacy or other rights of any third party (although decorations at the Property that incidentally feature third party characters or brands are permitted);} 

^{e. the Entry is not offensive, defamatory, obscene, unlawful or otherwise inappropriate; and} 

^{f. all information you provide is true and accurate.} 

^{2.4 You keep ownership of the intellectual property rights in your Entry. By submitting an Entry, you grant the Promoter and Taylor Herring (and the Guest Judges) a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, store, display and share your Entry for the purposes of administering and judging the Competition. If you are named the Winner, this licence will also cover use of your Entry in publicity for the Competition and the Promoter’s ‘Britain’s Best Christmas Lights 2026’ campaign in any media (including press, social media and the Promoter’s website) for twelve (12) months from the date of the Crowning Moment. You agree not to assert any moral rights in your Entry against the Promoter or Taylor Herring in connection with these uses.} 

^{2.5 By entering this Competition, you acknowledge that the Promoter may process your personal data including your name, email address, telephone number, city/region and the images and information in your Entry for the purpose of administering the Competition and the Prize. Further information is set out in section 7. The full postal address will only be requested from the Winner once they have been contacted.}  

^{2.6 It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that the contact details provided in their Entry are accurate and up to date at the time of entry. The Promoter will not accept responsibility if they are not accurate.}  

 ^{3. Opening/Closing date and time:} 

^{3.1 The opening date to the Competition is 12:00 AM on 03/11/2026, and the closing date is 11:59 PM on 15/11/2026, together the (“Entry Period”). Entries received before or after the Entry Period will not be counted, accepted, or considered.}  

^{3.2 The Promoter accepts no responsibility for Entries that are lost, delayed, incomplete, blocked or not received, or not successfully completed, due to a technical fault, technical malfunction, email or file size restriction, computer hardware or software failure, satellite, network or server failure of any kind.}  

^{4. Judging, Winner Selection and Contact:} 

^{4.1 All Entries received during the Entry Period will be checked for eligibility and compliance with these terms, and any Entry that does not comply will be disqualified. Valid Entries will then be reviewed and scored by the Promoter against predefined judging criteria to create a shortlist of up to ten (10) Entries (the “Shortlist”).} 

^{4.2 The Shortlist will be put to a panel of judges (the “Panel”), who will score each shortlisted Entry against the judging criteria. The Entry Images and Supporting Information of each Finalist will be shown to the Panel, who will score each Shortlist against the judging criteria. The Shortlist with the highest score from the Guest Judge will be the winner (the “Winner”).} 

^{4.3 The Winner will be contacted by Taylor Herring, on behalf of the Promoter, by telephone and/or email (using the details provided in their Entry) before 27/11/2026. It is the responsibility of the entrant to ensure that the contact details provided in their Entry are accurate and up to date at the time of entering the Competition. The Promoter and Taylor Herring will not accept responsibility if they are not accurate.} 

^{4.4 If the Winner does not respond to Taylor Herring or the Promoter to accept the Prize and confirm their participation in the Crowning Moment within forty-eight (48) hours of first being contacted, then their Prize will be forfeited, and the Promoter will be entitled to select another Winner in accordance with the process described above. If a replacement Winner also fails to respond within the applicable time limit, the Prize may be forfeited entirely at the Promoter’s discretion.} 

^{4.5 Before confirming the Winner, the Promoter (or Taylor Herring on its behalf) may verify that the Winner’s Entry complies with these terms and may carry out reasonable checks, including reviewing publicly available information and social media channels. The Promoter may disqualify any entrant and award the Prize to an alternative Winner if the entrant is not eligible or has breached these terms, or if, in the Promoter’s reasonable opinion, the entrant’s conduct or publicly available statements are likely to bring the Promoter or the Competition into disrepute.}  

^{4.6 The decision of the Promoter regarding any aspect of the Competition (including the scoring, judging and selection of the Winner) is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into about it.} 

 ^{5. Prize:} 

^{5.1 The Winner will receive the following (together, the “Prize”):} 

^{5.1.1 A one-off cash payment of £3,000 (the “Cash Prize”), intended to help cover the cost of the Winner’s household energy bills for a year.} 

^{5.1.2 A commemorative bronze plaque, to be presented to the Winner at the Crowning Moment and displayed on the Winner’s choice of wall mount or stand (the “Plaque”).} 

^{5.2 The Prize is subject to the following terms:} 

^{5.2.1 The Cash Prize will be paid by BACS, in pounds sterling, to a UK bank account in the Winner’s name following the Crowning Moment and within [twenty-eight (28)] days of the Winner providing the bank details requested by the Promoter.} 

^{5.2.2 The Cash Prize is a fixed sum and will not be adjusted by reference to the Winner’s actual energy usage, bills, supplier or tariff. The Winner is not required to spend the Cash Prize on energy bills and the Promoter will not monitor how it is used. The Promoter makes no representation that £3,000 equals the actual annual energy costs of any particular household.} 

^{5.2.3 The Winner is responsible for any tax liability arising from receipt of the Prize. The Promoter does not provide tax advice.} 

^{5.2.4 The Prize excludes any additional costs not expressly stated as part of the Prize, including but not limited to the Winner’s costs of hosting guests at the Crowning Moment.} 

^{5.2.5 The Winner must provide the timely information, approvals and access to the Property that the Promoter or Taylor Herring reasonably require in order to fulfil the Prize.} 

^{5.2.6 All elements of the Prize are subject to availability.} 

^{5.2.7 Once arrangements for the Crowning Moment are confirmed, they cannot be amended or cancelled by the Winner except in exceptional circumstances agreed with the Promoter.} 

^{5.2.8 If the Winner elects not to, or is unable to, accept part of the Prize (for example, the Plaque), that element will be forfeited.} 

^{5.3 By accepting the Prize, the Winner is obligated to take part in a celebratory event at the Property, which will be attended by the Guest Judge, a production team and media, and a representative of the Promoter, and will be filmed and photographed (the “Crowning Moment”). By accepting the Prize, the Winner agrees that:} 

^{5.3.1 the Crowning Moment will take place on a date to be agreed between the Winner and Taylor Herring, which is expected to be on or around [26/11/2026];} 

^{5.3.2 the Winner will make the Property available and will ensure that all other people living at the Property consent to the Crowning Moment, including to being filmed and photographed (with the consent of a parent or guardian for anyone under 18), and the Promoter or Taylor Herring may ask the Winner and those people to sign consent forms;} 

^{5.3.3 the Winner may invite family, friends and neighbours to attend the Crowning Moment and will agree the arrangements with Taylor Herring, the attending Guest Judge is subject to change;} 

^{5.3.4 the Winner will co-operate with the reasonable requests of Taylor Herring and the production team, including in relation to health and safety, risk assessments and access; and} 

^{5.3.5 if the Winner is unable or unwilling to take part in the Crowning Moment, the Promoter may treat the Prize as forfeited,} 

^{5.4 The Prize is supplied by the Promoter, Compare the Market, Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS.} 

^{5.5 The Promoter reserves the right to replace the Plaque with an alternative of equal or higher value if circumstances beyond the Promoter’s control make it necessary to do so.} 

^{5.6 The Prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, non-assignable, and no alternative to the Cash Prize or the Plaque shall be offered. All non-cash Prize elements are subject to availability.} 

^{5.7 The Prize excludes anything not expressly stated in the Prize package.} 

^{6. Neighbour Offer:} 

^{6.1 In addition to the Prize, and separately from the Competition, the Promoter is offering a cash payment of £300 (a “Neighbour Payment”) to up to fifty (50) neighbours of the Winner (the “Neighbour Offer”). You do not need to have entered the Competition to claim. The Neighbour Offer shall become available upon completion of the Crowning Moment, and it will close at 11:59 PM on [31/01/2027] (the “Claim Deadline”).} 

^{6.2 You are eligible for a Neighbour Payment if you:} 

^{6.2.1 are a UK resident aged 18 years or over;} 

^{6.2.2 own, or are a resident at, a residential property with the same full postcode as the Winner’s Property (the same outward and inward code, for example “PE2 6YS”) (a “Neighbouring Property”); and} 

^{6.2.3 are not the Winner or a resident at the Winner’s Property and are not an employee of the Promoter or Taylor Herring, the Guest Judge, their families or anyone else connected with the Competition.} 

^{6.3 The Neighbour Offer is limited to up to fifty (50) Neighbour Payments in total, and to one (1) Neighbour Payment per Neighbouring Property. Neighbour Payments will be allocated on a first come, first served basis according to the time at which a valid claim is received by the Promoter. Once fifty (50) valid claims have been accepted, no further claims will be eligible, even if they are made before the Claim Deadline. The Promoter may choose in its sole discretion to pay additional Neighbour Payments but is under no obligation to do so, and doing so will not waive this limit.}  

^{6.4 To claim, you must email christmas@comparethemarket.com before the Claim Deadline with:} 

^{6.4.1 your full name, telephone number and the full address (including postcode) of the Neighbouring Property;} 

^{6.4.2 proof that you own or live at the Neighbouring Property, such as a utility bill, council tax bill or bank statement, dated within the last three (3) months (redacted as per 6.7. below); and} 

^{6.4.3 confirmation that you meet the eligibility requirements in paragraph 6.2.} 

^{6.5 A claim is only valid once the Promoter has received all of the information listed above and, in the Promoter’s reasonable opinion, it shows that you meet the eligibility requirements. The Winner’s address will not be disclosed to claimants; the Promoter will check your eligibility by comparing the postcode of the Neighbouring Property with the Winner’s postcode.} 

^{6.6 You should redact any information (for example, account numbers and transaction details) on your proof of address other than your name, address and the date. The Promoter will use your proof of address only to verify your claim and will delete it within [sixty (60)] days of the Claim Deadline.} 

^{6.7 Once your claim has been verified, the Promoter will contact you to request your bank details. The Neighbour Payment will be paid by BACS, in pounds sterling, to a UK bank account in your name within [sixty (60)] days of the Promoter receiving those details.} 

^{6.8 The Neighbour Payment is a fixed sum and will not be adjusted by reference to your actual energy usage, bills, supplier or tariff, and you are not required to spend it on energy bills. The Promoter makes no representation that £300 equals the actual energy costs of any household for December. Neighbour Payments are non-transferable and you are responsible for any tax liability arising from them. Claims may not be made by agents or other third parties on your behalf, and the Promoter may refuse any claim that it reasonably believes to be fraudulent or made in breach of these terms.} 

^{7. Administration of Competition:} 

^{7.1 If you are the Winner, you agree that the Promoter and Taylor Herring may make your name, city/region and county of residence, likeness and images of the Property publicly available, and may use them (including footage and photographs of the Crowning Moment) in publicity for the Competition and the Promoter’s ‘Britain’s Best Christmas Lights 2026’ campaign, in any media worldwide, for [twelve (12) months] from the date of the Crowning Moment, without further payment to you. The Promoter may ask you to confirm this in writing. If you are not willing to agree to this, you should not enter the Competition.} 

^{7.2 Notwithstanding the above, the Promoter may still provide these details to the Advertising Standards Authority.} 

^{7.3 Personal data supplied during the course of this Competition (including any claim for a Neighbour Payment) will only be processed (i) in accordance with these terms and to fulfil the Prize, the Neighbour Offer and entries to the Competition in accordance with these terms and (ii) to analyse how our promotions and competitions have performed as we have legitimate business interest in gaining this insight. For more information on how Compare The Market Limited process your personal data in connection with our products and services, please see our Privacy Policy.}  

^{7.4 To run the Competition and the Neighbour Offer, the Promoter will share personal data with Taylor Herring (who is managing communications with the Winner and the Crowning Moment on the Promoter’s behalf) and the Promoter’s finance and payment providers. The Panel will only be shown the Shortlist’s Entry Images and Supporting Information, and not their contact details. [Personal data and Entries will be deleted within [30] days of the Crowning Moment, other than the Winner’s data and data that the Promoter must retain in order to ensure compliance with applicable law and regulations.]} 

^{8. Liability} 

 ^{8.1 Insofar as is permitted by law, the Promoter, its agents, or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the Winner or any other entrant or claimant or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking part in the Competition or the Crowning Moment, claiming a Neighbour Payment, or taking up the Prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Promoter, Taylor Herring, their agents or distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.} 

^{8.2 Entrants are responsible for ensuring that the decorations and any electrical or other installations at the Property are safe and comply with applicable law. The Promoter does not inspect, approve or accept responsibility for any such decorations or installations.} 

 ^{9. General}  

^{9.1 In the event of fraud, abuse, and/or an error affecting the proper operation of the Competition, including the allocation of more prizes than available, the Promoter reserves the right to end or suspend the Competition, amend these terms and conditions, declare void the notification of the Winner, and/or allocate the Prize to another.} 

^{9.2 The Promoter reserves the right to refuse entry or refuse to award the Prize or any Neighbour Payment to anyone in breach of these terms and conditions.} 

^{9.3 The Promoter reserves the right to hold void, cancel, suspend, or amend the Competition or the Neighbour Offer (including the timing of any stage of the judging process or the Crowning Moment) when it becomes necessary to do so. The Promoter will endeavour to give notice of such cancellation, suspension or amendment via its website.} 

^{9.4 The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms for legal, regulatory, or operational reasons, provided that no such amendment shall materially disadvantage entrants without reasonable notice.}  

^{9.5 If any provision of these terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No failure or delay by the Promoter in exercising any right or remedy shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy. These terms constitute the entire agreement between the Promoter and entrants in relation to the Competition and the Neighbour Offer.} 

^{9.6 This Competition and the Neighbour Offer, and the terms and conditions that govern them, are governed by English Law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.}