Shipping and Returns

Christmas Shipping Information

Empress closes for the Christmas Holiday Celebrations on 20.12.25 @ 3.00pm and re-opens 05.01.25 @ 9am.

Last order shipping date is Friday 19.12.25 in line with carrier & Royal Mail business collections. We will do our very best to ship as many orders up to this point as possible. Inevitably, orders received particularly on the 19th may not ship that day (despite our best efforts). If orders are needed urgently, please consider the priority service information provided below.

Between the 20.12.25 & 05.01.26 parcels will not leave Empress.

Once we are back open, orders will be despatched in date order of receipt. We will work incredibly hard to ensure orders are shipped quickly, but please do keep in mind we will have been closed for a week, so despatch may take a few days after our return. 

Next Day Orders received during the break will be shipped on the 05.01.26 or 06.01.26. 

Overall Timeline

Please do consider all the festive information above and all the information further down the page that covers our general shipping times but for a quick snapshot of delivery options up to and throughout the Christmas Period:

• 12.12.25 to 06.01.26 - we recommend upgrading your delivery option if your order is time-sensitive.
• 17.12.25 - Empress suggested cut off for 1st Class orders reaching you by the 24.12.25 (this is not a guaranteed service).
• 19.12.25 - Until 12noon. Cut off for Next Day orders. Next Day orders placed on the 19th up until 12 noon may be delivered either 22nd or 23.12.25 - however,
  please keep in mind carriers are stretched at this time of year so the exact date can't be guaranteed (but will be before the 25th).
• 20.12.25 to 05.01.26 - Any order placed in this period - regardless of service selected - will be delivered 07.01.26 at the earliest (service selection dependent).
• To guarantee delivery by the 07.01.25 you must select Next Day as your shipping option throughout the Christmas Period and we will ship with our priority carrier on the 5th or 06.01.26.

Your Order Is Time Sensitive

If your order is time sensitive, we recommend from the 12.12.25 until 05.01.26 to upgrade your shipping option to ensure swift arrival (please do take account of the delivery schedules highlighted above).

Thank You

Thank you so much for your business in 2025 and indeed throughout the Christmas & New Year Holidays. As a family business, each and every order is massively appreciated! Thank you again, and we hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

 

 

£3.45 Flat Fee

We operate a flat fee of £3.45 for UK domestic shipping. For our full shipping info - read on...

 

Shipping Info

Second Class Royal Mail

Flat Fee £3.45

Usually despatched with Royal Mail but we may use a carrier depending on order size.

 

Next Day (orders before 12.00)

Up to value

£10.00 – £10.40
£20.00 – £12.10
£50.00 – £12.95
£50.01+ – £12.95

NB next day delivery excludes Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays.

 

EU Delivery

Up to value

£10.00 – £6.50
£50.00 – £10.00
£120.00 – £12.50
£120.01+ – £30.00

Large and bulky items may be subject to different shipping info.
However please don't worry we will always contact you to discuss first and you have the final decision.

Please be aware you are responsible for any duties charged by your home country.

 

Rest Of World

Up to value

£50.00 – £12.50
£100.00 – £16.50
£100.00+ – £20.00

Large and bulky items may be subject to different shipping info.
However please don't worry we will always contact you to discuss first and you have the final decision.

Please be aware you are responsible for any duties charged by your home country.

We operate a maximum wait of 28 working days for delivery within UK & Europe – however, we process orders in date order of receipt and pride ourselves on our rapid despatch. For a guide to despatch times please see the shipping time info below.

If for some reason you do not receive your order within 10 days, please call us on 01282 863181 or email us at info@empressmills.co.uk.

UK Shipping Times

• Next Day Option Orders leave us the same day when placed before 12noon.
• First Class Option Orders usually leave within 1-2 days.
• Second Class Option Orders usually leave within 1-4 days. However, we do constantly strive to beat these targets.

Orders are despatched during our usual trading days – Monday to Saturday (Saturday Royal Mail cut off is 10am. Carriers for Next Day do not collect on Saturday).

No despatches or collections take place Sunday without prior arrangement. Please Contact Us with any specific requirements, we would be delighted to help.

Please note that delivery of your order may take longer during sales or other busy periods – please Contact Us if you are unsure or for clarification.

If an item is likely to be out of stock for longer than 5 days we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss various options with you – these include but are not limited to a full refund or back-ordering of the product.

UK - Off Mainland Shipments

While rare, on occasion (for example with large or bulky items) the shipping price quoted by the website for off-UK mainland customers may not be accurate. In this instance, we will contact you as soon as possible with an updated shipping price.

It will be completely at the discretion of the customer if they then wish to proceed with the order with the new price in effect.

International Shipments

Custom Duties & Import Taxes

Whether in or outside of the EU, Empress Mills is not responsible for any customs duties or taxes of any kind in your home country.

We will help with the information where we can but cannot guarantee the accuracy of such. Items will be sent by us to you and responsibility for import costs, duties etc. are that of the customer. 

Shipping Terms

No matter what shipping option is selected Empress Mills is not liable for any loss incurred through a delay in delivery.

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Please Always Contact Us Prior To Making A Return.

We aim to offer you the very best service including in the event of a return for any reason. With this in mind should you wish to return or exchange any item please contact us first, as there are occasions when it may be unnecessary for you to be inconvenienced by sending an item back.

Returns should only be made following a discussion with an Empress team member.

Contact: 01282 863181 or email: info@empressmills.co.uk

 

Cancellation

Under The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 you have a right to cancel your order* within the period of 14 working days, beginning with the day after your order was received. You must make notice of cancellation, clearly stating your request to cancel, in writing, by one of the following options:

1. Empress Mills (1927) Ltd., Glyde Works, Byron Rd, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 0BQ.
2. Email: info@empressmills.co.uk

If however the goods have already been despatched prior to us receiving your intent to cancel, you have a legal duty to retain possession of them and to take reasonable care of them. You are under obligation to restore these goods to the supplier (Empress Mills) and, under this contract, you will be responsible for sending your order back to Empress Mills at your own expense, with the exception of faulty or substituted goods, where returns costs will of course be reimbursed to you (subject to the below). In an instance where goods have already been despatched then the shipping charge element of an order will not be refunded (again, without the goods themselves are faulty).

*Orders for bespoke items such as cut-length fabrics are not covered by this legislation in terms of being able to return after receipt for a guaranteed refund.

Please always Contact Us to discuss the best method of return.

Faulty Items / Items Which Were Not Ordered

Returns postage will only be reimbursed if the item is faulty / not what was ordered.

Please always Contact Us prior to making a return so we can advise on the method of return – if a return method is used which has not been specified by Empress Mills then, with regret, a full reimbursement for the cost may not be possible.

If the item is being returned for other reasons, please Contact Us to discuss the best method of return.

 

Please Contact Empress Prior To Any Return

We want to provide you with the very best service both with orders and in the event of a return.

With this in mind, please always Contact Us prior to making a return for any reason.