Terms and conditions of the AA Home Cooking Competition 2009

1. The promoter of this competition is the Automobile Association Limited (the 'AA').

2. You can enter the competition from the 21 September 2009, and entries will close on 30 October 2009.

3. Unless otherwise stated, the competition is open to all residents of the UK aged 16 or over (on or after 21 September 2009), except employees of the AA or its subsidiary companies or anyone connected with this competition, including third-party promotional partners.

4. Entry is free, but entrants should be aware that they may be subject to local call charges depending on their own individual arrangements for Internet access.

5. An eligible entrant must be an individual and must submit an entry in the form provided under this promotion including their name, address, email address and date of birth. Any entry received without this information will not be entered into the competition. All details provided will be verified when the competition closes.

6. By entering, all eligible entrants agree to abide by these terms and conditions. The AA reserves the right, with or without cause, to exclude entrants and withhold prizes for violating any of these terms and conditions. The AA reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions. Any amendments will be published on this website (theaa.com/cooking-competition).

7. By submitting a recipe entrants represent and warrant that the recipe is their own, has not been previously published, and that their entry does not infringe copyright or the rights of any other person.

8. The AA reserves the right to publish all or parts of entries other than the finalists and/or winning entry, and publication does not necessarily mean that the entrant has won a prize. Entrants will retain copyright in their submitted entries; however, by entering, all entrants give the AA a royalty-free perpetual licence to edit, publish and use all or segments of each entry in any and all media (including print and online) for publicity and marketing purposes. In particular, all entrants licence the AA the right to print their entry on theAA.com and in other printed materials.

9. The AA will not be liable for technical, hardware, or software failures of any kind or lost or unavailable network connections which may limit or prohibit an eligible entrant's ability to participate in the competition. Other than death or personal injury arising from the acts or omissions of the AA or its employees, the AA will not be liable for any loss or damage howsoever arising.

10. By entering this competition, any subsequent prize winners agree to allow to the use of their names, photographs and general location for publicity and news purposes during this and future promotions by the AA.

11. The AA reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition (including altering prizes) if, in their sole discretion, a competition is not capable for being conducted as specified on this website (theaa.com/cooking-competition). The AA reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value in the event that circumstances beyond their control make this unavoidable.

12. Use of personal data received by the AA in the course of the promotion is subject to the privacy policy found on this website (theaa.com/cooking-competition). Winners' names may be published on the AA's website.

13. Completion of the application form, and sign-up procedure will be deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.

14. Entrance to the competition is limited to amateur cooks who: a. Do not work full time as a chef in a restaurant; and b. Do not derive their main source of income from preparing and cooking fresh food in a professional environment (such as restaurants, hotels, and canteens).

15. Eight (8) finalists will be selected by AA restaurant inspectors and Chris Galvin. The finalists will be the entrants whose entries in the opinion of the panel, demonstrate the best technique and originality. The winners will be notified by 6 November 2009 and may be announced on the AA's website and/or by email. All reasonable endeavours will be made to contact the winners during this time. If the winner cannot be contacted or is not available, the AA reserves the right to select another winner from the eligible entries which were received before the closing date of 30 October 2009.

16. The eight (8) finalists will be invited to attend a 'cook off' at Westminster College, London, to prepare their winning dish for a panel of independent judges. An overall winner will be selected based on the judges' decision on the day. Full details of the judges can be found on this website (theaa.com/cooking-competition).

17. The judging panel's decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into.

18. The winner may be required to submit valid identification before being invited to compete in the final 'cook off'.

19. The winner is responsible for ensuring they are able to accept the prize as set out and in accordance with these terms and conditions, and in the event they are unable to do so then the AA reserves the right to select another entrant.

20. You must be able to commit to travel to London for the final if selected. The AA will provide each winner with a £200 contribution for travel expenses. The AA will not be responsible for arranging any travel. Winners under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and an additional £100 travel contribution will be provided.

21. There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated and the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.

22. The final winner will receive the following prize:

1. One night's full-board accommodation in Reims and return travel between London and Reims, a private tour of the Pommery Estate Cellars and tutored tasting of Pommery Champagne for two people; or
   Alternative prize for under-18 winner: two Virgin Balloon Flights Adventure packages and includes: a three- to four-hour ballooning experience with around an hour in the sky, traditional champagne toast after landing, certificate signed by Sir Richard Branson and your pilot, access to 100+ launch sites in England, Scotland and Wales, a luxury ticket and souvenir brochure, plus a gift pack including Virgin shoulder bag, compact binoculars, cap, pen, key ring, pre-flight DVD and a pair of Bloc sunglasses. (Terms and conditions: Prize refers to two Virgin Balloon Flights Adventure packages that have no cash value and are non-refundable. The winner must contact Virgin Balloon Flights within three months of being notified. Tickets are valid for one year from start date which you can specify at the time of purchase. Passengers must be over seven years of age and at least 4ft6in in height. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. We are unable to fly passengers who are pregnant or who have recently undergone major surgery. Full terms and conditions are available at www.virginballoonflights.co.uk).
2. Cook the winning dish alongside Chris Galvin with three friends watching at the pass (£400 contribution will be provided to cover the group's travel).
3. AA Rosette plate supplied by Villeroy & Boch.