Safeguarding Policy

Last updated: 18 August 2026

Read alongside: Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

1. Introduction

Oh No! Consequences ("we", "us", "our") takes safeguarding seriously. Our games involve physical, emotional, and sometimes intimate consequences. This policy exists to ensure that every player feels safe, informed, and in control — even when they're choosing to hand over control of their own dignity.

2. Explicit Consent

No consequence happens without your explicit opt-in.

Every consequence in our menu is individually opt-in in the survey. If you didn't tick the box, it's never on the table. You can change your answers at any time before your game — latest answers always win.

Consent is revocable. You can stop any consequence at any time, for any reason, by using your chosen stop signal (see section 4). No question will be asked, no consequence will be forced.

3. The One-to-One Consent Check

Before every game, each player has a private conversation with a member of staff.

This is not a formality. It's a chance for you to:

Confirm you still want to play and still want the consequences you chose.
Ask questions about any consequence you're unsure about.
Change your mind about any consequence (no penalty, no pressure).
Choose your stop signal (see section 4).
Speak freely — this conversation is one-to-one, without your partner or anyone else present. This is your chance to voice doubts you might not want to say in front of your teammate.

If a player changes their mind during this conversation, the game still goes ahead (or is rescheduled — your call). The consequence is simply removed from your list. No penalty, no hard feelings.

4. Stop Signals

Every player chooses a stop signal during the one-to-one consent check. You have two options:

Option A: Key Phrases

You pick a phrase that means "stop everything right now". The simplest is "Red" — but you can pick any word or phrase. When you say it, the consequence stops immediately, and staff check in with you. No questions asked.

Important: if you choose key phrases, you can also protest your consequence without stopping it. Saying "it's too much!" or "my face!" or "I'm melting!" does not stop the game — only your chosen key phrase does. This is popular with players who want to be able to protest without actually stopping. If you choose this option, your partner will be told your key phrase so they know when you're serious.

Option B: Follow Instructions

Choose this if you want your consequence to be followed at all times — unless you say your key phrase. This means you can protest, squirm, laugh, cry, or do all of the above, and the consequence continues until staff call time (or you use your key phrase).

Important: if you choose "follow instructions", staff will still check in with you between consequences to make sure you're still having fun. They also reserve the right to stop a consequence if they think you've had a genuine meltdown (not a fun one — a real one). This is part of the staff discretion clause (see section 6).

5. Right to Cancel

We reserve the right to cancel a session without refund if we detect that a player is under any form of duress to take part, or does not actually want to play. This includes (but is not limited to):

Being forced by a partner or friend to play against their will.
Being blackmailed or coerced into playing (e.g. "if you don't pick the pie, you have to do the paddle").
Showing clear signs of anxiety or doubt during the one-to-one consent check (e.g. hesitating, looking at your partner for reassurance, or saying "I guess" instead of "yes").

This right is used sparingly, but when it is used, we reserve the right to cancel the entire session (both players) without refund. The affected player may also have the option to reschedule (at our discretion).

6. Anti-Bullying

We will not perform any forfeit for a player that we believe is being bullied by other guests (including partners, friends, or spectators). Bullying includes (but is not limited to): verbal pressure, social coercion, physical intimidation, or any behaviour that makes us doubt that the player is genuinely choosing to participate.

If we detect bullying during a session, we reserve the right to:

Cancel the player's forfeits.
Remove the bullying guests from the building.
Cancel the entire session (with or without refund, at our discretion).

7. Staff Protection

Our staff are generally unfazed by protest, squirming, or theatrical meltdown — it's part of the job. However, if any staff member is subjected to verbal abuse (beyond reasonable protest) or physical abuse, staff may immediately end the session and remove all guests from the building. In such cases:

The session is ended immediately (no partial refunds, unless staff determine the abuser was not the only guest).
All guests are removed from the building (including spectators).
The abuser is free to leave (or be escorted out).
The rest of the party (if any) may be invited to reschedule (at our discretion).

This right is used sparingly, but when it is used, staff have the final word. No question will be asked, no debate will be had. The building is our space, and our staff's comfort comes first.

9. Staff Discretion

Staff use their judgment to make your game as fun, memorable, and (where applicable) mean as you signed up for. Customers accept that:

Staff may misjudge a situation (e.g. think you're having fun when you're actually having a meltdown, or think you're having a meltdown when you're actually having fun).
Staff may make a mistake (e.g. read your survey wrong, or forget a note you left).
Staff may decide to alter or waive a consequence on the day (e.g. if they think you've had a bad day, or if they think a consequence would be better done differently).

Customers accept these risks. Staff discretion is exercised in good faith, but customers are responsible for providing correct information in the survey and speaking up if things aren't what you expected.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes are communicated via email or the site homepage. If you play after a change, you're deemed to have accepted the new terms. The "last updated" date at the top of this page tells you when it was last changed.

11. Contact

Questions? Email safeguarding@ohnoc.com or contact us via our homepage.