Privacy Policy

We collect only what we need to run RestaurantExplore:

• Account details — your name, email address and password (stored only as a one-way hash) when you register, plus any profile details you choose to add such as a profile photo.
• Sign-in with Google or Apple — if you use social sign-in, we receive your name, email address and an account identifier from that provider. We never receive your Google or Apple password.
• Content you post — reviews, star ratings, photos you upload, and "helpful" votes on other reviews.
• Activity — restaurants you save as favourites and actions that earn points, badges and leaderboard positions.
• Location — when you use "Near me" features and grant permission, your device shares its approximate location so we can show nearby restaurants. You can turn this off at any time in your browser or device settings.
• Technical data — standard information such as IP address, device and browser type, and app usage events, which helps us keep the service secure and understand how it is used.

• To create and manage your account and keep you signed in.
• To show restaurants, menus and deals relevant to you, including those near your location.
• To publish your reviews and photos and credit you on leaderboards and achievements.
• To protect the service against spam, abuse and fraud, including rate limiting.
• To understand usage and improve our website and app.

Reviews, ratings, photos, your display name, profile photo and leaderboard standing are visible to other users and may appear in search engines. Please don't include personal information in reviews that you don't want to share publicly.

We use a secure, essential cookie to keep you signed in. If you save favourites while signed out, they are kept in your browser's local storage and synced to your account when you sign in. We do not use advertising cookies.

We don't sell your personal information. We share it only with providers that help us run the service:

• Hosting and database providers that store our data.
• DigitalOcean Spaces, which stores and delivers uploaded photos.
• Google Firebase, for Google and Apple sign-in and app analytics.
• Google Maps and map tile providers, to display maps and locations.

We may also disclose information where required by law or to protect the rights and safety of our users and the service.

We keep your account information for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we delete or anonymise your personal information, except where we must keep it to meet legal obligations or resolve disputes.

• Update your profile or password at any time from My account.
• Edit or delete your own reviews.
• Withdraw location permission in your browser or device settings.
• Request a copy of your data, or deletion of your account and associated data, by emailing [email protected] from the address linked to your account.

We aim to respond to requests within 30 days.

We use industry-standard measures including encrypted connections (HTTPS), hashed passwords and signed session tokens. No online service can be perfectly secure, so please use a strong, unique password.

RestaurantExplore is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we will delete it.

We may update this policy from time to time. We will change the "Last updated" date above and, for significant changes, let you know through the website or app.

Questions about this policy or your data? Email us at [email protected].