Ending your SimplyCook membership made easy

What is SimplyCook?

SimplyCook is a UK-based meal kit subscription service that takes a different approach to home cooking. Instead of delivering full ingredient boxes like HelloFresh or Gousto, SimplyCook sends you recipe kits containing pre-measured herbs, spices, and flavour sachets. You provide the fresh ingredients yourself from your local supermarket, which keeps costs down and reduces food waste.

Founded in 2014, SimplyCook has built a reputation for making midweek cooking more exciting without the premium price tag of full meal kit services. Each recipe kit comes in a small box containing four sachets of carefully blended seasonings and sauces, along with recipe cards that guide you through the cooking process. The idea is simple: you buy the basics like chicken, vegetables, or pasta, and SimplyCook provides the flavour combinations that transform these everyday ingredients into restaurant-style dishes.

The service appeals particularly to people who find themselves stuck in a cooking rut, making the same meals week after week. SimplyCook offers variety without requiring you to buy dozens of spice jars that sit unused in your cupboard. Most recipes take around 20 minutes to prepare, making them ideal for busy weeknights when you want something better than a ready meal but don't have hours to spend in the kitchen.

SimplyCook delivers throughout the UK, with boxes arriving through your letterbox rather than requiring someone to be home for delivery. This convenience factor, combined with the compact nature of the kits, has made it popular with professionals, students, and anyone looking to expand their culinary repertoire without the commitment of traditional meal kit subscriptions.

Plans, features and pricing

SimplyCook operates on a flexible subscription model with several plan options to suit different household sizes and cooking frequencies. Understanding these plans is important before you consider cancellation, as you might find a better-suited option rather than cancelling entirely.

Standard subscription plans

The core offering revolves around recipe kit boxes delivered monthly or fortnightly. Each box contains four recipe kits, and each kit makes a meal for two people. This means one box provides ingredients for eight portions total, or four complete meals for a couple.

Keep in mind that SimplyCook frequently runs promotional offers, especially for new customers. Many people sign up with a heavily discounted first box, then find the regular price higher than expected. This price jump is one of the most common reasons people cancel after their trial period.

Key features and what you get

Each SimplyCook box includes recipe cards with step-by-step instructions and nutritional information. The recipe selection changes regularly, with options spanning various cuisines including Indian, Thai, Italian, Mexican, and British classics. You can typically choose your recipes from a menu of around 30 options each month, or let SimplyCook select for you based on your preferences.

The subscription includes access to the SimplyCook app and website, where you can manage your deliveries, pause your subscription, and browse additional recipes. Most importantly for cancellation purposes, this is also where you can adjust your delivery schedule or skip boxes if you're going on holiday or simply have too many kits stockpiled.

Flexibility and commitment

SimplyCook markets itself as a flexible subscription with no long-term commitment. You can theoretically cancel at any time, though as we'll discuss in the next section, there are specific notice periods you need to respect. The service allows you to pause deliveries for up to 12 weeks, which can be a better option than cancelling if you're just experiencing temporary subscription fatigue.

Additionally, you can change your delivery frequency or skip individual boxes through your online account. Many people don't realise these options exist and cancel unnecessarily when a simple pause or frequency adjustment would solve their problem.

Terms of service and cancellation policy

Before you start the cancellation process, it's crucial to understand SimplyCook's terms of service and cancellation policy. These terms dictate when you need to cancel by, how much notice is required, and what happens to any pre-paid subscriptions. Getting this wrong can result in unwanted charges or additional boxes arriving after you thought you'd cancelled.

Notice period requirements

SimplyCook requires a minimum notice period for cancellations, typically at least 5 working days before your next scheduled dispatch date. This is standard practice in the subscription box industry, but it catches many people out. If you cancel on the day before your box is due to dispatch, you'll still receive and be charged for that box.

Your dispatch date isn't necessarily the same as your delivery date. SimplyCook usually dispatches boxes a few days before they arrive, so you need to check your account to see when your next dispatch is scheduled, not when you expect it to arrive. This distinction is important and causes confusion for many subscribers who cancel too late.

Refund policy

SimplyCook's refund policy is relatively strict. Once a box has been dispatched, you generally cannot get a refund for that box, even if you cancel immediately afterwards. This is why timing your cancellation correctly is so important. If you've paid for a subscription in advance, you should be entitled to a refund for any boxes that haven't been dispatched yet, but this isn't always automatic.

Keep in mind that promotional trial boxes often come with specific terms. Some trial offers require you to remain subscribed for a minimum period, or the trial price converts to a full subscription after one box. Always check the specific terms that applied when you signed up, as these can vary depending on the promotion.

UK consumer rights

Under UK consumer law, specifically the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you have a 14-day cooling-off period for distance sales. This means if you've just signed up to SimplyCook, you have 14 days from when you receive your first box to cancel and get a full refund, regardless of SimplyCook's own cancellation policy.

However, this cooling-off period doesn't apply to subsequent boxes, only to your initial contract. After the 14-day period expires, you're subject to SimplyCook's standard cancellation terms. Additionally, if you specifically requested immediate delivery when signing up, you may have waived some of these rights, though SimplyCook would need to have made this clear at the time.

Why postal cancellation is your best option

While SimplyCook offers online cancellation through your account, many former subscribers recommend cancelling by post using Recorded Delivery. There are several compelling reasons for this approach. First, it creates an undeniable paper trail with proof of delivery. If SimplyCook claims they never received your cancellation and continues charging you, you have legal proof that your cancellation letter was delivered on a specific date.

Second, online cancellation methods can be deliberately made difficult. Some subscribers report that the cancellation button is hard to find, requires multiple confirmation steps, or mysteriously fails to process. Others have experienced their account settings reverting after cancellation, with boxes resuming unexpectedly. Postal cancellation bypasses all these potential technical issues.

Most importantly, a postal cancellation sent via Recorded Delivery gives you legal standing. Under UK law, a written cancellation notice sent to a company's registered address must be acknowledged. If disputes arise about billing or unwanted deliveries, your Recorded Delivery receipt is powerful evidence that you fulfilled your obligation to notify the company.

Cancelling by post - the complete guide

Cancelling your SimplyCook subscription by post is straightforward if you follow the correct process. This method gives you the strongest legal protection and clearest evidence that you've terminated your subscription properly. Here's exactly how to do it, step by step.

Step one: Check your account details and timing

Before you write anything, log into your SimplyCook account and note down three critical pieces of information. First, your exact account number or customer reference number, which should be visible in your account settings or on previous invoices. Second, the email address associated with your account. Third, and most importantly, your next scheduled dispatch date.

Calculate whether you have enough time to send your cancellation letter and have it arrive at least 5 working days before your next dispatch. Remember that Recorded Delivery typically takes 1-2 working days, but you should allow extra time for processing. If you're cutting it close, you might want to also pause your next box through your online account as a backup measure while your cancellation letter is in transit.

Step two: Prepare your cancellation letter

Your cancellation letter doesn't need to be lengthy or complicated, but it must include specific information. At the top, include your full name, address, and the date you're writing the letter. Then include your SimplyCook account email address and any customer reference number you found in your account.

State clearly and unambiguously that you wish to cancel your SimplyCook subscription with immediate effect. Specify that you do not want any further boxes dispatched or any further charges to your payment method. Include the date you're sending the letter and request written confirmation of your cancellation.

Keep the tone professional and factual. You don't need to explain why you're cancelling, though if there are outstanding issues like unwanted charges or quality problems, you can mention these briefly. The key is clarity: make it impossible for SimplyCook to claim they didn't understand your intention.

Step three: Address your letter correctly

This step is critical and where many people make mistakes. Your letter must go to SimplyCook's registered business address. Address your envelope precisely as follows:

• SimplyCook Limited, 10 Queen Street Place, London, EC4R 1AG

Double-check every element of this address before sealing your envelope. An incorrectly addressed letter could delay delivery or be returned to you, meaning your cancellation doesn't take effect when you intended. Mark the envelope clearly with \