FAQs
Our Books
How does Bendico choose its selection of books? We curate a selection of books from the various places that speak French, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, focusing on the countries where these languages are an official language.
What language are the books in? All of the books are in English, except some of the books under the tab Books For Learning which are written specifically for people looking to learn a foreign language.
What are collections? Our collections are where we curate five books around different themes and topics. Our themes are Iconic Authors, Culture, History, Literature, Places and Bonus Collections. For example, you'll find five books to do with the French Revolution under the History tab of the French-speaking world.
How do I order a book? Easy! Find a book that you like, add it to the cart and pay through one of the convenient payment methods we have on our website.
Can I request a book which isn't on your website? We only stock books which are linked to the parts of the world that speak French, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. However, if you think there's a book we've missed which would be a good addition to Bendico's stocklist, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you!
Are all books listed on the site available? We try to ensure all books are always available. However, some may have a 'Sold Out' sign. We usually get books back in stock within a few days but please check the website for when it becomes available again.
Language Classes
I'm not very confident at speaking, does that matter? Absolutely not! We want people to come and practice what they know, you will be with people of a similar level to you and there's no pressure to speak if you'd rather mainly listen during the classes.
What happens in the classes? We play games like Articulate in the foreign languages, tailored to the level of that class. Advanced classes tend to just have free-flowing conversations.
Where do the classes take place? The classes take place at Arthur's Coffee House in Ravenscourt Park. The address is 1 Seven Stars Corner, London, W12 8ET.
When do the classes take place? Our weekly classes take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Lower intermediate classes are at 6pm, upper intermediate at 7pm and advanced at 8pm.
How long are the classes? Each class lasts 50 minutes.
How many people are in each class? We cap our classes at just six people, alongside a native speaker as our teacher.
Which class is right for me?
Lower Intermediate (A2) - I know basic vocabulary and can form simple sentences, but I struggle to keep a conversation going and often need time to think.
Upper Intermediate (B1) - I can hold a conversation on familiar topics and speak in full sentences, but I hesitate, make mistakes, and sometimes lose track in longer exchanges.
Advanced (B2+) - I can take part in natural, flowing conversations and express my ideas clearly, even on more complex or unfamiliar topics.
When are tickets released for the classes? They are released a week before the class. Everyone who attends a class gets first option to buy a ticket for the following week before they are released on the website.
Can I arrive at the cafe before my class starts? Absolutely, the garden is always open if you'd like to sit outside with a drink before or after your class.
I'd like to do one-on-one classes, is this possible? Yes, please get in touch and we can arrange private classes with one of our teachers.
Bendico Book Club
What is Bendico Book Club? Join our book club and explore the world of translated literature. We send one book straight to your door each month, specialising in books originally written in French, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.
How much does it cost? The price of our book club is £14.99 per month.
Do I pay for delivery if I subscribe to your book club? No, delivery is free for the books we send out each month to our members.
Can I meet up with other people from the book club? Of course! We organise a gathering once a month at Arthur's Coffee House in Ravenscourt Park to discuss that month's book. We meet at 6.30pm on the last Tuesday of each month. If you live outside London and would like to host a gathering, please get in touch.
Can I cancel at any time? Yes, there is no commitment to our book club. You are free to cancel your subscription at any point.
When will I receive the books? We send out the book at the start of each month so it should be with you a few days after this. When you first sign up, we will send out that month's book straightaway.
When am I charged? You will first be charged when you sign up. After that, we take payment on the 1st of each month.
What happens if I already have the book you send out? If you have the book, get in touch and we will organise an exchange where you can choose to swap it for another book. The replacement book can cost up to £14.99.
Shipping & Delivery
Where do you ship to? At the moment, we only ship within the UK. If you are an international customer, please contact us and we will see what we can do. Either way, we'd love to hear that Bendico has gone global!
How long will my order take to arrive? We usually dispatch your order within 24 hours and then it depends which delivery method you've chosen. Standard should be with you within 2-4 working days, Express Tracked should arrive within 1-3 working days.
Can I track my order? You will receive an email after placing your order with us, as well as when it is dispatched. You will be able to track the parcel if you have used Express Tracked delivery.
Is there plastic in the packaging? Your book will arrive in recyclable cardboard, there is no plastic in our packaging.
Payments & Returns
What payment methods do you accept? We accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Can I cancel or change my order? If your order hasn’t been shipped yet, contact us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
What’s your return policy? Returns are accepted within 14 days for unused items. Please send returns to the following address: Bendico, PO Box 48, Westham, East Sussex, BN23 6WB