Pub Insurance
Effective cover for the hospitality sector.
Insurance for pubs, also known as public house insurance, is designed specifically for those who own these establishments. It is designed to help provide cover for premises that directly serve the public in a public house setting.
Our policies are tailored to pub, bar and nightclub venues, including hybrid ventures offering food & entertainment and are bespoke to each individual business, based on requirements. Obtaining pub insurance quotes is crucial to find the best coverage for your unique business needs.
Within this insurance, a range of cover can be provided, including employers’ liability insurance, product liability, contents, buildings and public liability.
- Award Winning In-House Claims Team
- Lloyds of London Commercial Broker
- Independent Broker Since 2001
Running a pub involves much more than serving drinks. You may also prepare food, employ bar and kitchen staff, show live sport, host events or provide entertainment, all while managing your premises, stock and equipment. Pub insurance can bring together the protection needed for these different parts of your business.
SJL Insurance Services arranges pub insurance for businesses across the UK, from traditional locals and country pubs to gastropubs and larger venues offering food and entertainment. We look at how your pub operates and help you find cover that reflects what you do day to day.
Depending on your needs and the policy arranged, this can include public liability, employers’ liability, buildings and contents, stock, equipment and business interruption insurance.
Taking over a pub, approaching renewal or reviewing your current policy? Speak to SJL about your insurance requirements.
Call: 01905 27775
Email: [email protected]
Online: Contact SJL Insurance
What Is Pub Insurance?
Pub insurance, sometimes referred to as public house insurance, is business insurance designed around the risks involved in running a pub. It can combine different types of cover to protect your premises, employees, customers, stock, equipment and other important parts of the business.
What you need will depend on the type of pub you run. A traditional drinks-led local may rely heavily on its bar and cellar, while a gastropub can combine a licensed venue with a busy commercial kitchen and restaurant service. Other pubs may attract customers through live music, quizzes, televised sport, private functions or regular events.
Whether you own, lease or rent your premises can also affect your requirements. If you own the building, for example, you may need to insure the structure itself, while tenants and leaseholders can have different responsibilities under their agreements.
Every pub is different, so the insurance you need will depend on how you run your business and the risks you face.
What Insurance Does a Pub Need?
A good starting point is to consider the people, property and activities involved in keeping your pub running. Customers regularly use the premises, employees work behind the bar and in kitchens, stock is stored in cellars and storerooms, and valuable equipment may be used throughout the business.
Some insurance may be required by law. Most UK businesses employing staff, for example, need employers’ liability insurance, subject to limited exemptions. Other forms of pub insurance aren’t necessarily compulsory, but can provide protection against risks such as customer claims, damage to property, theft or an insured incident that forces you to stop trading temporarily.
Licensing is another important consideration for pubs. Your ability to sell alcohol can be fundamental to the business, so the potential financial impact of losing a relevant licence may also need to be considered.
With these risks in mind, there are several types of cover that may form part of your pub insurance.
What Can Pub Insurance Cover?
As an insurance broker, we also have access to an array of insurance products to ensure you have the right cover for your business and aren’t paying for any unnecessary add-ons.
Depending on your pub and the policy arranged, cover can include:
Public Liability Insurance for Pubs
Customers may spend several hours at your pub eating, drinking, socialising or attending events. Public liability insurance can provide protection against eligible claims if a customer, visitor or other member of the public suffers injury or property damage in connection with your business.
For example, someone could slip on a wet floor, trip in a customer area or suffer another accidental injury while visiting the premises.
Employers’ Liability Insurance
Your team may include bar staff, chefs, kitchen assistants, cleaners, managers and other employees. Employers’ liability insurance can provide protection against eligible claims if an employee suffers injury or illness because of their work.
For most UK businesses employing staff, this cover is legally required, subject to limited exemptions.
Buildings, Contents & Pub Equipment
A pub can contain a considerable amount of valuable property and equipment. This may include furniture, fixtures and fittings, tills and EPOS systems, refrigeration, glasswashers, cellar equipment and commercial kitchen appliances.
Contents insurance can protect insured items against specified loss or damage. If you own the property, buildings insurance may also be needed. Tenants and leaseholders should check what the property owner already insures and what remains their responsibility.
Stock Insurance
Cellars and storerooms can hold substantial quantities of beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, food and other supplies. Stock insurance can help with the cost of replacing insured goods following specified loss or damage.
Stock levels can also rise around weekends, seasonal periods and major events, so the values declared when arranging your insurance should accurately reflect what you may hold.
Product Liability Insurance
If your pub prepares or serves food and drink, product liability insurance can provide protection against eligible claims if something supplied by your business causes injury or property damage. This can be particularly relevant for gastropubs and other food-led venues.
Business Interruption Insurance
An insured incident can affect much more than the property that has been damaged. If your kitchen becomes unusable, customers cannot safely access the premises or the pub has to close completely, you could lose revenue while still facing ongoing business costs.
Business interruption insurance can provide financial protection against specified losses if an insured event disrupts normal trading, subject to the terms, limits and indemnity period of your policy.
Theft & Money
Cover can be arranged against specified theft involving insured stock, equipment or other business property. Depending on your policy, protection may also be available for business money.
Entertainment & Events
Live music, quiz nights, televised sport, private functions and other events can be an important source of trade for pubs. They can also change customer numbers and the activities taking place at your premises.
Tell SJL about the entertainment and events you provide when arranging your insurance so they can be taken into account as part of your cover.
Loss of Licence Cover
A premises licence can be fundamental to your ability to operate a pub. Loss of licence insurance may provide financial protection if a relevant licence is suspended or revoked in circumstances covered by the policy.
Commercial Legal Expenses
Commercial legal expenses insurance may provide assistance with specified legal costs and disputes where these fall within the terms of your policy.
The cover that’s right for you will depend on what happens at your pub each day, from the food and drink you serve to the entertainment and events you provide.
Insurance for Different Types of Pubs
Pubs come in many different forms, and the way they generate their income can have a significant bearing on their insurance needs. SJL can arrange cover for establishments including:
- Traditional Pubs and Public Houses
- Gastropubs and Food-Led Pubs
- Village and Country Pubs
- Sports Pubs
- Pubs with Live Music and Entertainment
- Pubs Hosting Functions and Events
- Independent Pubs
A gastropub may depend heavily on its commercial kitchen and food trade, while a sports pub can become considerably busier around major fixtures. A village pub might combine its everyday food and drink service with occasional functions, community events or live entertainment.
These differences affect both what needs protecting and how insurers assess the business. They are also among the reasons why the price of pub insurance can vary from one venue to another.
If your business is better described as a bar or late-night venue, SJL also provides Bar Insurance and Nightclub Insurance. You can also explore our wider Hospitality Insurance services.
How Much Does Pub Insurance Cost?
There isn’t a standard price for pub insurance. Your premium will depend on the business itself, the risks involved and the types and levels of cover you choose.
Factors insurers may consider include:
- The size and location of your pub
- Annual turnover
- Opening hours
- Number of employees
- Customer capacity
- Food sales and kitchen facilities
- Live music, televised sport, functions and other entertainment
- Building, contents and equipment values
- Alcohol, food and other stock values
- Whether you own, lease or rent the premises
- Previous claims history
- The cover and policy limits required
A small drinks-led village pub, for example, will present a very different picture from a high-turnover gastropub with a large commercial kitchen, regular events and considerably more employees, equipment and stock.
SJL Insurance Services can provide bespoke solutions with a number of the UK’s leading insurers.
For a quote based on your pub and its individual requirements, contact SJL Insurance or call 01905 27775.
Why Arrange Pub Insurance Through SJL?
Pubs often combine several areas of hospitality within one business. Understanding the relationship between the bar, kitchen, employees, customers, entertainment and premises can help build a clearer picture of the protection you may need.
SJL has provided specialist insurance services to pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality businesses since 2004. This experience means our team understands many of the practical considerations that can affect pub insurance, from cellar stock and commercial kitchens to customer areas and entertainment.
As an independent insurance broker and Lloyds of London Commercial Broker, SJL has access to a range of insurance products. We’ll gather the information needed to understand your pub, discuss the available options and explain the cover clearly so you can make an informed decision about your insurance.
If you need to make a claim, you’ll also have access to SJL’s award-winning in-house claims team for support through the process.
Pub Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
What Insurance Do I Need to Run a Pub?
The insurance you need will depend on how your pub operates. Relevant cover can include public liability, employers’ liability, buildings and contents, stock, product liability, business interruption, theft and money, entertainment and loss of licence protection. Food service, events and other activities may create additional considerations.
Do Pubs Need Public Liability Insurance?
Public liability insurance isn’t generally required by law, but it can be important for pubs because customers and visitors regularly use the premises. It can provide protection against eligible claims involving injury or property damage connected with your business.
Do I Need Employers' Liability Insurance for Pub Staff?
If your pub employs staff, employers’ liability insurance will generally be legally required, subject to limited exemptions. This can apply to eligible employees working behind the bar, in the kitchen, cleaning, managing or carrying out other duties.
Can Pub Insurance Cover Food, Drink and Cellar Stock?
Stock insurance can protect insured beer, wine, spirits, food and other supplies against specified loss or damage. The exact protection and financial limits will depend on the policy arranged.
Can I Get Pub Insurance if I Have Live Music or Show Sport?
Insurance can be arranged for pubs that provide entertainment such as live music or televised sport. Make SJL aware of these activities when arranging cover so the type and frequency of entertainment can be considered.
How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Pub?
There is no fixed price. Your premises, turnover, employees, opening hours, food service, entertainment, stock and equipment values, previous claims and the cover you choose can all influence the premium.
Get a Pub Insurance Quote
Whether you run a traditional local, food-led gastropub, country pub, sports pub or a venue offering regular entertainment, SJL Insurance Services can help you arrange insurance around the different parts of your business.
Tell us about your pub, including your premises, employees, food and drink service, entertainment and the assets you rely on, and we’ll talk you through the cover options available.
Call: 01905 27775
Email: [email protected]
Online: Contact SJL Insurance
and have peace of mind knowing that you're protected.
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