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Pub and bar insurance is specialised business insurance for public house landlords and bar owners.
You can buy different types of pub and bar insurance:
Employers liability insurance - covers costs if employees are harmed
Public liability insurance - covers costs if members of the public are harmed
Commercial buildings insurance - covers costs for structural issues
🚩 Employers liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have staff
Pub and bar insurance can financially protect you if something goes wrong at work.
Without insurance you could end up paying some very high costs if your employee is injured while working, your pub is broken into, or you are sued by a member of the public.
If you are a UK business and you have any non-family members working for you then by law you must have employers' liability insurance.
Without it, you can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you're not insured[3].
Employers liability insurance covers the compensation costs if a worker becomes ill or injured because of their work for you. This includes ex-employees.
For example, if a worker was exposed to toxics which created health issues years later they could sue their old employer for failing to put adequate health and safety measures in place.
If anyone who works for you becomes ill or injured because of their job you could be responsible for the associated costs, including expensive compensation claims.
Employers' liability insurance covers harm caused to employees, contractors, volunteers and anyone else doing any work for you. It's also a legal requirement.
If anyone becomes ill because of food or drink you've served them, or injured because of a hazard on your premises, then you could be considered responsible for the associated costs, including expensive compensation claims.
Public liability insurance covers harm to members of the public, and will pay these fees for you.
Business contents insurance can help you recover the cost of losing expensive equipment like coffee machines to fire, flood, theft and other disasters. Stock cover can offer similar protection for items in your inventory.
Business buildings insurance will protect the physical structure of your pub and bar from problems such as flooding and vandalism. Your mortgage lender may also insist you have this type of cover in place.
You can be taken to court if a client or a member or the public believe they have been physically or financially harmed because of your company's business activities, including if their property is damaged.
Pub owners could be found liable for everything from someone tripping over some unsecured cables to a customer having an allergic reaction to food you've supplied them. Public liability insurance can cover the legal fees and compensation payouts in such cases.
That's how much was paid out in 2024. Without business insurance, those customers would have faced paying that bill themselves.
Comparing quotes from different insurers allows you to find the best deal out there.
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It depends on the specific policy, but it is not uncommon for business insurance to cover stolen cash, including if it is stolen by dishonest employees. Your insurance will probably insist you take safety precautions like locking money in a secure safe overnight. There will also be limits as to how much cash is covered.
Insurance policies may also only cover the loss of physical cash. If you want protection from digital theft, you should look for a policy that includes protection against cyber fraud.
No, standard home insurance will not usually cover buildings that you use for business. If you are renting the building that you are using for your pub or bar, it's the responsibility of your landlord to buy commercial buildings insurance. If you own the building, your mortgage lender will probably insist you take out this type of cover.
Business building insurance only covers the cost of damage to the physical structures of your pub or bar. To protect the contents of your business – such as the furniture, alcohol and bar equipment – you can take out business contents insurance and stock cover.
No, pub insurance is not a legal requirement.
However, if you employ any non-family members, including part-time workers or volunteers, it is illegal to not have employers' liability insurance.
The insurance products that make up pub insurance can cover a range of establishments, including:
Public houses
Bars
Wine bars
Pop-ups
Cocktail bars
The same policies can also protect other kinds of businesses and business owners, like shops, tradespeople, builders, salons, and more.
Employers’ liability insurance protects you if your staff become ill or injured at work.
Public liability insurance protects you if your work harms members of the public.
Product liability covers legal fees if your product causes injury to a customer.
Stock insurance protects you if your items are lost, stolen, or damaged.
Commercial building insurance protects offices and workplace buildings.
Business contents insurance protects equipment, including in home offices.
Cheapest Annual Price | Average Annual Price | |
|---|---|---|
Public liability | £55.50[7] | £84.25[8] |
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for business insurance.
Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
According to our latest data, 10% of customers paid this when taking out an annual public liability insurance policy.
The cost of fixing insurable problems yourself is usually significantly more expensive than taking out insurance.
Can be covered | Usually not covered |
|---|---|
✔ Legal expenses | ✖ Intentional harm or damage |
✔ Injuries, deaths and illnesses | ✖ Actions performed under drugs or alcohol |
✔ Stock and business equipment | ✖ Wear and tear |
✔ Business vehicle cover | ✖ Improper use of business vehicles |
✔ Financial loss |
Almost 9 in 10 of business insurance claims made by MoneySuperMarket customers were accepted last year.
All insurance has conditions and exceptions, so you should read your policy documents carefully to make sure you know what is and isn't covered.
When it comes to business insurance, the cheapest option may not be the best option for you. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more to get a better level of cover.
Pubs are a beloved hallmark of British culture. Owners of these establishments are vulnerable to a slew of potential problems, however. Of all the violent incidents that happen in England and Wales, almost 1/5 happen in or around a pub or club.[11] Covid lockdowns shuttered pub doors for months. A spike in peanut allergies[12] is even threatening to turn the quintessential bar snack into a legal liability.
Many pub landlords therefore want a way to safeguard their business, staff and customers from harm. Comprehensive pub and bar insurance can take some worries off your plate. With it, your pub can continue to function as the centre of your community while you stay safe in the knowledge that you are protected should the worse happen.
Jake Edmonds Insurance Expert
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No, at this time business insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards. It is also not included in our Price Promise.
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