Pub insurance: All you need to know

Pub insurance is an umbrella term for a range of business insurance that can provide protection against almost every type of negative event. Important insurance includes:

Public liability cover

Public liability insurance protects your pub if someone is injured, or their property is damaged because of the services that you or your business provides. This type of cover, also known as PL or Liability Insurance, is designed to protect your business against third-party claims for injuries or property damage from a customer or client, passer-by, or a visitor to your operating premises – whether you’re at fault or not.

Employers’ liability insurance

Under the Employers Liability Act of 1969, Employers’ liability insurance (EL) is a legal requirement for most UK employers. EL protects you and your employees, (including those who no longer work for you), should they be injured or become unwell as a result of working for your business. EL typically covers the associated legal and compensation costs, and other damages of such events, but it can also cover accidental injury or damage caused by an employee to a third party, such as your customers. 

Loss of licence insurance

You need a licence to sell alcohol, and if you lose it, it could be a disaster for your pub. Loss of licence insurance can cover you for loss of income if your licence is cancelled through no fault of your own. It may even give you back the value of your property. However, this type of insurance may not protect you if your licence is suspended or taken away because you have been found at fault  – such as selling alcohol to underage drinkers, or if your licence is removed due to an ‘extraneous event’ such as act of parliament or council planning permissions. 

Money cover for lost or stolen money

Money cover can protect any cash you keep in the till or locked in a safe on the premises from loss or theft – including by employees. It may also cover money in transit, such as when you take your takings to the bank after cashing up. 

Business interruption insurance

Business interruption insurance covers you for lost income if your pub or bar is unable to operate due to an unexpected event. This would include incidents such as:

• Fire and flooding at your premises
• Power blackouts 
• Major equipment failure 
• Supply chain issues beyond your control
• And more

Contents insurance

Contents Cover will help to replace the contents of your pub in the event of fire, flood, theft, and accident. Use contents insurance to pay for new fixtures and fittings, equipment, stock and samples and employees’ personal belongings if they’re damaged, lost, or stolen. 

Deterioration of stock insurance

Stock insurance will help to cover the cost of replacing stock that is lost, stolen, damaged by fire or flood or is spoiled due to events beyond your control – such as a faulty freezer that ruins your food inventory.