Pub cover is an insurance policy or collection of insurance policies which relate to the business carried on in a public house.

The unique nature of a pub’s business means that it is advisable to consult an insurance specialist with experience in this industry, to ensure that they choose a policy which will fit your needs.

Pub cover is likely to be comprised of the following elements:

• Employers liability insurance
  Employers liability insurance is compulsory and does not merely apply to potential liabilities to employees in the narrow legal sense. Contractors are also covered. The employer must have adequate insurance for claims that his employees (or contractors) make for injuries they have incurred while working for him.
• Public liability insurance
  Although not compulsory, public liability insurance is essential in practice for any business that has dealings with the public. This applies whether anyone actually visits your premises or not. Successful claims (especially for personal injury) can be enormous and will include the claimant’s legal fees.
• Buildings insurance
  If the pub is rented, check the lease to see whose responsibility it is to insure the structure. If it’s your responsibility, make sure that the cover is adequate for the particular property. For example, if the pub is listed, the Council would require the building to be reinstated to its previous condition (and character) rather than merely repaired to its market value.
• Contents insurance
  A pub’s fixtures and fittings are an important part of its character and appeal, so it is essential to have cover in place for contents insurance, including food and beverages. From a practical perspective, electronic equipment for ordering and paying for food also needs to be insured, as the business cannot operate efficiently without them. Given that most people still pay for drinks with cash, cash insurance is also a good idea to cover break-ins. The insurer might insist on better locks and safes, but this is also good practice.
• Business interruption
  Business interruption insurance might be in the buildings insurance element of your pub cover. However, if it is not included, discuss the issue with your insurance provider. Particularly in areas with seasonal pub trade that rely heavily on the summer months, having business interruption insurance could be the difference between survival and failure if a disaster means that your pub cannot be repaired quickly enough for you to open for trade.

As with all insurance premiums, for affordable pub cover it is wise to conduct a risk management assessment and address any concerns before the insurance specialist visits.

Tags | pub cover, Public house insurance