Pub Insurance
Compare Pub Insurance Quotes
Cover for pub premises, stock and customers.
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Compare insurance quotes from the UK’s leading public house insurers including;
What Is Pub Insurance?
Pub insurance is a commercial policy that protects licensed premises against property damage, theft, liability claims, loss of licence, and business interruption.
A typical policy bundles buildings cover, contents and cellar equipment protection, stock insurance, and public liability insurance into a single package built around the risks that pubs face daily.
Whether you run a village local, a gastro pub, or a late-night bar, pub insurance gives you one policy covering the building, your equipment, your stock, and the people who drink there.
How To Compare Pub Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes from several insurers is the fastest way to find cover that matches your pub's risks without overpaying.
Gather your details
Have your premises licence details, annual turnover, wet-to-dry sales split, number of employees, and claims history ready before you start.
Complete the quote form
Enter your pub type, the cover sections you need, and any optional extras such as loss of licence or live entertainment liability.
Review and compare results
Check each quote's excess levels, cover limits, and exclusions side by side rather than picking the cheapest headline price.
Buy your policy online
Once you have chosen a policy, you can usually complete the purchase online. Every insurer on SimplyQuote is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
What Does Pub Insurance Cover?
A pub insurance policy typically combines several cover sections so you can protect your premises, cellar, stock, and customers under one plan.
Buildings insurance
Covers the cost of repairing or rebuilding your pub after damage from fire, flood, storm, or impact. If you own the freehold, buildings cover is usually a mortgage condition.
Contents and cellar equipment
Protects bar fittings, cellar cooling systems, beer lines, glass washers, EPOS tills, furniture, and entertainment equipment against theft, fire, and accidental damage.
Stock cover
Replaces or reimburses beer, wine, spirits, and food stock that is damaged, destroyed, or stolen. Check whether your policy covers spoilage from cellar cooling breakdown.
Public liability
Pays legal costs and compensation if a customer or visitor is injured on your premises. Common pub claims include slips on wet floors, injuries from broken glass, and falls in beer gardens.
Product liability
Covers claims arising from food or drink you serve. If a customer falls ill from contaminated food or has an allergic reaction, product liability pays the legal costs.
Employers' liability
A legal requirement if you employ staff, covering claims from employees injured or made ill at work. The minimum cover is £5 million, and failing to hold a valid policy can result in fines of up to £2,500 per day.
Business interruption
Replaces lost income and covers ongoing costs such as rent, rates, and wages if an insured event forces the pub to close temporarily.
What Types Of Pubs Can You Insure?
Most licensed premises can get pub insurance, though premiums and cover options vary by venue type and operating hours.
| Pub type | Key cover considerations |
| Village or community local | Lower footfall, beer garden liability, older building risks |
| Gastro pub | High-value kitchen equipment, food hygiene, restaurant-style liability |
| Late-night bar or club | Extended hours, door staff, higher assault and glass injury claims |
| Managed or tenanted pub | Brewery lease conditions, fixtures owned by the pubco |
| Freehouse | Full buildings cover needed, no brewery landlord backup |
| Sports bar | Large-screen equipment, higher footfall on match days, crowd liability |
If your pub also serves substantial meals, you may need cover closer to a restaurant insurance policy, with product liability and food hygiene protection built in.
What Is Not Covered By Pub Insurance?
Standard pub insurance excludes several common risks, so check your policy wording carefully before you buy.
Wear and tear
Gradual deterioration of cellar equipment, beer lines, and the building itself is not covered. Regular maintenance is your responsibility.
Deliberate or criminal acts
Any damage you cause intentionally to trigger a claim is excluded and may constitute insurance fraud.
Alcohol-related violence by staff
Injuries caused by a member of staff acting outside their duties, such as assaulting a customer, are typically excluded from your liability cover.
Vehicles
Cars, delivery vans, and any other vehicles need separate motor insurance. Pub insurance does not extend to vehicles even if they are used for the business.
Cyber attacks
Data breaches targeting your EPOS system, booking platform, or Wi-Fi network are not included in a standard policy. You will need a separate cyber insurance add-on.
What Add-Ons Are Available For Pub Insurance?
Optional extras let you tailor a basic pub policy to your venue's specific risks.
Loss of licence
Covers lost income if your premises licence is revoked or suspended by the local licensing authority. Without this add-on, losing your licence could leave you paying rent on a pub you cannot trade from.
Live entertainment liability
Extends your public liability to cover injuries or damage arising from live music, comedy nights, pub quizzes, or DJ sets. Standard policies may exclude events with amplified sound.
Terrorism cover
Standard policies exclude terrorism damage. If your pub is in a city centre or busy high street, a terrorism add-on covers rebuilding and lost income.
Legal expenses
Pays solicitor fees and court costs for employment disputes, licensing hearings, or health and safety prosecutions.
Personal accident
Provides a lump sum or weekly benefit if you, as the pub owner or licensee, are injured and cannot work. This is separate from employers' liability, which covers staff.
How Much Does Pub Insurance Cost?
Pub insurance costs vary widely, but most independent pubs pay between £1,000 and £4,000 per year depending on location, trading hours, and the level of cover.
| Cover level | Typical annual cost |
| Liability only (small community local) | £500–£900 |
| Buildings + contents + stock | £1,000–£2,500 |
| Full package (all sections + interruption) | £2,000–£4,000 |
| Large pub or late-night venue | £4,000–£8,000+ |
A 60-cover freehouse in a market town with eight staff, £20,000 stock, and a beer garden might pay around £2,400 per year for a full package. Paying monthly instead of annually typically adds 8–11% to the total cost.
What Affects Your Pub Insurance Premium?
Insurers assess several risk factors when calculating your premium, and understanding them helps you control costs.
Trading hours
Pubs open past midnight face higher premiums because late-night trading increases the risk of alcohol-related incidents, glass injuries, and theft.
Location and crime rate
Pubs in high-crime postcodes or flood-risk areas pay more. A city-centre bar faces higher premiums than a rural village local.
Wet-to-dry sales split
The proportion of your turnover from alcohol is one factor insurers consider. A wet-led pub with late-night hours and high drink sales often pays more than a gastro pub with a balanced food-and-drink split.
Entertainment and events
Live music, DJ nights, comedy, and large-screen sports all increase your liability exposure. Insurers ask whether you hold regular events and whether you employ door staff.
Number of employees
More staff increases your employers' liability exposure. Part-time, casual, and seasonal bar workers all count.
Building age and construction
Older buildings, listed properties, and thatched roofs cost more to insure. The same applies to other commercial property types.
How To Save Money On Pub Insurance
There are several practical steps you can take to reduce your pub insurance premium without cutting cover.
Compare quotes annually
Loyalty rarely pays in business insurance. Comparing quotes each renewal can save 10–30% because insurers compete for new business.
Invest in security
CCTV, intruder alarms, and secure cellar locks reduce your theft risk and can lower your premium. Some insurers require minimum security standards before offering cover.
Train your staff
Staff trained in responsible alcohol service, fire safety, and conflict management reduce your liability risk. Keep certificates on file to show your insurer.
Increase your voluntary excess
Raising your excess from £100 to £250 or £500 can reduce your premium, but make sure you can afford the higher excess if you need to claim.
Pay annually
Monthly instalments cost 8–11% more than a single annual payment. If cash flow allows, pay upfront.
Bundle your cover
Buying buildings, contents, liability, and interruption cover as a single package through the Association of British Insurers-member market is usually cheaper than buying each section from a different provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no legal requirement to hold pub insurance in the UK, but employers' liability is compulsory if you have staff, and most commercial leases require buildings insurance. Similar rules apply to shop insurance and other commercial premises.
Loss of licence insurance covers your lost income if your premises licence is revoked or suspended through no fault of your own. It typically pays out for a set period, giving you time to appeal or find alternative arrangements.
Yes, but a pub with letting rooms may need elements of hotel insurance alongside your pub policy to cover guest accommodation, contents in bedrooms, and overnight guest liability.
Yes, your public liability section covers injuries to customers in the beer garden, car park, and any other areas you control. Check that your policy includes outdoor play equipment if you have it.
A standard pub policy covers a kitchen on the same premises. If your food operation is large enough to trade independently, you may need separate cover similar to fish and chip shop insurance or restaurant insurance.
Standard pub policies may exclude live entertainment. If you host live bands, comedy nights, or DJ sets regularly, add live entertainment liability to your policy.
Low-risk activities such as pub quizzes, darts, and pool are usually covered under your standard public liability. Higher-risk events need checking, just as gyms need to check cover for competitive events.
A small over-the-counter takeaway from your pub kitchen is usually covered. If you operate a separate takeaway with its own entrance or delivery service, you may need additional cover.
Yes, most insurers offer multi-site policies that cover several pubs under a single plan. The same approach works for other multi-location businesses such as care homes and restaurant chains.
Your pub policy covers admin space within the pub building. If you have a separate office at a different address for accounts or management, you would need office insurance for that location.
