SME

This post is an essential introduction to insurance for pubs. We will assess how much you might expect to pay for your pub insurance, along with some of the factors that can affect the price of your policy. We will also outline some key insurance products you should consider if you own and run a pub.

Average Annual Insurance Costs For Pubs

According to research from a major price comparison site, pub insurance in the UK costs an average of £3,800 per year.

However, many factors can affect the price of pub insurance, which means that the cost of cover can vary greatly on a pub-by-pub basis.

What Affects The Price of Pub Insurance?

Your pub’s location
If your pub is located on a flood plain, or if it is located in an area with high crime rates, then it will likely drive up the cost of your cover.

Your pub’s size, and turnover
The bigger your pub, and the more money you make, then the more you will have to pay for insurance. The size of your business can affect the sort of risks you are exposed to, along with the costs associated with recovering from these risks. Plus, the bigger your workforce, the higher your premiums.

How you run your pub
You may have to pay more for cover if you stay open late, as the more time customers spend on your premises, the greater the risks for them, your staff, and your property. You will also have to pay more for cover if you serve food, and if you put on live events at your pub.

The level of cover you choose
You will be able to choose from a range of cover options, and you will be able to specify how much of an excess you pay.

What Types of Insurance Do Pubs Need?

• Employer’s Liability. If you employ any staff, even if it is just a single employee, then you have a legal responsibility to get employer’s liability insurance. This covers your staff for any illnesses or injuries they may sustain on the job.
• Public Liability. This covers your customers, along with any other members of the public, such as tradesmen or delivery drivers, for any injuries they may sustain while in or around your premises.
• Buildings Cover. This covers your pub’s physical premises for damages associated with fire, floods, storms, break-ins, and vandalism.
• Contents Cover. This is cover for any goods or equipment you store in your pub, including furniture. You may need additional cover for your stock, and there may be limits for the amount of cover you get for cash you keep on your premises.
• Product Liability. This can cover your legal fees, along with any compensation that might be due, if a customer claims they developed an illness, or an allergic reaction, having consumed food or drinks prepared or sold on your premises.
• Business Interruption Insurance. If an insured event, such as a fire or a flood, means you are unable to open your pub for a while, business interruption insurance can cover your overheads while you recover. Pub owners may also wish to get dedicated loss of licence insurance.

Who is Responsible For Pub Insurance?

The pub’s landlord – that is, the person who owns the building – is responsible for arranging building insurance.

The pub tenant is responsible for arranging contents insurance, and certain other forms of cover. For example, if the tenant is considered an employer under a licencing agreement, they may be responsible for arranging employer’s and public liability insurance.

Please note that, if you live on your pub premises, then your home insurance policy will not give you all of the cover you need. You will need specialist pub insurance to cover you for all the risks associated with running such a business.

Get The Pub Insurance You Need From James Hallam

As an independent Lloyd’s broker, we have been providing dedicated insurance solutions to hundreds of pubs and bars across the UK since 1982. With our specialist Touchstone scheme, we can design a pub insurance package to match your unique requirements, whether you run a traditional pub in a small village, a high street wine bar, or a pop-up bar at events.

Learn more about our bespoke insurance services for pubs.

Museums face a unique set of security and safety risks. If you manage a museum, it is essential that you take the time to understand the risks you face, so that you can take steps to safeguard your museum, your staff, your exhibits, and your visitors from all possible threats.

What Security and Safety Risks Do Museums Face?

When most people think about museum security, they most likely think about the risk of theft. The British Museum reported stolen artefacts as recently as 2023, while a Swiss museum recently experienced the theft of a £2m Ming vase.

Museums must also contend with health and safety risks for staff, visitors, and other members of the public. The Wirral Transport Museum was recently prevented from reopening due to the discovery of significant “hazardous substances risks”.

In recent years, museums and galleries have also had to contend with acts of vandalism carried out by activists. As well as the possible loss or damage of priceless artefacts, demonstrations from activists may also compromise the safety of other museum visitors. And if an activist harms themselves during their protest, will the museum be held liable?

Beyond this, museums face the same risks that any business or building in the UK must contend with, including, but not limited to:

• Fire
• Flood
• Burglaries – as in, the everyday theft of money or stock, rather than the high-profile theft of exhibits or artefacts.
• Public liability – if any member of the public slips, trips, or falls while on museum property, the museum may be liable.
• Product liability – if the museum prepares or sells food on the premises, they may face claims should any member of the public experience food poisoning or allergic reactions having consumed this food.
• Employer’s liability – in the UK it is a legal requirement to get adequate employer’s liability insurance if you have any employees.

How Can Museums Manage These Safety and Security Risks?

Arts Council England and the Collections Trust have produced a Museum Security Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to help museums understand the unique safety and security risks they may be facing, and to take appropriate action to manage these risks.

The toolkit advises on four steps for managing museum safety and security:

1. Gather Information – Aim to get as comprehensive a picture as possible of the current measures you have in place to protect your collections, your staff, and your visitors. For this, they recommend an Environmental Visual Assessment (EVA), and a dedicated Museum Security Audit.
2. Identify Threats – Devise an exhaustive list of all the threats to your collection, your staff, your museum premises, and to your ongoing operations should any of these threats occur. As part of this, they recommend creating and maintaining a good Collections Management System (CMS), to identify any particularly vulnerable objects.
3. Assess, Plan, and Implement – Assess the likelihood of any possible threats or risks. Plan to manage these risks through either current or improved control measures. Then outline how you will implement these plans, including how you will communicate them across your staff. For this, they recommend using a Risk Awareness Profiling Tool (RAPT).
4. Monitor and Review – As part of your ongoing management and planning cycles, you should continually review the threats your museum and your collections face, along with your control measures for managing these threats.

Is Your Museum Covered For All Possible Risks?

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you understand the unique risks your museum faces, before arranging for comprehensive insurance to cover your museum, your collections, your staff, and your visitors.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

If you are running a restaurant, or a chain or restaurants, then you no doubt know that you need insurance to cover your business for the range of risks you will face.

Yet there are many different insurance products out there, and not all of them are relevant for restaurants. So, how can you ensure you get the cover you need at the best possible price?

In this post we will explore some of the most important insurance products for restaurants, cafés, pubs, and other businesses that prepare and serve food.

Running a catering van? Take a look at our guide to insurance requirements for mobile caterers.

Types of Insurance for Restaurants

Public Liability Insurance

If a member of the public gets injured on your restaurant premises, public liability insurance can cover any compensation they may be due, along with any associated legal fees. This cover extends to your customers, as well as any other members of the public who may visit your premises, including contractors, delivery drivers, and health inspectors.

Public liability insurance can also cover any loss or damage to customers’ property while they are on your premises – such as if one of your waiters spills a drink on a customer’s clothing.

Product Liability Insurance

Product liability insurance can cover for claims related to the food and drink you prepare and serve on your premises. For example, if a customer has an allergic reaction to your food, or if they fall ill after eating at your restaurant, product liability insurance can cover any compensation they may be due, along with any associated legal fees.

Employer’s Liability Insurance

This is similar to public liability insurance, though rather than providing cover for claims made by members of the public, it covers you for claims made by your employers for any illnesses or injuries they sustain while working at your restaurant.

In UK law, there is a legal requirement to get adequate employer’s liability insurance should you employ any staff.

Contents and Stock Insurance

Business contents insurance can cover your restaurants furniture and equipment if they are lost or damaged as a result of fire, theft, floods, or other incidents. Contents insurance can provide cover for repairs or replacements, as necessary.

Stock insurance can cover your perishable stock for similar losses. But it can also cover for other kinds of situations, such as if your frozen stock goes bad following a power cut to your freezer.

Business Buildings Insurance

This can cover your restaurant premises for necessary repairs following fires, floods, storms, or break-ins.

Business Interruption Insurance

If you are forced to temporarily close your restaurant following an insured event, such as a fire or a flood, business interruption insurance can supplement any lost income, allowing you to stay afloat during your downtime.

All claims are different and we would recommend that you read through your policy documents to ensure you are familiar with the details of the cover you’ve been offered.

How Much is Restaurant Insurance?

The amount you pay for your restaurant insurance will depend on a number of factors, including but not restricted to the following:

• The level of cover you choose. The more extensive your cover, the higher your premiums will be.
• Your restaurant’s annual turnover.
• The number of staff you employ. Some insurers may ask for additional information about your employees, including their ages, so as to determine their respective risk profiles.
• The rebuild costs of your restaurant premises following a total loss. Insurers will also consider the value of your restaurant’s content and stock.
• Your physical location. If your restaurant is located in an inner city area, there may be an increased risk of burglary. Also, any restaurants located on flood plains will likely have to pay more for buildings cover.
• The construction of the premises.

We Can Help You Get All The Cover You Need at a Fair Price

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers.

We know that no two restaurants are quite the same. So, we will take the time to get to know you, your business, and your customers. This will allow us to design a restaurant insurance package that truly meets your needs at a competitive price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

What is the difference between directors and officers (D&O) insurance, and a management liability policy (MLP)? Each can provide some cover for a company’s upper management and decision makers. But is there any overlap between the two? And which type of cover is right for your business?

What is Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance?

D&O insurance provides cover for your business’s directors and officers in the event of legal claims made directly against them. If someone alleges that one of your decision-makers has acted wrongfully while managing the company, a D&O policy can cover their legal fees, along with any settlements or compensation that may be due following the claim.

Such claims could come from regulators, shareholders, creditors, competitors, or even from current or former employees. Plus, directors and officers may be held liable for a number of risks, including cybersecurity, data breaches, and losses arising from mergers, acquisitions, insolvency, and bankruptcy.

With this in mind, D&O insurance can act as an essential safety net, allowing your upper management to make key business decisions with confidence.

Read our full guide to D&O insurance, and why your business may need it.

What is a Management Liability Policy (MLP)?

MLP can include a form of D&O cover, along with cover for corporate legal liability, and for employment practice liability. The D&O cover can cover your upper management for allegations of breach of trust, defamation, insider trading, negligence, and other types of wrongdoing. Beyond this, MLP can provide additional cover for legal claims following alleged breaches of health and safety law, unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment, pay inequality, employment contract breaches, and more.

MLP can also cover the costs associated with legal claims made against your company and its directors.

What’s the difference between D&O insurance and an MLP?

Compared with D&O insurance, MLP offers much broader and more comprehensive cover.

In short, while D&O insurance will only cover your directors and officers for alleged wrongdoing, MLP provides additional cover for individual employees, and for the company as a whole.

D&O or MLP: What sort of cover does your business need?

D&O and MLP – is it a case of either/or, or does your business need both types of cover?

As many management liability insurance policies include some level of D&O cover, it might seem as though all businesses can get away with getting an MLP to cover all risks. However, a dedicated D&O policy can provide some tailored cover that may be beyond the scope of an MLP.

It all depends on the size and structure of your company. If you are running an SME, then the comprehensive cover provided by an MLP could indeed tick all of your boxes. Yet if your company is structured in such a way that your decision makers could be personally liable for claims of negligence and wrongdoing, you may also need the specialist, focused cover provided by a dedicated D&O policy.

Get help deciding what cover your business needs

If you cannot decide which form of cover is right for your business, or if you are having difficulty understanding the difference between D&O and MLP, talk to us.

We are an independent Lloyd’s broker, and since 1982 we have been helping businesses of all sizes get the cover they need at the best price. We will take the time to get to know your business, and the risks you are facing, so that we can advise you on your unique insurance requirements.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

If you run a hotel, then you know you need to get certain forms of insurance to cover your establishment against risks such as fire, flood, and theft. But does your hotel need cyber insurance? Is your hotel really so vulnerable to cybercrime that you need specialist insurance to cover you against the risks?

Short answer: Yes. Your hotel absolutely does need cyber insurance. In this post we will explain why.

What are the cyber security threats for hotels?

Phishing attacks

A phishing attack involves sending a message, usually via email, which appears to come from a trusted source, such as a manager, a colleague, a bank, or an online retailer. These fake messages can trick employees into providing sensitive information, such as login details. This can give cybercriminals access to your system, which can leave you vulnerable to other types of cyber-attacks.

Ransomware attacks

With a ransomware attack, cybercriminals can encrypt your files remotely. You will be unable to access your online system until you pay a ransom. If you fail to make this ransom payment, the cybercriminals might simply delete your data, or they might choose to sell it to other cybercriminals. This will put you and your guests at significant risk of further financial exploitation.

Data breaches

If cybercriminals gain access to your system, they may simply choose to steal your data outright. This could result in significant financial and reputational losses for your hotel, while leaving your guests vulnerable to identity theft and financial exploitation.

Why do cybercriminals target hotels?

There are a few reasons why cybercriminals might choose to target hotels.

Your hotel is unlikely to have sophisticated cybersecurity measures in place, and it is unlikely that you have trained your staff to recognise the risks of phishing emails, and other forms of attack. This means that it would be easier for cybercriminals to access your system. It also means that you will not be able to adequately respond to a cyberattack.

Also, hotels tend to store a lot of sensitive data on their systems, including guests’ personal details, and even their credit card numbers. This sort of data can be immensely valuable for cybercriminals.

Finally, hotels tend to offer cybercriminals multiple points of attack. From your online booking systems to the devices you use to check in your guests, cybercriminals will have a choice of vulnerabilities to test and exploit so as to gain entry to your system.

How can cyber insurance protect your hotel?

Investing in staff training and cybersecurity can protect your business from cybercrime. But while such investments offer strong prevention, cyber insurance provides a reliable cure.

In the event of a cyberattack, cyber insurance can provide cover for customer data loss, for system breaches, and for any legal fees you might face following the incident. In this way, cyber insurance is crucial for helping your business and your guests recover from the devastating effects of a data breach.

At James Hallam, we can provide you with comprehensive cyber insurance cover as part of a wider travel and tourism insurance package.

Find out more about our cyber insurance for businesses as well as our comprehensive insurance policies for travel agents and tour operators.

For more information, call us on 0330 024 0755 or email enterprisenb@JamesHallam.co.uk.

If you run a business of any size, then you will need adequate business insurance to cover you for the various risks you will face.

When it comes to business insurance, you have a choice. You can either get separate insurance policies to cover you for each individual risk you face, or you can get commercial combined insurance to cover you for a range of risks with a single policy.

In this post we will outline the pros and cons of commercial combined insurance, to help you decide which approach is best for your business.

What is a Commercial Combined Insurance policy?

In short, a commercial combined insurance policy will give your business various different types of cover in a single policy. So, rather than getting separate policies for your buildings cover, your business interruption cover, your cyber cover, and so on, you can get a single combined policy to cover your business for a range of risks.

Read our full guide to commercial combined insurance. Our guide outlines how a commercial combined insurance policy works, and what it covers.

Advantages of Commercial Combined insurance

The biggest benefit of a commercial combined insurance policy is the convenience. If you take out a single combined policy to cover your business for a range of risks, then there will be no need to shop around for separate policies. Plus, if you ever need to make a claim on your policy, there will only be a single number to call, and a single claims process to manage.

Commercial combined insurance policies can also be a lot more cost-effective than separate insurance policies. Some insurers offer discounts if you choose a combined policy instead of numerous separate policies. On top of this, if you have multiple policies, there may be certain overlaps in your cover. This could mean that you will end up paying more than necessary for your insurance.

Disadvantages of Commercial Combined insurance

While most insurers will tailor your combined insurance policy to meet your exact cover requirements, there may still be some gaps in your cover. Check your policy wording carefully, including the cover limits, to ensure you are not at risk of underinsurance.

Also, commercial combined insurance policies may not include specialist cover for risks that are unique to certain industries. For example, businesses operating in the healthcare sector are unlikely to have all of their needs met by a commercial combined insurance policy.

Finally, while commercial combined insurance can be a more cost-effective choice than getting multiple different policies, you must not assume that you will automatically make savings through choosing a combined policy. Be sure to compare quotes and prices. And though it will be a less straightforward option, it just may prove more affordable to invest in a number of individual policies for your business.

Commercial Combined vs. separate insurance policies: which is best for your business?

Commercial combined insurance is a great choice for certain types of businesses. If you are a large business facing numerous risks, then it may prove too inconvenient and expensive to take out separate policies for every aspect of your business. SMEs, too, might value the peace of mind that comes with taking out a single policy to cover a range of risks.

However, some SMEs might not need some of the cover offered by a comprehensive commercial combined insurance policy. If a combined policy is surplus to requirements, it might prove more cost-effective to instead take out a handful of separate policies. This is something an insurance broker like us can help you with.

Additional specialist insurance on top of commercial combined policy

If you operate in certain industries – such as healthcare – then you may need to take out additional separate policies on top of your commercial combined insurance policy, to ensure you have all of the cover you need.

Should I choose commercial combined insurance for my business?

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. Talk to us about your business and your insurance requirements, and we can help you find the cover you need at the best possible price – whether this is through a combined commercial insurance policy, or through a number of individual policies.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

All catering businesses need some form of insurance cover. But if you run a mobile catering van, a food truck, or an ice cream van, you will face certain additional risks that fixed-site cafés and restaurants will not have to worry about.

In this post we will explore the insurance you will need to consider for a mobile catering van, to make sure you are covered for all possible risks and liabilities.

What risks do catering businesses face?

There are many risks associated with preparing and serving food to members of the public. Any catering business will need cover for any accidents, injuries, and illnesses customers may sustain as a result of interacting with your business, including food poisoning and allergic reactions.

Specific risks catering vans face

If you have a catering van business, though, you will face additional risks that you would not face if you were running a fixed site café or restaurant. As well as cover for your equipment, you will also need specialist commercial vehicle insurance to cover your catering van. On top of this, the cover you get for your stock will have to extend to provide cover for transit.

Plus, your insurer will have to consider the risks associated with serving different customers in different locations from one week to the next. For example, what if you accidentally hit a child’s head when you’re opening your serving hatch?

Beyond all of these risks, mobile catering vans will have to manage the sort of risks that face any business in any sector, including fires, floods, theft, business interruption, personal injury, and so on.

What insurance do I need for a mobile catering van?

• Public Liability Insurance – This can cover most accidents, injuries, and illnesses members of the public may sustain as a result of interacting with your business, along with any damage you may cause to public property.
• Product Liability Insurance – If a customer ever gets food poisoning, or suffers an allergic reaction, as a result of consuming food you serve, product liability insurance can cover any compensation they may be due, along with any legal fees you may have to pay.
• Commercial Vehicle Insurance – You will need comprehensive cover for your vehicle. This will cover any repairs your vehicle may need following an accident, as well as any repairs that may be necessary for any other vehicles or property involved in an accident.
• Contents Insurance – Cover for your cooking equipment and furnishings, along with your stock. If you have a catering can, the cover you get for your stock will also have to cover it for loss, damage, or spoiling during transit.
• Employer’s Liability Insurance – If you employ any staff, you have a legal obligation to get employer’s liability insurance. This will cover any compensation an employee may be entitled to if they sustain any illnesses or injuries on the job.

Find out more about our specialist catering insurance and who it covers.

Get specialist catering insurance from James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers.

We know that no two catering businesses are quite the same, and that mobile caterers face a host of additional risks and liabilities. As a result, we will take the time to get to know you, your business, and your customers. In this way, we can design a catering insurance package that truly meets your needs at a competitive price.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

All businesses face a range of risks, including fire, flood, theft, business interruption, cybercrime, and more. You will need adequate insurance to cover your business should anything ever go wrong.

As an alternative to getting separate policies to cover individual risks, many businesses instead choose a commercial combined insurance policy.

In this post we will discuss what a commercial combined insurance policy is, and what it covers, to help you decide whether it is the right choice for you.

What is Commercial Combined insurance?

A commercial combined insurance policy includes various types of business insurance cover in a single policy. Getting a commercial combined insurance policy can be the most convenient choice for many businesses. Rather than taking out multiple policies to cover multiple liabilities, businesses can instead get extensive cover with a combined policy.

What does Commercial Combined Insurance cover?

Most insurers will tailor your commercial combined insurance policy to meet all the risks you face in your business. Most policies will include the following:

• Buildings Insurance – Cover for damages to your business premises, alongside any machinery, equipment, furnishings, and stock.
• Cyber Insurance – This can cover any liabilities and expenses you might face if your business falls victim to a cyberattack, or a data breach.
• Business Interruption Insurance – If you are forced to temporarily cease trading due to a fire, a flood, or another covered event, business interruption insurance can cover your loss of revenue, your increased costs of working, and other specified expenses.
• Public Liability Insurance – If a member of the public gets injured on your premises, or if you damage public property while conducting business, public liability insurance can cover any legal costs you may be liable to pay.
• Employer’s Liability Insurance – All businesses have a legal duty to get employer’s liability insurance if they employ any staff. It covers any compensation an employee may be entitled to if they sustain any illnesses or injuries on the job.
• Product Liability Insurance – If you manufacture and distribute products as part of your business, product liability insurance will cover you for any loss, illness, or other damages linked to your products.

Find out more about what our Commercial Combined Insurance policies cover and who they’re for.

What are the benefits of Commercial Combined insurance?

Having a commercial combined insurance policy over separate policies can be beneficial for a number of reasons, including being:

• Convenient – With a commercial combined insurance policy, there is no need to shop around for multiple policies to cover every aspect of your business. Plus, if you ever need to make a claim on your policy, you will only ever have to make one call, which can streamline the process.
• Cost-Effective – Some insurers offer discounts if you buy a combined commercial insurance policy in place of multiple policies. Plus, if you have multiple policies, there may be overlaps in your cover. This might mean you end up paying more for insurance you do not really need.
• Comprehensive – Get all the cover you need in one policy, and you will not need to worry about underinsurance, or in any gaps in your cover. Plus, most insurers will tailor your commercial combined insurance policy to ensure it meets your exact needs, including your budget needs.

We can help you get all the cover you need at the best price

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers.

If you want to get all of your cover needs met by a combined commercial insurance policy, we can help you ensure your policy ticks all of your boxes at a truly competitive price.

Get in touch to get a free quote today.