Bad things can happen at your public house. Guests can file a claim for property damage, bodily injuries, or foodborne illness. The kegs and crates can hurt employees and unsuspecting patrons. Perishable goods can spoil or get contaminated. Last but not the least, the beer, spirits, wine, and other liquor in stock can catch a fire and cause utter devastation.
Public house insurance offers the most useful policies that your pub needs to adequately cover the lawsuits from third parties, protect employees, and comply with the insurance requirements.
Read this guide to know the functions of policies included in pub insurance, the cost of premiums, and the best companies.
General liability, product liability, and liquor liability policies are considered as pub liability insurance. The sections below explain how each of these works.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | FLIP | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per occurrence limit | $1,000,000 | $300,000/$1,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Products and completed operations aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit | $100,000 | $100,000 | $5,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Waiver of subrogation included? | Yes | No | Included | Excluded | Can be included |
| Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included? | Yes | No | Excluded | Excluded | Can be included |
| Food-borne illness endorsement included? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Can be included |
| Can you get a certificate of insurance online? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Name additional insureds? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Deductible | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Your pub makes money by admitting people and serving them with liquor and food. It follows that your business is responsible if something happens to its guests.
Accidents involving customers can be very costly. You’ll spend thousands or millions depending on the severity of the customer’s injury or the priciness of the damaged property.
Your pub can operate without worrying about the cost of claims for bodily injuries or property damage with the help of general liability insurance. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best general liability policy in its pub and restaurant insurance package.
General liability insurance, which is also included in bar insurance programs, enables your pub to cover the cost of bodily injury claims and property damage claims that guests, independent contractors, businesses, and other third parties file. Use this when:
A guest slips and falls on the premises of your pub
An employee accidentally pours hot liquids on a guest
A guest cracks their hips because of a defective chair
An employee accidentally injures a the drunk customer while escorting him or her out of your pub
Your pub’s general liability policy is designed to cover these expenses:
Medical treatment of the claimant
Reimbursement for the damaged property of the claimant
Settlements
Defense costs
Court judgments
Yes. When you’re purchasing a general liability policy, the insurance company might ask if you need a business equipment endorsement. By adding this, your general liability policy can cover the repair or replacement of juicers, carts, and other equipment.
Public liability insurance for pubs is a coverage that works the same way as general liability insurance. You can use this to cover claims for bodily injuries or property damage that third parties file. Aside from the function, the limits are also the same. The difference lies in commonality. Public liability insurance is commonly sold in the UK, whereas only a few insurance companies sell this in the USA.
Include a liquor liability policy to a commercial pub insurance bundle if some of your pub’s sales come from beer, wine, spirits, and other types of liquor. You can purchase this type of public house liability insurance as a stand-alone coverage or as an add-on to general liability insurance.
Liquor liability insurance, which is a common inclusion in nightclub insurance bundles, functions to provide protection if your pub faces a claim for bodily injury or property damage after any of these happens:
An intoxicated guest trips over something while exiting the premises of your pub
An intoxicated guest starts a fight and hurts others
An intoxicated guest experiences a health condition while spending their time drinking in your pub
The liquor liability insurance limits available will be determined by your pub’s sales from alcohol. But for starters, expect insurance companies to sell a $500,000-$1 million liquor liability insurance.
Your pub, in contrast with a bar, sells a wider variety of dishes that guests can consume along with their drinks.
Other problems that you face are food poisoning and food-borne illness claims. These can’t be covered by general liability or liquor liability insurance. That said, you’ll need product liability insurance.
A product liability policy is the pub business insurance that will take care of costs if a guest files a claim after experiencing nausea, allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, headaches, dizziness, and other conditions after consuming your beverages and dishes.
Most likely not. Insurance companies exclude investigations and fines from health boards in the language of their product liability coverage.
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| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $25,000 |
| Contents coverage limit (minimum) | $50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 | $15,000 |
| Outdoor signs | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Included |
| Accounts receivable | Excluded | Excluded | $5,000/$10,000 | Included |
| Money and securities | Excluded | $2,500 | $1,000 | Included |
| Lock and keys | Excluded | $2,500 | Excluded | Included |
| Business interruption floater | Excluded | Included | Included | Included |
| Equipment breakdown floater | Excluded | Included | Excluded | Included |
| Inland marine insurance floater | Excluded | Excluded | $10,000 | Excluded |
| Employee dishonesty floater | Excluded | $5,000 | $2,500 | Excluded |
It’s smart to purchase insurance for your pub’s physical location. In case a fire happens, all that you’ve spent on materials, furniture, lighting, interior decor, and amenities will be reduced to nothing.
A commercial property policy in pub and bar insurance protects your physical location against fire, theft, vandalism, weather, lightning, and other covered perils. Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best commercial property insurance for pubs.
You use commercial property insurance to receive money from the insurance company that’s equal to the original construction cost or present market value of your pub’s building, which got damaged or destroyed because of fire, theft, vandalism, lightning, riot, sinkhole collapse, volcanic action, and other covered perils.
Contrary to the popular belief, commercial property insurance doesn’t only grant coverage if you own your pub’s physical space. Coverage also applies even if you’re just renting or leasing it. In fact, most landlords ask tenants to purchase commercial property insurance and name them as additional insureds.
Yes. Commercial property insurance will cover cooking equipment, utensils, lighting, computers, furniture, and other valuables inside your pub’s building. Note that the amount of coverage you’ll get will be equal to the estimated value of your pub’s contents.
Yes. Commercial property insurance will reimburse your financial losses if food ingredients stored somewhere in your pub get damaged or destroyed because of fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils. Food contamination and spoilage aren’t covered by this policy.
Pub contents insurance is an automatic add-on to the commercial property policy of pub insurance bundles. This grants coverage if the covered exposures in the language of commercial property insurance cause the damage or destruction of lighting, furniture, utensils, cooking equipment, and other valuables inside your pub.
Unoccupied pub insurance is what most know as unoccupied commercial property policy that underwriters design for unleased or unrented buildings.
Unoccupied commercial property insurance grants coverage to damage or destruction caused by fire, lightning, theft, vandalism, explosion, and other exposures.
This may also come with a public liability or general liability endorsement that will take care of expenses if a prospective tenant, property inspector, or any other third party sustains property damage or bodily injuries while on the premises of the unoccupied building.
| CoverWallet | NEXT (Best) | Hiscox | Thimble | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General liability aggregate limit | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
| Commercial property coverage limit | $50,000 | $300,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$500,000 |
| Optional policies can be added? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name additional insureds for free? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BOP discount? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Insurance companies might ask if you want to buy your general liability and commercial property insurance through a business owner’s policy. Say yes, because they’re helping you get covered with ease at the least possible cost.
A business owner’s policy allows you to enjoy a discount on premiums.
Moreover, it fuses your general liability policy and commercial property insurance into one policy document. And this makes things easier. For example, if a landlord asks for proof of general liability coverage, he or she will also receive a proof of your commercial property insurance since what you have is a business owner’s policy.
| NEXT | Thimble | Hiscox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate limit | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | $15,000/$25,000 |
| Covers hired and borrowed equipment? | $3,000/$10,000 | $2,500/$5,000 | No |
| Miscellaneous equipment also covered? | $5,000/$10,000 | No | Yes |
| Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Deductible | $500 | $500 | $0 |
Tools and equipment insurance solely covers the valuables that are integral for the operations of your pub such as sound systems, cooking equipment, lighting, beverage dispensers, point of sale machines, telephone, etc.
Use the table above to see which insurance company offers the best tools and equipment insurance for pubs.
Tools and equipment insurance will cover the repair or replacement of equipment that was damaged or destroyed because of:
Fire
Theft
Vandalism
Electrical breakdown
Electrical surge
Mechanical breakdown
Operator error
Your pub is fast-paced. Those in the kitchen can sustain bruises and cuts. The waiting staff can slip and fall. Even your cashiers might sustain repetitive stress injuries in the shoulders, arms, and wrists.
One of the requirements for operating a pub legally is purchasing workers' compensation insurance. Workers' compensation insurance will take care of medical treatment, lost wages, medication, and even death benefits if a part-time or full-time employee sustains a work-related injury or disease.
This depends. In some states, family members working for a business are not considered as employees. Therefore, there’s no need to get workers' compensation insurance if you’re operating a pub in such locations. On the other hand, you really need to purchase this insurance if you’re in a state which has the opposite perspective.
The main benefit of workers' compensation insurance is that it allows you to enjoy the protection of exclusive remedies. An exclusive remedy is a legal principle wherein employees can’t sue employers for a work-related injury or disease when they're provided with workers' comp benefits.
The following are endorsements and additional insurance policies that might be offered in your pub insurance package.
Customer property insurance is an endorsement to the commercial property policy or general liability policy of hotel and pub insurance programs. This reimburses the estimated value of a patron’s property that got lost while being kept in your custody.
Food spoilage and contamination insurance is another endorsement to a commercial property policy.
You can use this to get money from the insurance company if good ingredients get spoiled, damaged, or contaminated under controlled conditions due to pests, equipment breakdown, employee error, and prolonged power interruption.
Depending on which insurance company you work with, food spoilage and contamination insurance might also cover cleanup and disinfection of equipment.
Cargo insurance is coverage for incoming stocks and equipment. If the stocks and equipment you’re about to receive get damaged or lost during transit due to fire, theft, vandalism, jettison, negligence, or mysterious disappearance, cargo insurance will reimburse your losses.
Employee dishonesty insurance will take care of the financial losses if a manager, clerk, cashier, or any other employee of your pub commits forgery, embezzlement, credit card fraud, social engineering, and theft. Insurance companies may even underwrite this policy to provide further coverage for investigation and research expenses.
Employer’s liability insurance is an add-on to general liability or commercial property insurance that will cover settlements, legal defense, and court judgments if an employee sues for negligence after experiencing a work-related injury or disease.
The average cost of pub insurance is $85 per month or $1,020 per year for a $1 million general liability coverage. Premiums for the liability coverage of unoccupied pub insurance are significantly cheaper and will cost $80 per month or $960 per year. This pub insurance cost estimate is based on the following factors:
Location
Deductibles
Claims history
Policy limits
Refer to this table to further know the pub insurance average cost based on the monthly and annual rates of other policies we discussed:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Deductible | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquor liability insurance | $115 | $1,380 | $500-$1,000 |
| Commercial property insurance | $105 | $1,260 | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Business owner’s policy | $180 | $2,160 | $500-$1,000 |
| Workers compensation insurance | $200 | $2,400 | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Employee dishonesty insurance | $90 | $1,080 | $1,000 |
| Cargo insurance | Depends on the value of cargo | Depends on the value of cargo | $500-$1,000 |
Here’s another table that shows the cost of a $1 million general liability policy from insurance companies where you can get cheap pub insurance quotes online:
| Cost per Month | Cost per Year | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLIP | $20 | $245 | Pubs looking for an insurance company that only caters to the needs of food businesses |
| NEXT | $25 | $300 | Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for pubs |
| CoverWallet | $39 | $468 | Pub insurance online quotes comparison |
| Tivly | $40 | $480 | Comparing pub insurance quotes over the phone |
| Thimble | $40 | $480 | On-demand coverage for pubs |
| Hiscox | $45 | $540 | Insurance for pubs with automatic policy renewal |
Compare quotes to get the best coverage. Start by clicking the “Get Quotes” button on this page. This will then take you to a public house insurance quotes comparison platform powered by one of our partners.
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The reviews below allow you to take a glimpse of the pros and cons of the best pub insurance companies. We’ve also made sure to include the average cost of their $1 million general liability insurance. Read so that you know what to look for when searching for the right coverage on your own.
Best overall
Issues an online proof of insurance instantly
Fastest general liability insurance for pubs
Great customer service and reputation
Excellent rates
Outstanding value for money
Get a 10% discount if you buy two or more policies
Couldn’t find any
NEXT doesn’t have a pub insurance package. However, it can cover you through its restaurant insurance. Here’s a quick summary of the policies available and their limits:
$1 million-$2 million general liability insurance with foodborne illness coverage
$25,000 commercial property insurance
Workers' compensation insurance with employer’s liability coverage
Business owner’s policy
$3,000-$10,000 tools and equipment insurance
Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for pubs
Average cost: $25 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Compare quotes online
Name an unlimited number of landlords in your general liability policy
Waiver of subrogation included
Easy online policy management
Not an insurance company but an insurance broker
CoverWallet covers pubs through its food and accommodation insurance package. Note that since this company is an insurance broker, the policies that comprise the insurance bundle provided will come from partners. Here are the features of your coverage from CoverWallet:
$1 million-$2 million general liability insurance
$50,000 commercial property insurance
$1 million liquor liability insurance
Business owner’s policy
Workers compensation insurance
What makes CoverWallet good is that it doesn’t force a single quote on you. Instead, it helps you find the best coverage through its platform that generates multiple quotes you can compare online.
Best for: Pub insurance online quotes comparison
Average cost: $39 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Responsive customer service
Insurance companies will recommend Tivly if they can’t help you out
A trusted partner of many carriers
Compare quotes over the phone
You need to call to get a quote
Tivly (formerly CommercialInsurance.NET) is sure to grant coverage even if no other carrier is willing to help you out. It doesn’t sell a pre-made pub and bar tavern insurance package. Instead, your policy bundle is created based on the characteristics of your business. Because of this, you can only compare quotes over the phone by calling a representative.
Best for: Comparing pub insurance quotes over the phone
Average cost: $40 per month
Our rating: 10/10
Issues an online certificate of insurance
Sells an event insurance bundle if your pub organizes events
On demand coverage
Quick to issue an estimate of your rates
Refers customers to Tivly
Thimble doesn’t have a pub insurance package and will cover you through Tivly’s help. But if you’re really set on working with this company, try contacting a representative online to know if Thimble’s restaurant insurance program is available for public houses.
Best for: On-demand coverage
Average cost: $40 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Get covered online or with the help of an agent
Seamless claims filing
Automatic policy renewal
Offers a discount on the premiums of its business owner’s policy
Has a lot of negative feedbacks from BBB
Hiscox covers pubs through its restaurant insurance program. Policies offered are general liability insurance and business owner’s policy. Note that Hiscox allows you to customize your limits and even include upgrades. As for its ultimate perk, Hiscox is good because your coverage renews automatically every year. This means that you don’t have to keep tabs on when your policy will expire.
Best for: Insurance for pubs with automatic policy renewal
Average cost: $45 per month
Our rating: 9/10
Specializes in food and beverage businesses
Tools and equipment insurance is very comprehensive
Offers numerous endorsements
Easy to get in touch with customer service
Pricey add-ons
FLIP’s public house insurance is available for pubs that sell alcohol and those that don't sell alcohol. Your insurance package from this company will offer general liability, tools and equipment, and liquor liability insurance. What makes FLIP great is that it solely grants coverage for food businesses and nothing else.
Best for: Pubs looking for an insurance company that only caters to the needs of food businesses
Average cost: $20 per month
Our rating: 10/10
This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
It really can't get any better than this... wow
Not all those who wander are lost.
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