Serve with confidence with catering insurance

As soon as you start preparing or serving food for paying clients or members of the public — whether at events, from a food van, or from a home kitchen. Food businesses carry specific risks around hygiene, allergens, and food preparation, and cover should be in place before you trade at your first event or take on your first catering contract.

No — it isn't a legal requirement in the UK. However, most event organisers, market operators, and venue owners will require proof of public liability insurance before allowing you to trade on their site. Without it you're likely to find yourself unable to secure bookings, and personally exposed to claims that could be financially significant.

It covers compensation claims and legal fees if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your catering activities. Common examples include a customer suffering food poisoning or an allergic reaction from food you've prepared, a customer or visitor being burned by hot equipment or liquids near your workstation, or a slip or trip caused by spills or equipment near your catering setup. It covers both the compensation payment and your legal costs, even if a claim turns out to be unfounded.

Public liability insurance covers claims from members of the public — it doesn't cover claims from your own employees (that's employers' liability), damage to your own catering equipment (you'd need equipment or contents cover for that), or losses arising from contractual disputes with event organisers. Always check your policy wording carefully to understand exactly what's included.

Yes — if a customer or guest suffers food poisoning or an allergic reaction as a result of food you've prepared, public liability insurance covers the resulting compensation claim and legal costs. Food-related claims can be significant, particularly at events. Following proper food hygiene practices, completing your food hygiene certification, and keeping accurate allergen records is the best way to reduce the risk.

Yes — even if you only cater occasionally, you're still liable for any injury or damage arising from your work. A single event can result in a claim, so it's important to have cover in place every time you trade. Most event organisers and venues will also require proof of insurance before allowing you on site, regardless of the frequency of your trading.

Standard cover starts at £1 million. Many event organisers and market operators will require a minimum of £2 million or £5 million before allowing you to trade. Food-related claims can be significant in scale, particularly at larger events, so we'd recommend checking event requirements carefully before selecting your cover level.

Yes — business insurance is an allowable expense, which means you can deduct the cost when calculating your taxable profit. Make sure you keep your policy documents and receipts as records for HMRC. If you're unsure, speak to your accountant.

Yes — you'll receive proof of cover instantly when your policy is in place, which you can share with event organisers and venue operators straight away. If you also take out employers' liability cover, a Certificate of Employers' Liability will be issued immediately.