Takeaway Insurance
Cover for takeaways, chip shops and fast food kitchens
- Compare quotes from specialist UK providers
- Liability, kitchen kit, stock and loss of income
- One short form for your shop
Cover for a takeaway is normally a package. It pairs liability if a customer is hurt or made ill with cover for your premises, kitchen equipment and stock, plus employers’ liability if anyone works for you. Only the employers’ part is a legal must, at £5 million or more (GOV.UK).
What your takeaway insurance needs to include depends on how you trade, so start with the table below.
Which cover fits your takeaway?
Pick the row closest to how your shop runs. Most takeaways tick more than one.
| How you trade | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Counter service, customers collect | Public and product liability, contents, stock |
| You employ cooks, counter staff or drivers | Employers’ liability, which GOV.UK says is compulsory |
| You deliver | Motor cover that allows food delivery for every driver, on top of the shop policy |
| You rent the unit | Contents, stock and loss of income. Check the lease for who insures the building |
| You own the building, perhaps with a flat above | Buildings cover too. See commercial property |
| You open late into the night | Tell the insurer your hours, as late trading can change the price |
Fire safety checks insurers make in a hot-food kitchen
Insurers ask a lot about fire in a hot-food kitchen. In England and Wales, whoever runs the premises is the “responsible person” and must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment (GOV.UK).
GOV.UK adds that fire and rescue authorities can inspect and issue fire safety notices, and breaking the rules can lead to a fine or prison. Expect quote questions on:
- how often the canopy, filters and ducts are professionally cleaned
- the type and number of fire extinguishers and fire blankets
- whether fryers have thermostats and cut-outs
- any automatic fire suppression over the cooking line
Opening a new takeaway
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a new food business must register with the local council at least 28 days before trading. Each site is registered separately (Food Standards Agency on GOV.UK).
Insurers can still quote without a claims history. They’ll ask about your experience, previous trades at the address and the fit-out. Fixtures you pay for as a tenant, such as a new extraction system, are worth listing so they’re covered too.
Fish and chip shops
Chip shop cover follows the same pattern, with extra attention on the frying range. A large range runs for hours at high temperature, so insurers ask how it’s maintained, who cleans it and what happens at close.
If you’re comparing fish and chip shop insurance, mention seasonal peaks such as summer in a seaside town. Stock and takings can be higher then, and your sums insured should match the busiest weeks rather than the quietest.
When the shop has to close: business interruption
Loss of income cover pays when damage from an insured event stops you trading. Check whether it also pays extra running costs, and whether loss of access, such as a police cordon, needs an add-on. Wordings vary, so read the schedule before you buy.
Choose an indemnity period long enough to refit a kitchen and win customers back. A short period may look cheaper but could run out before you reopen.
What you need before a takeaway insurance quote
- Opening hours, including late nights and weekends
- Number of staff and drivers, and whether drivers are employed
- Value of equipment, fixtures you’ve paid for and typical stock
- Annual turnover, or a forecast if you’re new
- Fire safety details: extinguishers, suppression, duct cleaning dates
- Any claims at this or previous food businesses
Compare takeaway cover with Tiger.co.uk
One short form goes to specialist UK providers, who come back with quotes for your shop. Tiger.co.uk is a trading style of Big Cat Ventures Ltd, which introduces you to Seopa Ltd. Seopa runs the quote system and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 313860).
Neighbouring covers worth a look: shop insurance if you also sell groceries, and van insurance for a delivery van. All business covers are listed on our business insurance hub.
Is takeaway insurance a legal requirement?
Only the employers’ liability part, once you have staff. GOV.UK says that cover must be at least £5 million and come from an authorised insurer (GOV.UK). Public liability, contents and stock cover are optional in law, though a landlord or lender may insist on some of them.
Does a takeaway policy cover food poisoning claims?
Claims that food you sold made someone ill usually fall under the product liability section. Many takeaway packages include it alongside public liability, but check the schedule rather than assuming, and keep your food safety records up to date.
Are the day’s takings covered if they’re stolen at closing time?
Usually, through the money section of the policy, but only up to set limits. Insurers often set one limit for cash on the premises during opening hours and a lower one overnight unless it’s in a locked safe. If you bank late at night, ask whether cash in transit is included.
Can I insure a takeaway that has only just opened?
Yes. Insurers will ask about your experience in food and the premises’ history instead of your own claims record. Remember to register with your local authority at least 28 days before you start trading (Food Standards Agency).
Can a fire claim be cut if the extraction ducts weren’t cleaned?
It can. Some policies make professional cleaning of the canopy, filters and ducts a condition, often at a set interval. If a fire starts and the cleaning wasn’t done, the insurer may reduce or refuse the claim. Keep every cleaning certificate and check the schedule for the interval it asks for.
Will insurers ask about my food hygiene rating?
Some do, as a sign of how the kitchen is run. Ratings are given in England, Wales and Northern Ireland under a scheme the Food Standards Agency runs with local councils (FSA).
Ready to compare? Get takeaway quotes through Tiger.co.uk. Cover and excesses differ between insurers, so check the details as well as the price.
Fact-checked by Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk. 20+ years in price comparison; MEng, Queen’s University Belfast.