Takeaways Insurance
Protect your takeaway from food safety claims, delivery incidents and premises damage with cover designed for fast-food businesses.
Get in touchWhat is takeaways insurance?
Takeaways insurance is a specialist policy that protects takeaways from the risks of serving customers, managing premises and employing staff. It typically includes public liability, employers liability and buildings and contents cover.
Running a takeaway business involves risks from food safety and customer injuries to property damage and staff claims. The right insurance means a single incident will not shut your doors.
Find insurers who understand the hospitality and food sector, so your cover reflects the specific risks your takeaway business faces.
Public Liability
Covers claims from customers for injury or illness related to your takeaway food.
Employers Liability
Required by law if you employ anyone, covering employee injury or illness claims.
Buildings and Contents
Covers your premises, kitchen equipment and stock.
Products Liability
Covers claims from food you prepare and sell to customers.
Who needs takeaways insurance?
Fish and chip shops
Operating a traditional takeaway serving fried food
Pizza takeaways
Preparing and delivering pizzas
Chinese and Indian takeaways
Serving ethnic cuisine for collection and delivery
Kebab shops
Operating a late-night takeaway and grill
Healthy food takeaways
Specialising in health-conscious takeaway meals
Licensing and regulatory requirements for takeaways
Takeaways must register with Environmental Health as food businesses and obtain a Food Hygiene Rating. Inspections can occur unannounced and assess food storage, temperature controls, hygiene practices, and allergen handling. Takeaways preparing hot food may be subject to additional regulations. Food must be prepared in a kitchen licensed for food business use.
If a takeaway serves alcohol (e.g., beer or wine), they require a Premises Licence from the local authority. The licence specifies trading hours and conditions. If a takeaway does not serve alcohol, a Premises Licence is not required, only Environmental Health registration.
Health and safety legislation applies to all takeaways. Staff must be trained on safe food handling, allergen awareness, and customer safety. If a takeaway operates from rented premises, the lease may contain restrictions on business use. Landlord permission and insurance notification are essential.
Public liability insurance is essential for takeaways. Claims can arise from food poisoning, allergic reactions, or injuries to customers or the public. Products liability covers claims from food prepared. Employers liability is required if you employ any staff. Takeaways may face higher premiums if they have limited ventilation or high-risk food preparation (e.g., deep frying).
How much does takeaways insurance cost?
£150 – £400 per year for a small independent takeaway; larger operations with multiple food preparation areas may pay £400 – £800
Real claims: what takeaways insurance covers
A takeaway served fried chicken containing undeclared peanut oil to a customer with a severe peanut allergy. The customer required emergency hospital treatment for anaphylaxis.
Products liability covered the customer's emergency ambulance, hospital admission, specialist allergy treatment, epinephrine administration, and compensation for the severe allergic reaction.
£15,800 total — £10,000 emergency treatment and hospital care, £4,300 compensation for allergic reaction and trauma, £1,500 legal representation
A takeaway employee suffered a serious burn injury while operating a commercial fryer, resulting in hospital treatment and extended time off work.
Employers liability covered the employee's hospital admission, specialist burn care, grafting, physiotherapy, lost wages during recovery, and compensation for permanent scarring.
£21,400 total — £13,500 hospital and burn specialist treatment, £5,600 lost wages and compensation, £2,300 legal and medical expert fees
A customer bit into a takeaway meal and broke their tooth on a hard foreign object (a stone in vegetables). They required emergency dental treatment and a crown.
Products liability covered the customer's emergency dental treatment, crown replacement, follow-up appointments, and compensation for pain and distress.
£3,100 total — £1,700 dental treatment and crown, £1,100 compensation for dental injury, £300 legal and claims handling
WHY CECIL
Built differently.
Food safety cover for high volume
Takeaways serve large numbers of customers daily. Cecil finds insurers who cover the food safety risks of high-volume food preparation.
Delivery risks covered
If you deliver food, public liability covers incidents during delivery. Cecil ensures your policy covers both on-premises and delivery operations.
Kitchen equipment protected
Commercial kitchen equipment is essential to your business. Cecil makes sure your policy covers fryers, ovens and other specialist equipment.
Affordable for takeaway businesses
Get options from specialist insurers to find takeaway insurance from hospitality specialists. Proper cover at a price that works for fast-food businesses.
Common questions about takeaways insurance
Do takeaways need public liability insurance?
Yes, public liability is essential for takeaways. Food safety claims, customer injuries on premises and delivery incidents are all real risks.
Does takeaway insurance cover food poisoning claims?
Yes, products liability covers claims from customers who become ill from food you prepared and sold.
Do takeaways need delivery driver insurance?
If you employ delivery drivers, their vehicles need appropriate commercial vehicle cover. Cecil can include this in your policy.
What level of public liability do takeaways need?
Most takeaways carry between £1m and £5m. Delivery platform partnerships may specify minimum levels.
Does takeaway insurance cover delivery apps like Deliveroo?
Your policy covers your business operations. If you use third-party delivery platforms, check whether their insurance covers the delivery phase or whether you need your own cover.
Do takeaways need public liability insurance?
Yes, public liability is essential for takeaways. Claims can arise from food poisoning, allergic reactions, or injuries to customers. The policy covers legal costs and compensation.
Does takeaway insurance cover food poisoning claims?
Products liability covers claims if food you prepare causes food poisoning or allergic reactions. Ensure your policy explicitly covers allergen incidents, as allergies are a common cause of claims in food service.
What level of public liability should a takeaway carry?
Most takeaways carry between £1m and £3m of cover. Landlords may specify minimum levels. If you operate from busy commercial premises, higher cover (£3m–£5m) may be appropriate.
Do takeaways need a Premises Licence?
Only if you serve alcohol. Environmental Health registration is always required. Check with your local authority about licensing requirements for your specific operations.
Are takeaways required to have employers liability insurance?
Yes, if you employ any staff, including part-time food preparation workers. You must display the certificate and provide proof to your local authority.
Interested in Takeaways insurance?
We will be in contact when Cecil launches.