What does barbecue insurance cover?
Our insurance for barbecue businesses provides specialist protection for BBQ caterers, hog roast providers, grill caterers, and mobile barbecue vendors serving food at events, weddings, festivals, and private functions.
With our policy, you’ll benefit from public liability and product liability cover from £1 million up to £10 million, along with protection for your barbecue equipment and stock.
Optional extras include employers’ liability if you hire staff, frozen goods cover, loss of money, and catering trailer cover for barbecue trailers and hog roast equipment.
You can tailor your level of cover to suit the size of your barbecue business, so you only pay for what you need. If you need cover for a single BBQ event lasting up to 7 days, our short-term catering insurance may be suitable. If you cater multiple events throughout the year, our annual policy may provide better value.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your activities, and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
Public Liability
Equipment & Stock
Frozen Goods
Employers' Liability
Catering Trailer
Public Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- Protection from claims by a third-party (e.g., a member of the public) who sustains injuries or has their property damaged as a result of your actions.
Product Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- Protection should you receive any claims arising from any products and goods supplied by you to other parties, who may then sustain an injury or damage to their own property.
Catering Equipment
- From £250 worth of cover.
- Add up to £10,000 worth of cover.
- Protects against accidental damage, loss, or theft of equipment you own or are legally responsible for. This includes business equipment that isn’t permanently fitted, whether it’s at your premises or temporarily off-site.
Stock
- From £250 worth of cover.
- Add up to £3,000 worth of cover.
- Provides protection for accidental damage, loss, or theft of your stock, including non-frozen goods, whether stored at your premises or temporarily elsewhere.
Frozen goods cover
- From £250 worth of cover.
- Up to £3000 cover available
- Protects your frozen goods against accidental damage, loss, or theft.
- Includes cover for damage or loss caused by refrigeration equipment breakdown or a failure in the public electricity supply.
- Also provides protection for losses resulting from theft or vandalism.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- If any employee suffered physical injury or a fatality because of the employer’s negligence. If that staff member sought compensation, the insurer would handle the cost of the claim.
- If you employ any staff members, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement.
Catering trailer cover (only available on an annual policy)
- Up to £25,000 cover available (for quotes over £25,000 our team can provide a bespoke quote)
- Provides cover for accidental damage, loss, or theft of your trailer, including its internal fixtures and fittings.
- Optional cover is available for damage caused to the trailer while in transit.
- For trailers worth £10,000 or less, you’ll need a wheel clamp and hitch lock, when left unattended.
- For trailers worth over £10,000, you’ll need a wheel clamp, hitch lock, alarm, and tracker when left unattended.
- For trailers worth over £25,000, a serial number will need to be provided.
- Overnight, the trailer must be stored on a driveway, in a garage, or locked compound.
While in transit, if the trailer is involved in a road traffic incident while attached to a car or van, third-party liability will typically be covered under the insured’s motor insurance. However, damage to the trailer itself can be covered under this policy if the relevant cover option is selected.
Loss of money
- Protection for any money earned through your insured business activities.
- Cash from your business is covered while it’s at your business premises, your home, or the home of any partner, director, or authorised employee. It’s also protected when being transported during business-related journeys.
- Cover also includes damage caused by theft to cash registers, safes, bags, or cases used to carry money, as well as damage to tills and safes.
- Cover for bona fide subcontractors, who should have their own insurance.
- Catering overseas.
- Claims for financial losses relating to non or late delivery of products to third parties.
- Cover for catering trailers left out of sight of the insured and/or more than one minutes walking distance from the insured.
- Cover for equipment and stock when left in a vehicle and/or catering trailer out of sight of the driver and/or more than one minutes walking distance from the driver.
Endorsements:
- Staff must have a minimum level 1 food hygiene certificate (including apprentices)
- When a trailer is unattended, it must have an alarm, tracker and key approved hitch lock installed. It must also have a wheel clamp when unattached and unattended.
- Trailer must be kept in a driveway, garage or locked compound overnight.
- While in transit, if the trailer is involved in a road traffic incident while attached to a car or van, third-party liability will typically be covered under the insured’s motor insurance.
For information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Why do you need barbecue business cover?
As a barbecue caterer, clients rely on you to deliver great food and professional service at their events. Whether you cater weddings, festivals, corporate events, or private parties, customers trust your expertise and reliability. However, even experienced BBQ caterers face risks when working with hot equipment, food preparation, and busy event environments.
Barbecue business insurance helps protect you from claims that may arise from accidents, mistakes, or unexpected incidents during your catering service. From food-related issues to equipment damage or accidents involving staff or customers, barbecue catering comes with a range of potential risks.
With the right insurance, you can focus on serving great barbecue and growing your business.
These are some typical examples of when barbecue catering insurance is a necessity:
Protection from claims should a member of the public get injured.
Public liability insurance protects against claims if a customer or third party is injured or their property is damaged during your barbecue catering activities.
This could include someone tripping over barbecue equipment, coming into contact with hot grills, or property damage during service.
Without cover, your business could face substantial compensation claims and legal costs.
Protection if someone becomes ill from food you produce.
A customer may become unwell or injured from food you have prepared.
Product liability insurance protects your barbecue business from claims arising from contamination, spoilage, or other food-related issues.
An employee or temporary worker suffers a workplace accident.
Employees helping with BBQ catering may be exposed to risks such as burns, cuts, or lifting injuries.
If you employ staff or hire temporary workers for events, Employers’ Liability insurance protects you against claims from workplace accidents.
This cover is legally required, with fines of £2,500 per day for failing to comply.
A venue requires proof of liability cover.
If you are contracted to provide catering services for an event it is often obligatory to provide proof of public liability insurance to a venue or event organiser as part of their risk assessment.
Your barbecue trailer gets damaged on a job.
Your barbecue trailer is often essential to running your catering business.
If your trailer is damaged during an event, repairs could cost thousands of pounds and lead to lost bookings.
Catering trailer insurance helps cover these unexpected costs and helps keep your barbecue business running.
Our experts explain why...
“Whether you’re a BBQ caterer serving grilled food at events, a hog roast provider cooking for weddings and festivals, or a mobile barbecue business operating from a trailer or outdoor setup, there are risks involved whenever you prepare and serve food to the public.
Working with hot equipment, open flames, and busy event environments means there is always the potential for accidental injury or damage to third parties.
Insurance helps protect your barbecue business if allegations are made against you as a result of your catering activities. With the right cover in place, you can focus on delivering great food and service, without worrying about the potential financial impact of unexpected claims.”
Mandy Czyz, Senior Underwriter, Protectivity

How much does barbecue insurance cost?
Barbecue catering insurance starts from just £7.16 per month* with an annual policy.
The cost of barbecue business insurance will depend on several factors, including:
Whether you employ staff, the value of your BBQ equipment, if you use a catering trailer and the level of liability cover selected.
Having specialist insurance in place helps protect your business financially while giving you confidence to take bookings and cater events throughout the year.
Prices from
£7.16* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£7.16* a month
Policy type
Mobile Catering
Duration
Annual
Turnover
£50,000
Public Liability
£1,000,000
Catering Equipment
£250
Stock & Frozen Foods
£250
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 22/04/2026. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your barbecue events insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 180,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.

Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.

Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
How does catering insurance work if I operate from a home kitchen?
If you operate a catering business from home, your home insurance likely won’t cover business activities, so you’ll need separate catering insurance to ensure you’re adequately covered.
Do I need different insurance for corporate catering versus wedding catering?
No, our standard insurance for catering businesses will cover you.
Am I covered if a guest has an allergic reaction to my food?
Allergic reactions would typically fall under your product liability coverage. However, you must take all reasonable precautions to prevent such incidents, including proper food labelling and cross-contamination prevention. Failure to do so could invalidate your coverage.
Does my catering insurance cover temporary staff I hire for large events?
Yes as long as these temporary staff members are labour only subcontractors or employees. If they are bona fide subcontractors, then there is no cover for these individuals, you will need to ensure they have their own insurance.
What happens if I have to cancel a catering job due to illness or emergency?
There is no insurance on our product for loss of cost and expenses or expected revenue for cancelling a catering job.
Does my catering insurance cover damage to rented venues?
Yes, our insurance for caters covers against damage as part of the public liability insurance included in the policy.
Am I covered if I cater events with alcohol?
Yes, as long as you are not just serving alcohol. This would need to be alongside a primary function of serving food.
Does my catering insurance cover food poisoning claims?
Yes, food poisoning claims are typically covered under product liability insurance. This protects you if a client becomes ill from food you’ve prepared or served. However, you must maintain proper food safety standards to ensure your coverage remains valid.
Do you offer insurance for mobile caterers?
Yes, we offer comprehensive liability insurance for mobile caterers.
Is my catering equipment covered?
Yes, your catering equipment is covered for accidental damage and theft up to £250 (included) with the option to increase this to £10,000 worth of cover.
Discover more from Protectivity
This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 22/04/2026. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to present
ˆ10% discount for policies bought online and applies only to the first-year of your policy premium. Protectivity reserves the right to amend or withdraw this offer at any time. Available to UK residents only.
¹Based on live Feefo data















