Croquet Club Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Complete Guide

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Croquet Club Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Complete Guide

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Croquet Club Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Complete Guide

Croquet clubs have a unique charm: well-kept lawns, a friendly membership, and a calendar full of tournaments, coaching sessions, and social events. But behind the calm atmosphere are very real risks—injuries to players and spectators, damage to club property, weather-related disruption, and the responsibilities that come with running a sports facility.

This guide explains what croquet club sports facility insurance typically covers in the UK, why it matters, and how to choose the right protection for your club—whether you’re a small volunteer-run association or a larger venue with a clubhouse, bar, and paid staff.

Why croquet clubs need specialist sports facility insurance

Even if your club feels “low-risk” compared to contact sports, you still operate a premises open to members, visitors, and sometimes the public. That means you may be exposed to:

  • Public liability claims (a visitor trips on uneven ground, a spectator is injured by a mallet, a contractor is hurt on site)

  • Property losses (clubhouse fire, storm damage, theft, vandalism)

  • Business interruption (flooded lawns, clubhouse damage, or a major incident that stops play)

  • Employer responsibilities (paid groundskeepers, bar staff, coaches, or casual workers)

  • Events and tournaments (higher footfall, temporary structures, visiting teams)

  • Safeguarding and duty of care (junior coaching, school visits, or community sessions)

Insurance isn’t just about protecting the club’s finances. It can also support your governance, reassure members, and help you meet landlord, local authority, or funding requirements.

What is croquet club sports facility insurance?

Most croquet clubs are best protected through a tailored package, often built from:

  • Sports club insurance (liability-focused)

  • Commercial property insurance (buildings, contents, equipment)

  • Commercial combined insurance (a bundled policy that can include property + liabilities + interruption)

The right structure depends on what you own, what you rent, and how you operate.

Core covers to consider for croquet clubs

1) Public liability insurance

Public liability is usually the foundation of croquet club insurance. It can help cover compensation and legal costs if a third party alleges they were injured or their property was damaged due to the club’s negligence.

Common croquet-related scenarios include:

  • A visitor trips on a rabbit hole or uneven lawn edge

  • A spectator is struck by a ball or mallet during a match

  • A member slips on wet clubhouse flooring

  • A delivery driver is injured unloading supplies

  • A contractor claims the club failed to maintain safe access routes

Key points to check:

  • The limit of indemnity (often £2m, £5m, or £10m)

  • Whether cover includes members of the public, visiting teams, and guests

  • Whether it includes events, open days, and fundraising activities

  • If it covers products liability (useful if you sell refreshments)

2) Employers’ liability insurance (legal requirement)

If your club employs anyone—even part-time, seasonal, or casual staff—you will usually need employers’ liability. In the UK, it’s a legal requirement for most employers.

It can help cover claims from employees who suffer injury or illness arising from their work, such as:

  • Grounds staff injured using machinery

  • Bar or kitchen staff slipping, burning themselves, or suffering repetitive strain

  • Coaches injured while setting up equipment

Even if you rely heavily on volunteers, it’s worth checking whether any roles could be classed as employment (for example, paid honorariums or regular paid work).

3) Property insurance (clubhouse, sheds, pavilions)

If your club owns buildings—or is responsible for insuring them under a lease—commercial property insurance can cover the cost of repair or rebuild after insured events such as fire, storm, flood, escape of water, and vandalism.

Typical croquet club property exposures:

  • Clubhouse or pavilion fire (including electrical faults)

  • Storm damage to roofs, fences, and outbuildings

  • Flooding affecting changing rooms or storage

  • Theft from sheds or storage containers

  • Vandalism after-hours

Make sure sums insured reflect:

  • Rebuild cost (not market value)

  • Professional fees (architects, surveyors)

  • Debris removal

  • Any special features (timber structures, heritage buildings)

4) Contents and equipment cover

Croquet clubs often have more valuable contents than they realise:

  • Mallets, balls, hoops, and flags

  • Timing equipment and scoreboards

  • Grounds equipment (line markers, rollers, sprayers)

  • Furniture, bar equipment, kitchen appliances

  • IT equipment (laptops, printers, Wi-Fi routers)

  • Trophies and memorabilia

Good contents cover should address:

  • Theft (including from locked outbuildings)

  • Accidental damage

  • Fire and water damage

  • Replacement on a like-for-like basis

If equipment is taken off-site (e.g., for demonstrations, community events, or shared facilities), ask about all-risks / portable equipment cover.

5) Business interruption (loss of income)

If your clubhouse is damaged by an insured event, you may lose:

  • Membership income (if renewals drop)

  • Bar and catering revenue

  • Venue hire income (meetings, parties)

  • Tournament entry fees

Business interruption can help replace lost gross profit/income and contribute to ongoing costs while you recover.

For croquet clubs, consider:

  • Indemnity period (often 12–24 months)

  • Cover for increased cost of working (e.g., temporary facilities)

  • Loss of attraction (if the grounds are unusable)

6) Personal accident cover (optional but valuable)

Some clubs choose personal accident cover for members, volunteers, or officials. This can pay fixed benefits if someone suffers a serious injury.

It’s not a replacement for liability insurance, but it can be a helpful welfare benefit—especially for volunteer-led clubs.

7) Legal expenses insurance

Commercial legal expenses can help with the cost of legal disputes, such as:

  • Employment disputes

  • Contract disputes (e.g., with contractors)

  • Property disputes (boundaries, access)

  • Tax or regulatory investigations (where applicable)

8) Directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability

Many croquet clubs are run by committees or trustees. D&O insurance can protect individuals if they are personally accused of mismanagement, wrongful acts, or breaches of duty.

This can be particularly relevant if you:

  • Manage significant funds

  • Apply for grants

  • Run a bar or employ staff

  • Oversee safeguarding policies

9) Cyber insurance (increasingly relevant)

Even small clubs hold personal data: member lists, payment records, emails, and sometimes junior data. If you take online payments, use cloud systems, or rely on email for admin, cyber risk is real.

Cyber insurance can help with:

  • Data breach response and notification costs

  • IT support and recovery

  • Cyber extortion support

  • Liability claims relating to personal data

Croquet-specific risks insurers will care about

When insurers price and structure cover, they’ll often look at practical risk factors such as:

  • Premises condition: lawn edges, paths, steps, lighting, handrails

  • Grounds maintenance: potholes, rabbit holes, drainage, tree management

  • Equipment storage: locks, alarms, secure sheds

  • Safeguarding: junior sessions, DBS checks, supervision ratios

  • Events management: crowd control, signage, first aid provision

  • Alcohol service: licensing, training, incident logs

  • Contractor control: RAMS (risk assessments/method statements), permits to work

  • Fire safety: extinguishers, PAT testing, electrical inspections

A well-run club with documented procedures can often secure better terms.

Common exclusions and pitfalls to watch

Insurance can fail you when it’s poorly matched to the club’s real-world operations. Watch for:

  • Underinsurance on buildings or contents (leading to reduced claim payments)

  • Uninsured events (tournaments, open days, bouncy castles, fireworks)

  • Alcohol-related liabilities if you run a bar without the right disclosures

  • Wear and tear exclusions (common for older buildings)

  • Flood exclusions or high excesses in flood-prone areas

  • Unattended theft conditions (especially for outbuildings)

  • Volunteer vs employee definitions (important for employers’ liability)

If in doubt, disclose more rather than less—especially around events, coaching, bar operations, and any non-standard activities.

How much does croquet club insurance cost?

There’s no single price because premiums depend on:

  • Whether you own buildings and their rebuild value

  • Annual turnover/income (membership, bar, hires)

  • Number of members and visitors

  • Claims history

  • The level of cover (e.g., £2m vs £10m public liability)

  • Security measures and risk management

As a rough rule, clubs with no buildings and limited activities may pay significantly less than clubs with a clubhouse, bar, paid staff, and frequent events.

The best approach is to get a quote based on your actual setup, then compare like-for-like cover.

What information you’ll need for a quote

To get accurate terms, be ready with:

  • Club legal structure (association, charity, company limited by guarantee)

  • Address and description of the premises

  • Buildings: construction type, age, roof type, rebuild value

  • Contents and equipment values

  • Number of members and typical visitor numbers

  • Staff details (paid roles, wage roll estimates)

  • Activities: coaching, juniors, tournaments, social events, bar/catering

  • Claims history (typically 3–5 years)

  • Security and safety measures (alarms, locks, CCTV, inspections)

Having this organised can speed up quoting and reduce back-and-forth.

Risk management tips that also help insurance

Insurers love evidence of good governance. Practical steps include:

  • Maintain a grounds inspection log (weekly/monthly)

  • Keep incident and near-miss records

  • Use clear signage for hazards, boundaries, and spectator areas

  • Document event plans (first aid, parking, crowd flow)

  • Ensure fire risk assessments are up to date

  • Keep electrical safety checks (PAT testing where relevant)

  • Secure sheds and outbuildings; consider alarms and improved locks

  • Review safeguarding policies and training

These steps reduce claims—and can strengthen your position if a claim occurs.

Choosing the right insurer or broker

Croquet clubs often benefit from working with a broker who understands sports facilities and community organisations. When comparing options, ask:

  • Is the policy designed for sports clubs or adapted from generic cover?

  • Are tournaments and open days included automatically?

  • Does it cover member-to-member liability (where relevant)?

  • Are volunteers included and clearly defined?

  • What risk management support is included?

  • How are claims handled and what’s the typical response time?

The aim is not just the cheapest premium—it’s confidence that the cover will respond when you need it.

FAQs: Croquet club sports facility insurance

Do we need insurance if we’re a small members-only croquet club?

Yes, in most cases. Even members-only clubs can face liability claims from members, visitors, and contractors. If you own or lease premises, you may also have contractual insurance requirements.

Is public liability insurance enough?

Often not. Public liability is essential, but clubs with buildings, staff, bar operations, or valuable equipment usually need additional covers such as property, employers’ liability, and business interruption.

Do volunteers count as employees?

Not always, but it depends on the arrangement. If volunteers receive payment or are effectively treated as staff, you may need employers’ liability. It’s best to discuss your structure clearly when arranging cover.

Are tournaments and open days covered automatically?

Sometimes, but not always. Some policies restrict events or require you to disclose higher-risk activities. Always confirm what’s included.

What if we hire out the clubhouse for private events?

You should disclose this. Venue hire can increase footfall and change the risk profile (especially if alcohol is involved). You may need specific event or hirer liability conditions.

Can insurance cover damage to the lawns?

Standard property insurance may not cover wear and tear or gradual deterioration. Accidental damage or storm/flood damage may be covered depending on the policy. Ask specifically about grounds and lawn-related cover.

Do we need cyber insurance as a croquet club?

If you store member data, take online payments, or rely on email and cloud tools, cyber cover is increasingly sensible. Even small organisations can be targeted.

Next steps: protect your club with the right cover

Croquet clubs thrive on community, tradition, and well-run facilities. The right insurance helps protect that—covering the club’s premises, people, and finances so you can focus on the season ahead.

If you’d like a tailored quote or want to sanity-check your current cover, gather your club details (buildings, activities, staff, and events) and speak with a broker who understands sports facility risks.

Need help reviewing your cover or arranging croquet club sports facility insurance? Contact Insure24 for advice and a competitive quote.

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