Darts Club & Venue Insurance (UK): The Complete Guide for Leagues, Clubs and Licensed Venues

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Darts Club & Venue Insurance (UK): The Complete Guide for Leagues, Clubs and Licensed Venues

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Darts Club & Venue Insurance (UK): The Complete Guide for Leagues, Clubs and Licensed Venues

Introduction: why darts venues need specialist insurance

Darts looks low-risk compared to contact sports, but darts clubs and venues still face a very real mix of liability, property, and event-related exposures. A single injury allegation, a fire in a storeroom, a burst pipe that ruins boards and electrics, or a dispute over league fees can quickly become expensive.

Whether you run a dedicated darts club, a social club with multiple sports, a pub with league nights, or a larger venue hosting tournaments, the right sports facility insurance is about keeping the doors open when something unexpected happens.

This guide explains the core covers UK darts clubs and venues typically need, what insurers look for, common claims, and practical steps to reduce premiums.

What counts as a “darts club/venue” for insurance?

Insurers usually group darts venues into one (or a mix) of these categories:

  • Dedicated darts club (members-only or pay-to-play)

  • Community/social club with darts as one activity

  • Pub/bar hosting darts nights and leagues

  • Sports hall / leisure centre with darts sessions

  • Event venue hosting tournaments, exhibitions, or corporate nights

  • Youth darts academy / coaching sessions

Your set-up matters because it affects footfall, alcohol exposure, safeguarding requirements, and the type/value of equipment on site.

The core insurance covers most darts clubs and venues need

1) Public liability insurance (the non-negotiable)

Public liability covers compensation and legal costs if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged due to your negligence.

Typical darts-related scenarios include:

  • A spectator is hit by a stray dart or injured by a ricochet

  • A visitor trips over a raised oche, cable, or uneven flooring

  • A chair collapses and causes injury

  • A customer slips on a wet floor near the bar or toilets

  • A coat rack falls and damages someone’s phone or laptop

Many venues choose limits such as £2m, £5m, or £10m depending on footfall, events, and landlord/contract requirements.

2) Employers’ liability insurance (usually a legal requirement)

If you employ anyone (including part-time bar staff, cleaners, coaches, or casual event staff), employers’ liability is typically a legal requirement in the UK.

Claims can arise from:

  • Manual handling injuries when moving boards, cabinets, staging, or beer kegs

  • Slips, trips, and falls while setting up events

  • Work-related stress allegations

  • Accidents during maintenance or cleaning

A common limit is £10m.

3) Buildings insurance (if you own the premises)

If you own the building, you’ll usually need buildings insurance for risks like fire, flood, storm, escape of water, vandalism, and theft.

Darts venues often have additional fixtures that should be considered:

  • Fixed lighting and electrics

  • Permanent oche platforms

  • Fixed scoreboards/screens

  • Bar fit-out and cellar equipment

  • Security shutters, alarms, CCTV

If you lease the premises, your landlord may insure the building, but you may still be responsible for certain improvements or glass.

4) Contents and equipment cover

Darts clubs can have more equipment value than people expect:

  • Boards, surrounds, cabinets, mats, and oche systems

  • Electronic scoring systems, tablets, screens

  • PA systems and microphones for events

  • Laptops, printers, Wi-Fi equipment

  • Trophies, merchandise, and stock

  • Bar contents (if applicable)

Make sure the policy covers theft, accidental damage, and (where needed) equipment away from the premises for league matches or off-site events.

5) Business interruption (loss of income)

If a fire, flood, or major escape of water forces you to close, business interruption can cover lost revenue and ongoing costs (rent, wages, finance payments) during the recovery period.

This is especially important if you:

  • Rely on league nights for regular income

  • Host paid tournaments

  • Run a bar or food offering

  • Have seasonal peaks (winter leagues, holiday events)

Key choices include:

  • Indemnity period (often 12–24 months)

  • Basis of settlement (gross profit vs revenue)

6) Products liability (if you sell food/drink or merchandise)

If you sell food or drink, you may need products liability (often packaged with public liability). This can respond to allegations of illness/injury caused by what you sell.

For venues with alcohol, insurers may also consider:

  • Responsible service practices

  • Incident logs and refusal policies

  • Door supervision for larger events

7) Event insurance (for tournaments and special nights)

If you host larger tournaments, exhibitions, or corporate events, consider event insurance for:

  • Cancellation (e.g., supplier failure, venue damage, severe weather)

  • Additional public liability for higher footfall

  • Hired equipment and staging

  • Non-appearance cover (where relevant)

Some clubs rely on their annual policy, but it’s worth checking whether your policy includes events or if you need to note them.

8) Money insurance (cash on premises and in transit)

If you handle cash (entry fees, bar takings, raffle funds), money cover can protect cash:

  • In the till

  • In a safe

  • During banking runs

Insurers will expect reasonable security (safe anchoring, key control, CCTV, and limits on cash kept overnight).

9) Legal expenses cover

Commercial legal expenses can help with:

  • Employment disputes

  • Contract disputes (suppliers, landlords)

  • Tax investigations

  • Debt recovery (e.g., unpaid membership fees)

For clubs run by committees, this can be a useful safety net.

10) Directors’ & officers’ (D&O) / committee liability (for clubs)

Many darts clubs are run by volunteers or committees. D&O / management liability can help protect decision-makers if they face allegations relating to:

  • Mismanagement of funds

  • Breach of duty

  • Disputes between members

  • Governance issues

This is particularly relevant for incorporated clubs, charities, or organisations handling significant membership funds.

11) Cyber insurance (if you take payments or store member data)

Even small clubs can be exposed if they:

  • Take card payments

  • Use online booking systems

  • Store membership data (names, addresses, DOBs)

  • Run Wi-Fi for guests

Cyber cover can help with breach response, business interruption from IT outages, and liability claims.

Common claims for darts clubs and venues

Insurers price risk based on what actually happens. Common claim themes include:

  • Slip/trip claims: wet floors, loose mats, steps, cables for screens/scoring

  • Impact injuries: darts leaving the board area, broken tips, bounce-outs

  • Property damage: fire, flood, escape of water, vandalism

  • Theft: cash, alcohol stock, electronics, trophies, merchandise

  • Accidental damage: screens knocked over during busy nights

  • Allegations involving alcohol: disorder, injuries after service, damage to third-party property

  • Employer injury claims: lifting, cellar work, set-up/pack-down

Risk factors insurers look at (and how to present your venue well)

When you request a quote, insurers typically want to understand:

  • Premises type: dedicated club, pub, community hall, multi-use

  • Capacity and footfall: typical nights vs tournament nights

  • Alcohol sales: licensed bar, BYOB, or none

  • Age groups: adults only, mixed, youth sessions

  • Safeguarding: DBS checks, supervision ratios, policies

  • Layout and safety controls: board spacing, protective surrounds, throw line control

  • Security: alarms, CCTV, locks, shutters, safe

  • Claims history: past incidents and what changed since

  • Maintenance: electrics testing, gas safety, fire risk assessment

A well-prepared proposal (even a simple one-page summary) can reduce back-and-forth and sometimes improve terms.

Practical risk management for darts clubs (that insurers like)

You don’t need to turn darts into a sterile environment, but basic controls reduce incidents.

Safe playing area set-up

  • Keep a clear exclusion zone around the oche and board

  • Use floor markings and signage for spectators

  • Ensure adequate lighting on boards and walkways

  • Fit surrounds/backboards to reduce bounce-outs and wall damage

  • Keep spare tips and broken dart disposal controlled

Slip and trip prevention

  • Use non-slip mats where appropriate (and secure them)

  • Keep cables for scoring/screens taped down or routed safely

  • Clean spillages quickly and log incidents

  • Maintain toilets and entryways (common wet areas)

Fire and property protection

  • Keep storage areas tidy (avoid stacked cardboard near electrics)

  • Maintain extinguishers and emergency lighting

  • Ensure clear fire exits during busy events

  • Review your fire risk assessment, especially if you host tournaments

Security and cash handling

  • Use CCTV covering entrances, bar, and main playing areas

  • Limit cash kept overnight; use a safe where possible

  • Have a simple key control policy

Safeguarding (if under-18s are involved)

  • Written safeguarding policy

  • Named safeguarding lead

  • DBS checks where appropriate

  • Clear rules on adult supervision and alcohol areas

How much does darts club/venue insurance cost in the UK?

There’s no single price, but premiums are driven by:

  • Turnover and income sources (membership, bar, events)

  • Number of employees and payroll

  • Property sums insured (buildings/contents)

  • Claims history

  • Security and risk management

  • Location and flood exposure

  • Whether alcohol is sold and event frequency

As a rough guide, small clubs with modest equipment and low footfall may pay less than multi-use venues with a bar, late opening, and frequent events. The best approach is to build the cover around your actual exposures rather than buying the cheapest policy and hoping it fits.

Key policy details to check (the “small print” that matters)

Before you buy, check these areas carefully:

  • Activities definition: does it include tournaments, coaching, corporate events?

  • Participant-to-participant liability: relevant for leagues and competitive play

  • Property away from premises: for equipment taken to matches

  • Glass cover: important for bars and frontages

  • Security conditions: alarms, locks, safe requirements

  • Alcohol-related exclusions/conditions: especially for late-night events

  • Unoccupied premises conditions: if the venue is closed for periods

  • Indemnity period: for business interruption

  • Sub-limits: money, portable equipment, stock, accidental damage

If anything is unclear, it’s worth clarifying before a claim happens.

Insurance for different darts set-ups

Darts nights in pubs

If darts is part of a pub’s normal operations, it may be covered under the pub’s existing policy, but you should confirm:

  • Darts is declared as an activity

  • League/tournament nights are included

  • Any hired equipment or staging is covered

  • Your liability limit matches league requirements

Members-only clubs and social clubs

Clubs often need a package that includes:

  • Public liability

  • Employers’ liability (if any staff)

  • Contents/equipment

  • Money

  • Legal expenses

  • Committee/D&O (where relevant)

Tournament organisers

If you organise events across multiple venues, you may need:

  • Event liability

  • Cancellation cover

  • Equipment cover

  • Professional indemnity (if you provide paid services, coaching, or management)

What information you’ll need for a fast, accurate quote

Having these ready speeds up the process:

  • Venue address and premises type

  • Opening hours and late-night trading details

  • Estimated annual turnover (bar, entry fees, memberships)

  • Number of employees and payroll

  • Building and contents sums insured

  • Security details (alarm type, CCTV, shutters, safe)

  • Any past claims/incidents (last 3–5 years)

  • Details of events (frequency, max attendance)

  • Any youth participation and safeguarding measures

FAQs: darts club and venue insurance

Do I need public liability if it’s members-only?

Usually yes. Members and guests can still bring claims, and many policies can be arranged to cover members as “the public” for liability purposes. The exact wording matters.

Is employers’ liability required for volunteers?

It depends on the relationship and whether they are treated like employees. If you have any paid staff, you’ll typically need employers’ liability. For volunteer-heavy clubs, it’s worth discussing the set-up so the policy matches reality.

Are darts considered a “dangerous sport” for insurers?

Generally, darts is not rated like contact sports, but insurers still treat it as a sport with projectile risk—especially where alcohol and spectators are present.

Does my policy cover equipment taken to away matches?

Not automatically. You may need “all risks” or “property away from premises” cover for portable equipment.

What if we host a one-off tournament?

Some annual policies can include events, but you may need to declare it or arrange separate event cover depending on attendance and venue conditions.

Can I insure league fees or prize funds?

Money cover can protect cash, but league fees held in a bank account may need different protection. If you hold significant funds, consider governance controls and speak to your broker about options.

Final thoughts: protect the club, protect the community

Darts clubs and venues thrive on community—league nights, local rivalries, and big tournament weekends. The right sports facility insurance helps protect that community by keeping you financially resilient when something goes wrong.

If you want, tell me:

  • Whether you’re a pub venue or a dedicated club

  • If you have a licensed bar

  • Your typical attendance and biggest event size

…and I’ll tailor a recommended cover checklist and the best way to position the risk for insurers.

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