Do You Need Separate Insurance for a Caravan Park Bar or Clubhouse?

The short answer

Often, yes — or at least you need your caravan park insurance extended and correctly declared to include bar/clubhouse activities.

A bar or clubhouse changes your risk profile fast: alcohol service, late opening, events, cash handling, higher footfall, food service, and a different set of legal duties. Some insurers will include it under a well-built caravan park/commercial combined policy. Others will require a separate section (or even a separate policy) because the exposures are closer to a pub, social club, or hospitality venue.

The key is this: if the bar/clubhouse isn’t properly disclosed and rated, you can end up with reduced claims payouts or declined claims.

Why a bar/clubhouse is treated differently to the rest of the park

A caravan park’s core risks are usually property, public liability for grounds, employers’ liability, business interruption, and maybe touring caravans/holiday lets, play areas, and small retail.

A bar or clubhouse adds risks that insurers price and underwrite differently:

• Alcohol-related incidents (injury, disorder, allegations of overserving)

• Higher slip/trip risk (spills, glass, crowded areas)

• Late-night trading and reduced supervision

• Events and entertainment (live music, DJs, karaoke, sports screenings)

• Food service (allergens, food poisoning, hot surfaces)

• Cash and stock (theft, robbery, stock shrinkage)

• Fire risk (kitchens, fryers, extraction, candles/heaters, smoking areas)

• Damage to customer property (coats, bags, phones) and allegations of negligence

• More complex licensing and compliance

Even if the building sits inside the park boundary, insurers often view it as a separate “trade”.

What “separate insurance” can mean in practice

When people ask this question, they usually mean one of three setups:

1. One policy, declared as a separate business activity

   The bar/clubhouse is included within the caravan park’s commercial combined policy, but listed as a distinct activity with its own turnover, opening hours, entertainment, and security details.

2. One policy, separate section and limits

   Still one policy, but the insurer adds a dedicated “bar/club” section with specific extensions (e.g., licensed trade liability, money cover, glass cover, deterioration of stock, and higher public liability limits).

3. Two policies

   A caravan park policy for the site and accommodation, and a separate hospitality/club policy for the bar/clubhouse. This is more common when the bar is substantial, open to the public, hosts frequent events, or has a kitchen.

None of these is automatically “right”. The right answer depends on how the bar is run.

Questions insurers will ask (and why they matter)

To decide whether it can be included or needs separate cover, insurers typically ask:

• Is the bar/clubhouse open to the general public, or residents/guests only?

• What are the opening hours? (especially late-night)

• Alcohol licence type (premises licence, club premises certificate, designated premises supervisor)

• Annual turnover split (park income vs bar income)

• Food offering (snacks only vs full kitchen)

• Entertainment (live music, DJs, dancing, karaoke)

• Capacity and peak attendance

• Door supervision (SIA-licensed staff, policies for busy nights)

• CCTV, incident logs, refusals register

• Age verification policy (Challenge 25)

• Fire safety (alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers, kitchen extraction)

• Glass policy (toughened glass, plastic glasses outdoors)

• Outdoor areas (beer garden, smoking area, heaters)

These details influence both premium and whether the insurer will cover certain claims.

The core covers you should review for a caravan park bar/clubhouse

Below are the covers that most commonly need adjusting.

1) Public liability (PL)

Public liability is usually the first area that needs attention. A bar environment increases the frequency and severity of claims.

Common bar/clubhouse PL claims include:

• Slips on wet floors

• Cuts from broken glass

• Falls on steps/uneven thresholds

• Injuries in crowded areas

• Accidents in outdoor seating areas

What to check:

• Limit of indemnity (many parks carry £2m–£5m; bars often benefit from £5m and sometimes £10m depending on footfall and events)

• Policy wording includes licensed trade activities

• Territorial limits (UK-based)

• Products liability is included if you serve food

2) Products liability (food and drink)

If you serve food — even simple items — you need products liability. It covers injury/illness caused by products you supply.

Key exposures:

• Food poisoning

• Allergen incidents

• Hot drinks/scalds

• Contaminated ice

What to check:

• The policy includes food and drink service

• You have sensible allergen controls (menus, staff training, cross-contamination procedures)

3) Employers’ liability (EL)

If anyone works for you (including part-time or seasonal bar staff), UK law generally requires employers’ liability.

What to check:

• EL limit is typically £10m

• Staff roles are declared accurately (bar staff, kitchen staff, cleaners, security)

4) Buildings and contents

Your caravan park policy may cover buildings across the site, but the clubhouse often needs:

• Correct rebuild value for the building

• Separate sums insured for fixtures and fittings (bar counters, seating, sound system)

• Cover for stock (beer, spirits, soft drinks)

If the clubhouse is leased or shared, make sure responsibilities are clear: who insures the building, and who insures contents.

5) Business interruption (BI)

If the bar is a meaningful income stream, business interruption can be crucial.

What to check:

• Indemnity period (often 12–24 months)

• Gross profit/turnover is realistic

• Extensions for:

  • Denial of access (e.g., police cordon, local authority closure)

  • Loss of licence (where available)

  • Failure of utilities

6) Money and theft

Bars handle cash and are attractive to theft.

What to check:

• Money cover for:

  • Cash on premises (including in safes)

  • Cash in transit (banking)

• Theft cover for:

  • Stock and spirits

  • Sound/AV equipment

  • Gaming machines (if applicable)

Insurers may require:

• Safe specifications

• Key control

• Alarm/CCTV

• Cash handling procedures

7) Glass cover

Accidental breakage of fixed glass (windows, doors) and sometimes internal glass can be a frequent claim.

What to check:

• Glass cover includes signage and internal glass if needed

• Any exclusions for unattended premises

8) Deterioration of stock

If you store chilled/frozen stock, consider deterioration of stock (e.g., fridge/freezer breakdown).

9) Legal expenses

Useful for employment disputes, licensing issues, contract disputes, and some health & safety matters.

10) Personal accident / management liability (optional)

Not essential for every park, but worth considering if:

• Key people are hands-on in the bar

• You have a limited management team

Management liability (D&O) can be relevant where you have a company structure and want protection for directors and officers.

Licensing and compliance: what insurers expect

Insurance doesn’t replace compliance — but insurers often expect you to have it.

Key UK considerations include:

• Licensing Act 2003 (premises licence or club premises certificate)

• Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) where required

• Age verification policy (Challenge 25)

• Risk assessments (slips/trips, manual handling, lone working, violence and aggression)

• Fire risk assessment (Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005)

• Food hygiene compliance if food is prepared

• CCTV and incident recording (especially if open late)

If you host events, you may also need:

• Event-specific risk assessments

• Capacity management

• Temporary Event Notices (TENs) where applicable

Common scenarios (and whether separate insurance is likely)

Here are practical examples to help you judge where you sit.

Scenario A: Residents-only clubhouse, limited hours, no events

• Open a few evenings per week

• Drinks and packaged snacks

• No live music, no late-night trading

Likely outcome: Often can be included under a single commercial combined policy, with bar activity declared.

Scenario B: Bar open to the public, weekend entertainment

• Open to non-residents

• Live music/DJ nights

• Sports screenings and busy peak periods

Likely outcome: Higher chance of needing a dedicated bar/club section or a separate policy, especially if late opening.

Scenario C: Full kitchen / food-led venue

• Hot food prepared on-site

• Higher turnover

• More staff and equipment

Likely outcome: Insurer may treat this closer to a pub/restaurant. Separate rating is common.

Scenario D: Function room hire (weddings, parties, corporate)

• Private hire

• External caterers sometimes

• Large groups and alcohol

Likely outcome: You may need extensions for events, hired-in equipment, and potentially a separate policy depending on frequency and size.

Scenario E: Third-party operator runs the bar

• A tenant or contractor runs the bar

Likely outcome: You still need to insure your interests (building/landlord exposures), but the operator should carry their own:

• Public and products liability

• Employers’ liability

• Contents/stock

• Business interruption

You’ll usually want:

• A written contract clarifying responsibilities

• Indemnities where appropriate

• Evidence of insurance (certificates)

• Your business noted as an interested party where relevant

Watch-outs that can invalidate cover (or cause claim disputes)

These are the big ones to avoid:

• Not declaring alcohol service or entertainment

• Understating turnover for the bar

• Not disclosing late opening hours

• Unlicensed activities (or licence conditions not met)

• Poor housekeeping leading to repeated slip claims

• No documented risk assessments

• Inadequate security for busy nights

If you’re unsure, it’s better to over-disclose. Insurers can price for risk; they can’t price for unknowns.

How to structure your insurance so it’s simple (and claim-friendly)

A practical approach that often works well:

1. Map the activities: park operations vs bar/clubhouse vs events

2. Split the turnover: approximate annual figures for each

3. List the key risk features:

   • kitchen? yes/no

   • late licence? yes/no

   • public access? yes/no

   • live music? yes/no

   • capacity? number

4. Check your limits: PL, EL, buildings, contents, stock, money

5. Confirm policy wording: “licensed premises” and “hospitality” exposures included

6. Document controls: incident book, cleaning schedules, age checks, training

This makes underwriting smoother and reduces the chance of delays during a claim.

Quick checklist: what to tell your broker/insurer

If you want a fast, accurate quote, have this ready:

• Address and description of the clubhouse/bar

• Construction type and rebuild value (or last valuation)

• Contents sum insured (fixtures, fittings, equipment)

• Stock values (average and maximum)

• Turnover (bar vs park)

• Opening hours and late nights

• Public access (yes/no)

• Food service details

• Entertainment details and frequency

• Capacity and seating

• Security measures (CCTV, alarms, door staff)

• Claims history

• Licence type and any conditions

FAQs

Do I need separate public liability for the bar?

Not always separate, but you do need public liability that explicitly covers licensed trade activities. If your current policy is written for “caravan park operations” only, it may not respond properly to bar-related claims.

If the bar is only for park guests, does that change anything?

Yes — it can reduce risk compared to a public venue, which can make it easier to include within one policy. But alcohol service and events still need to be declared.

What if we host a few events each year?

Occasional events can often be covered if declared, but you may need specific extensions (and in some cases event-by-event notification). Frequency, capacity, and the type of entertainment matter.

Do we need cover for door staff or security?

If you employ security, they must be included under employers’ liability and declared in the business description. If you hire a security contractor, they should have their own insurance — but you still need to manage the overall venue risk.

Does insurance cover fights or deliberate acts?

Insurance typically covers negligence, not deliberate criminal acts by you. However, you can still face claims alleging poor supervision, inadequate security, or unsafe premises. Policy wording and exclusions vary.

What about gaming machines, pool tables, or children’s play areas in the clubhouse?

These should be declared. They can affect liability risk and may require specific cover for equipment.

A simple rule of thumb

If your clubhouse is basically a quiet residents’ lounge with limited bar service, you may be able to keep it under one policy.

If it looks and operates like a pub, club, or events venue — open to the public, late nights, entertainment, food-led — expect separate rating and potentially a separate policy.

Call to action

If you want, tell me:

• Is the bar open to the public or guests only?

• Do you serve hot food?

• Any live music/DJs, and what time do you close?

…and I’ll outline the most sensible insurance setup (single policy vs separate section vs separate policy) and the key covers/limits to ask for.