Specialist Insurance

Takeaway Insurance

Specialist insurance for takeaways, fast food outlets, delivery-only kitchens, and mobile food businesses across the UK. We arrange tailored cover to protect your premises, equipment, staff, and customers — with a clear understanding of FSA food hygiene requirements, late-night licensing, and delivery platform risks.

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Important: Focus Insurance Services is an insurance broker, not an insurer. We arrange cover on your behalf and provide advice tailored to your needs. Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please read all documentation carefully.

What Does Takeaway Insurance Cover?

Takeaway insurance combines multiple covers in one comprehensive policy. Typical coverage includes:

Public Liability

Protection if a customer or member of the public is injured on your premises or suffers property damage — typically £1m–£5m cover. Essential for any food business with customer-facing premises.

Product Liability

Cover for claims arising from food or drink you supply causing illness, injury, or allergic reaction. Particularly important given the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Natasha's Law allergen labelling requirements (2021).

Employers' Liability

Legal requirement if you employ kitchen staff, delivery drivers, or counter staff. Minimum £5m cover required by law under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.

Buildings Insurance

Cover for the takeaway premises against fire, flood, storm, and other insured perils. If you are a tenant, your landlord may hold buildings insurance — but you should confirm this and ensure your own contents are covered.

Contents & Equipment

Cover for cooking equipment, refrigeration units, fryers, ovens, and other kitchen equipment against breakdown, theft, fire, and accidental damage.

Stock & Perishables

Cover for food stock and perishable goods lost due to refrigeration breakdown, fire, or flood. Particularly important for businesses holding significant stock.

Business Interruption

Cover for loss of income if the takeaway is forced to close following an insured event such as fire, flood, or equipment failure. Covers ongoing costs including rent, wages, and loan repayments.

Money Cover

Protection for cash held on the premises or in transit to the bank, including theft by forced entry and robbery.

Delivery Liability

Cover for liability arising from delivery operations, including claims from customers or third parties during the delivery process. Note: delivery drivers using their own vehicles require appropriate motor insurance.

Loss of Licence

Cover for financial loss if your premises licence is revoked or suspended by the licensing authority, preventing you from trading.

Why Choose Focus Insurance?

As an independent broker, we work for you – not the insurers. Our expertise ensures you get the right cover at the right price.

Food Sector Expertise

Specialist knowledge of the insurance requirements for takeaways and food businesses, including FSA food hygiene ratings, allergen labelling (Natasha's Law), and late-night licensing.

Delivery Platform Awareness

We understand the risks associated with delivery platforms such as Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats, and can advise on cover requirements for delivery operations.

Late-Night Operations

Cover arranged for businesses operating late-night hours, including licensing compliance under the Licensing Act 2003 and late-night levy considerations.

Flexible Arrangements

Cover arranged for fixed premises, delivery-only kitchens (dark kitchens), and mobile food vans — with options to extend for catering events and markets.

Is This Cover Right for You?

This insurance is designed for property owners and investors who need comprehensive protection. It may be suitable if you:

Takeaways and fast food outlets (Chinese, Indian, pizza, fish & chips, etc.)
Delivery-only kitchens and dark kitchens
Mobile food vans and street food traders
Kebab shops, burger bars, and sandwich bars
Businesses registered with the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Businesses operating under a premises licence (Licensing Act 2003)
Takeaways using third-party delivery platforms (Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats)

What We'll Need for Your Quote

1
Business name and address
2
Type of food served and cuisine
3
Number of employees (full-time and part-time)
4
Annual turnover
5
Whether delivery operations are undertaken
6
Whether a premises licence is held
7
FSA food hygiene rating (if applicable)
8
Buildings sum insured (if applicable)
9
Details of any previous claims
10
Whether the business operates from a fixed premises, dark kitchen, or mobile unit

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need separate insurance for delivery drivers?

Delivery drivers using their own vehicles require motor insurance with appropriate business use cover — standard private motor insurance is not sufficient for delivery work. If you employ drivers using company vehicles, fleet or motor trade insurance may be required. We can advise on the appropriate motor insurance arrangements for your delivery operation.

Does my insurance cover food allergic reactions?

Product liability insurance covers claims arising from food or drink you supply causing illness, injury, or allergic reaction. However, you should also ensure that your business complies with Natasha's Law (October 2021), which requires full ingredient and allergen labelling on all food prepacked for direct sale. Compliance with food safety legislation is a condition of most food business insurance policies.

What is a dark kitchen and do I need different insurance?

A dark kitchen (also known as a ghost kitchen or delivery-only kitchen) is a commercial kitchen that operates solely for delivery, with no customer-facing premises. Dark kitchens have specific insurance requirements, particularly around product liability, business interruption, and delivery operations. We can arrange cover specifically for dark kitchen operations.

Does my FSA food hygiene rating affect my insurance?

Your FSA food hygiene rating does not directly determine your insurance premium, but a poor rating may indicate underlying food safety issues that could increase your risk of a product liability claim. Maintaining a good food hygiene rating demonstrates that you take food safety seriously and may support your position in the event of a claim.

Do I need a premises licence to operate a takeaway?

If your takeaway sells hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am, you will require a late-night refreshment licence under the Licensing Act 2003. You should ensure that your insurance policy covers your licensed activities and that loss of licence cover is included if your business is dependent on the licence to trade.

Is my equipment covered if it breaks down?

Standard property insurance covers equipment against fire, theft, and accidental damage, but does not typically cover mechanical or electrical breakdown. Equipment breakdown cover (sometimes called machinery breakdown insurance) can be added to your policy to cover the cost of repair or replacement of cooking equipment, refrigeration units, and other kitchen machinery.

Ready to Discuss Your Insurance Needs?

Our experienced team is here to help. Get in touch for a no-obligation conversation about your requirements.