Why do ice cream parlours need insurance?
Ice cream shops operate in fast-paced environments where accidents and unexpected events can happen. Having ice cream shop insurance in place can help manage the costs associated with customer incidents, damage to stock and equipment, or injuries to your staff.
A customer slips on a wet floor
During busy periods, melted ice cream or spilt drinks can create slippery surfaces. If a customer falls and is injured, they may bring a claim against your business. Public liability insurance can help cover legal costs and compensation payments if someone is injured on your premises.
Damaged stock
Freezer breakdowns, power cuts, or accidents in your parlour could damage or destroy valuable stock. Whether it's your ice cream inventory, serving equipment, or furniture, business contents insurance can help cover the cost of repairing or replacing items that are lost, damaged, or stolen.
An employee gets injured
Working in an ice cream shop involves various tasks, from operating machinery to cleaning equipment. If an employee is injured while at work, they might make a claim against your business. Employers' liability insurance can help cover legal defence costs and compensation payments resulting from workplace injuries or illnesses.
What insurance is available for ice cream parlours?
Hiscox offers several types of business insurance that can be tailored to your ice cream shop’s specific needs.
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance can help protect your business if a customer or visitor is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your business activities. This could include a customer slipping on your premises, a child being injured by faulty furniture, or damage caused during a delivery.
Whether you run a small independent parlour or a larger operation with outdoor seating, public liability insurance can help with compensation payments and legal defence costs. Cover is available up to £10 million, giving you reassurance that unexpected incidents won't put your business at financial risk.
Employers' liability insurance
If you employ staff in your ice cream parlour, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement in most cases. This cover can help protect your business if an employee is injured or becomes ill due to their work for you.
Employers' liability insurance can help with compensation payments and legal defence costs if an employee brings a claim against you. This applies whether their injury occurs while operating equipment, handling stock, or performing cleaning duties. If you employ staff, this may be a legal requirement for your ice cream shop insurance.
Business contents insurance
Business contents insurance can help if equipment, stock, or fixtures in your ice cream parlour are damaged, lost, or stolen. This includes freezers, serving counters, furniture, and the ice cream itself.
Having this cover in place means you can repair or replace what's needed without significant disruption to your business, helping you get back to serving customers as quickly as possible.
If you’re not sure what you need, tell us a little more about your ice cream business. We’ll help you to build your quote and explore any other insurance needs.
Build my coverInsurance for ice cream parlours: FAQs
Am I covered if I need to temporarily close my ice cream parlour?
Business interruption insurance can help cover lost income if you need to temporarily close your parlour due to an insured event, such as fire or flood damage. It can also help cover additional expenses incurred, such as the cost of renting alternative premises or equipment, while you’re unable to trade in the normal manner.
This type of cover isn't included as standard in all policies, so it's worth checking what's available when you set up your ice cream parlour insurance. It’s currently only sold through our contact centre.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to get a quote for business interruption insurance:
Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm.
Does insurance cover spoiled or melted ice cream?
Business contents insurance typically covers physical damage to stock from events like fire, theft, or vandalism. However, spoilage or melting due to freezer breakdown or power cuts requires specific refrigerated stock cover, which can be found in some policies. Our tailored business contents wording for retailers normally includes a sub-limit to help cover the cost of replacing spoiled or melted ice cream and other frozen products if your refrigeration equipment fails or there’s a power cut.
Is public liability insurance mandatory for ice cream parlours?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement in the UK, but many landlords, local authorities, and event organisers require proof of cover before allowing you to trade on their premises or at their events. Even if it's not mandatory for your situation, having public liability insurance can provide valuable financial protection if a customer is injured or their property is damaged in connection with your business.
Does products liability cover me if a customer has an allergic reaction?
Products liability cover is typically included with public liability, but coverage for allergic reactions will depend on the circumstances. If a customer alleges that you have negligently supplied them with a product to which they are allergic, products liability cover can help with legal defence costs and compensation payments if they make a claim against you. However, it's important to follow food safety standards, maintain proper food labelling and provide staff training on allergen management, as insurers expect businesses to meet their legal obligations.
Can I insure my outdoor seating area?
Yes, business contents insurance can often be extended to cover furniture and equipment in outdoor seating areas. Public liability insurance can also help protect you if someone is injured on your property. When setting up your policy, make sure to declare any outdoor areas so your insurer can provide appropriate cover. Some policies may have specific terms for items left outside, so it's worth discussing your setup when you get a quote.
Related articles and guides
How much does business insurance cost?
At Hiscox, we offer the opportunity to tailor cover to your business, giving you more control over what you pay. Discover how much business insurance costs with this article.
The ice cream parlour pioneer
Learn from a fellow food and drink industry innovator in this interview with an ice cream parlour pioneer who took inspiration from Barcelona.
The formula for business success
Wanting to grow your ice cream parlour into something larger? Read this guide discussing the formula for business success to learn all you need to get started.