Restaurant insurance for Australian venues
A restaurant carries more risk than most small businesses: commercial kitchens, expensive equipment, perishable stock, staff and a dining room full of customers every night. One kitchen fire or cool room failure can close your doors for weeks. We build restaurant insurance around how your venue actually runs, from fine dining to takeaway and licensed premises.
Risks restaurants face
- Kitchen fires from fryers, grills and exhaust canopies
- Food poisoning or allergen claims from customers
- Cool room and refrigeration breakdown spoiling stock
- Slips and falls in dining areas, bathrooms and entrances
- Break-ins, theft of cash and equipment, and broken glass
- Weeks of lost income while repairs are carried out
What restaurant insurance usually includes
Business Package Insurance
Fit-out, equipment, stock, glass, theft, money and business interruption under one policy, with options for spoilage and machinery breakdown.
Public Liability Insurance
Cover if a customer is injured on your premises or becomes ill from food you serve, through products liability.
Cyber Insurance
Protection if your booking system, point-of-sale or online ordering is hacked or held to ransom.
What to check before you buy
Many insurers set conditions for commercial kitchens, such as regular professional cleaning of exhaust canopies and ducts, and working fire extinguishers and blankets. Breaching these can affect a fire claim, so we'll make sure you know what's required. We'll also check your business interruption period is long enough to cover a realistic refit, and whether your liquor licence, live entertainment or late trading changes your cover.
Why work with a broker?
Policies that look similar on price can differ a great deal in what they pay for. As your broker, we act on your behalf: we ask the right questions about your business, compare options, explain the fine print in plain language and support you through any claim, wherever you are in Australia.
Common questions
Is public liability insurance compulsory for restaurants?
It isn't required by law in most cases, but landlords commonly require it in your lease, and councils often require it for footpath or outdoor dining permits.
Does restaurant insurance cover spoiled food?
It can. Deterioration of stock cover protects food lost through refrigeration breakdown or power outages, but it's usually an optional section with its own limits.
Do I need workers compensation for my staff?
If you employ staff, workers compensation is compulsory and is arranged through your state's scheme. It's separate from the business insurance we arrange.
Does restaurant insurance cover incidents involving alcohol?
Licensed venues need cover that reflects how alcohol is served. Some liability policies have conditions or exclusions relating to intoxication, assault or late trading, so it’s important to disclose your liquor licence, trading hours and any entertainment. We’ll check the wording so you know exactly where you stand.
Is my outdoor dining furniture covered?
Contents cover often limits or excludes property left in the open air, such as tables, chairs, umbrellas and heaters on a footpath or courtyard. Ask about open-air property cover and check the limits, especially if you have a large outdoor area.
How to get a quote
Getting a quote for your business is simple, and there is no obligation. Call Carly on 0497 100 469 or send an email with your business name and ABN, a short description of what you do, your approximate turnover and number of staff, a copy of your current policy schedule if you have one, and details of any claims in the last five years.
If your contracts or lease set specific insurance requirements, send those too.
We will ask a few questions about your operations, approach suitable insurers on your behalf and come back with options explained in plain language, including what is and isn’t covered. Once you choose, we arrange your cover and send your documents, then review it with you at every renewal so your insurance keeps pace with your business.
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Insurance built around your business. Let's talk.
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