Restaurant insurance news - Restaurateurs worry over winter claims

Restaurateurs across the country have been hit hard by one of the most intense and most sustained periods of cold weather to hit the UK in many years. Indeed, with some businesses facing up to the harsh reality of hundreds of working hours and restaurant insurance claims for loss of business unlikely, experts estimate that tens of millions of pounds could be lost by the restaurant business over the winter period.

Indeed, those restaurants that have remained open face other concerns too. For example, council spokespeople explain as restaurateurs "could be liable if they cleared snow but exacerbated the situation by leaving underlying ice", restaurant insurance holders have been left with the difficult question of whether they should seek to assist their customers by clearing snow or safeguard their public liability by leaving snow in place.

And, despite personal injury solicitors seeking to advise owners that it "should be perfectly safe to clear footpaths" many are not reassured by such equivocal seeming statements.

One restaurant insurance holder explains, "The system is wrong. We have just left it [the snow and ice] and it is dangerous."