Why is Event Insurance not just for big events?
A lot of people assume event insurance is something only festival organisers, wedding planners and corporate giants need. If your guest list doesn't look like it needs its own security team, why would you bother? But the reality is simple: even the smallest event can land you with surprisingly big risks. And that's exactly where public liability insurance proves its worth.
Whether you're hosting a craft workshop, a charity bake sale, a birthday party in a hired hall or a small business showcase, public liability cover protects you if someone gets hurt or something gets damaged (and it's considered your fault).
Small Event, Same Liability
It's easy to assume that 'small' and 'safe' go hand-in-hand, but unfortunately, claims don't depend on headcount.
If someone trips over a cable, burns themselves on a catering urn, or a rogue pop-up banner smacks into a guest's camera... the size of the event doesn't matter. The cost of dealing with the claim is exactly the same as it would be at a festival hosting 2,000 people.
And because even small accidents often involve medical costs, legal fees and compensation, public liability insurance becomes a bit of a no-brainer - even for modest gatherings.
What Public Liability Insurance Actually Covers
In plain English, PL insurance protects you if someone attending your event claims that:
you caused them an injury
you damaged their property
your event setup created a hazard
your hired helpers made a mistake that caused harm
If they make a claim, public liability insurance can help to cover any legal costs or compensation you're responsible for. It's designed for those small mistakes that quickly spiral into expensive problems - less major disaster, more nuisance chair leg.
Time to Book the Hall?
When you're organising an event yourself - as a sole trader, community volunteer or just running a neat little workshop - the liability often falls directly on you, not the venue. That can be financially painful if something goes wrong. Public liability insurance works as a buffer between your event and your bank account, stopping a single mishap from turning into a long-term headache.
And here's the bit many first-time organisers don't realise: plenty of venues now require public liability insurance. Some hide it in the booking conditions, and others won't hand over the keys until you produce a certificate - which isn't really ideal when you're already juggling tables, chairs and a tray of Tesco pastries!
The good news is that cover is usually far more affordable than people expect, especially for small, low-risk events. You're essentially paying a modest amount to avoid a potentially huge bill. Because even the calmest events can go rogue. Things go wrong more often than you'd think:
a guest trips over a table leg
a child knocks something heavy off a display
a supplier's equipment falls and damages property
someone spills hot drinks during service
a temporary structure collapses
a participant accidentally injures someone else
Public liability insurance isn't about being dramatic - it's about being realistic.
The Bottom Line
Event insurance isn't just for big shows or high-budget productions. It's for:
small business events
craft workshops
charity fundraisers
community meet-ups
private parties
pop-up classes
family celebrations
school events
If you're running anything where the public is involved (even just a handful of people) public liability insurance gives you the confidence to host without worrying about 'what if'.
And best of all? It's affordable, easy to arrange, and acts as a safety net for the kinds of accidents you can't predict but really don't want to pay for.
