Darts Bar Insurance UK | Cover for Social Darts Venues
Darts bar insurance covers social darts venues, oche bars and pubs that run electronic darts lanes with automatic scoring. The core covers are public liability for injuries from darts, glass and crowds, employers' liability for staff, contents cover for the lanes, cameras, scoring screens and bar fit-out, and business interruption if the venue has to close. Most darts bars also need stock and loss of licence cover, money cover for takings, equipment breakdown for the scoring technology and cyber cover for online bookings. Insurers focus on lane design and the distance between lanes and seating, how you manage alcohol and late-night crowds, door staff, glass policies and group bookings such as stag and hen parties. Some pub insurers will accept a darts bar, but many won't rate the activity alongside a late licence, so specialist licensed and leisure markets are often needed.
Key facts at a glance
- It's a bar first. Insurers rate the alcohol, hours and crowd risk as heavily as the darts.
- Lane layout matters. Insurers look at the space between throwing lines, seating and walkways.
- Group bookings change the risk. Stag and hen parties and corporate nights mean more alcohol and bigger crowds.
- The tech needs protecting. Cameras, auto-scoring and screens need contents and breakdown cover.
- Licence and income cover matter. Losing your premises licence can stop trading overnight.
What insurance does a darts bar need?
A darts bar usually needs public liability, employers' liability, contents and equipment cover, stock and licence cover, money cover, equipment breakdown and business interruption.
| Cover | What it protects | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | Injuries from darts, glass, slips and crowds | Assault and door staff exclusions |
| Employers' liability | Injuries to bar, floor and door staff | A legal requirement once you employ anyone |
| Contents and equipment | Lanes, cameras, scoring systems, screens, fit-out | Tenant's improvements left off the schedule |
| Stock and loss of licence | Drinks stock and the value of your licence | Licence cover is often an optional extra |
| Money | Takings on premises and in transit | Safe limits and banking arrangements |
| Business interruption | Lost income if you can't trade | Covering long refits after a fire |
Darts bars are one of the formats covered in our guide to competitive socialising venue insurance. For licensed venues more generally, see our bar insurance page.
Why darts bars need specialist cover
A darts bar mixes a late licence, groups drinking and people throwing sharp objects. Plenty of pub insurers are happy with traditional pub darts, but fewer will rate a venue built around it.
The good news is that modern darts bars are generally well designed. Lanes are separated, throwing lines are marked and seating sits behind the players. Insurers want to see that, along with clear rules about not walking into lanes and staff who stop play if things get rowdy. The bigger exposures tend to be the same as any busy bar: glass injuries, slips and incidents involving door staff.
Some licensed premises policies exclude injuries caused by assault, or by door staff, unless they are SIA licensed and supplied by a contractor with its own insurance. Read this section before you buy.
What do insurers ask about a darts bar?
Insurers ask about the lanes, the licence, your customers and how you manage alcohol and crowds.
- Lanes. Number of lanes, spacing, barriers and where seating sits
- Licence. Opening hours, late licence and any conditions
- Turnover. Split between alcohol, food and lane bookings
- Customers. Group bookings, stag and hen parties and corporate events
- Security. Door staff, CCTV and how incidents are recorded
- Glass. Whether you use toughened glass or polycarbonate on busy nights
- History. Any claims, licence reviews or police incidents
Adding darts lanes to a pub
If you're adding electronic darts lanes to an existing pub, tell your insurer before they go in. It's a change in risk, and it can affect your cover.
Most pub insurers will accept a few lanes, but you'll need to increase your contents sum insured for the equipment and fit-out. If they won't accept it, we can move the whole venue to a market that will. See our guide to pub and restaurant insurance for more on licensed premises cover.
How do you set up darts bar insurance?
- Value your lanes and fit-out. At full replacement cost.
- Share your licence. Hours and any conditions.
- Explain your booking mix. Especially groups and parties.
- Describe your security. Door staff, CCTV and glass policy.
- Add licence and money cover. They're often optional.
- Come to a specialist. So the activity and licence are properly declared.
Frequently asked questions
Traditional pub darts, usually yes. A venue built around darts lanes often needs a specialist licensed and leisure policy.
Yes, under public liability, provided the policy doesn't exclude participants.
It's strongly recommended. Losing your premises licence can stop you trading overnight.
Not a problem, but they must be declared. Insurers want to know how you manage them.
Only if you add equipment breakdown cover.
Yes. New venues are insured on projections and the experience of the people running them.
Related guides from Miller & Partner
Miller & Partner Limited (FRN 1029698) is an Appointed Representative of Gauntlet Risk Management Ltd (FRN 308081), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Miller & Partner Limited is registered in England and Wales (company number 16206282) and trades from Vivian House, Roman Bridge Close, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 5BG. This article is general information, not a personal recommendation or an offer of cover. Cover is subject to insurer acceptance and the full terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued.
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