Whether you are planning to host a world cup watch party, or welcome celebratory football fans post-game – Nightclubs and Bars need to be ready for the World Cup.
The World Cup presents a huge commercial opportunity for the hospitality and nightlife industry. We predict (optimistically) five weeks of national celebration over the course of the tournament, where each weekend and most week days will see increased footfall compared to this time last year. Pints sold during the World Cup tournament days broke records four years ago, and venues saw profits skyrocket. This opportunity for increase income could not have come at a more pressing time for a struggling sector.
Nightclubs, bars and pubs should review their operations in order to ensure their business is in the best possible position to accept revellers. For those planning on running football-theme events and watch-a-longs – a quickly overlooked area can be insurance. Although at NDML we have found national events, such as football tournaments, among Christmas and New Year as the most prominent time for accidents and claims. With busier highstreets and later opening hours, disorderly behaviour is to be expected; alongside the increased terror threat presented by a national event. Therefore, venues should communicate with their insurance broker on how to best prepare, and ask whether their insurance policy is adequate, considering the increased risk.
When are the home nation World Cup games?:
Scotland vs Haiti – Sunday 14th June, 2am.
England vs Croatia – Wednesday 17th June, 9pm.
Scotland vs Morocco – 19th June, 11pm.
England vs Ghana – 23rd June, 9pm.
Scotland vs Brazil – 24th June, 11pm.
England vs Panama – 27th June, 10pm.
As of the time of writing, Round 32 and Round 16 is yet to be decided.
How to Manage Heightened Risks for Bars and Nightclubs during the World Cup
A World Cup Tournament poses a unique operating environment for nightlife businesses. Rivalries and aggression will create an increased risk of violence and conflict. Over serving patrons is easily done and commonplace, despite warnings. Customers can go to emotional extremes after seeing their team lose or miss a penalty. This could quickly mean equipment breakages or disruption, costing your venue money to replace.
Overcrowding is another issue as an excessive amount of customers hit the streets looking to watch the game or celebrate a win. With overcrowding come health and safety, increasing the difficulty for managing injury situations. It’s imperative venues have a strong knowledge of the capacity of their venue and keep walkways clear. Overcrowding also increases the risk of theft. A theft at the venue can lead to a claim, so keeping entrances secure to deter thieves, and waring patrons is advised.
There is a trend, with England matches especially, for drinks to be thrown upon a goal being scored. Venues may consider limiting glassware, opting for paper cups or plastic, to reduce the likelihood of injuries.
Ultimately, managing risk will involve compliance, staff training, teamwork, and a full review of your insurance policy. It is advised that all venues; nightclubs, bars, pubs; review their insurance with their dedicated insurance broker before the World Cup. At NDML we offer a comprehensive non-committal confidential review to any nightlife business or hospitality business – because it’s our mission to safeguard nightlife as the market’s leading nightlife insurance broker.
Aspects of your insurance to review before the world cup takes place
Review your Public Liability Insurance:
The likelihood for slips and trips is heightened over the world cup period. Disorderly behaviour and drunken patrons is to be expected, and as such crowd-related injuries can result in claims. Multiple claims stacking up will require time and resources, which is why a dedicated insurance broker is essential for bars and nightclubs. Check your public liability insurance limits with your broker.
Review your Employers Liability Insurance:
The world cup will be a very busy time for pubs bars and nightclubs, and taking on more staff on temporary contracts might be necessary. Employers liability insurance is legally required and all staff, including temporary staff need to be covered by your policy. Check with your insurance broker on the extend of your employers liability cover.
Review your contents insurance:
Preparing for the world cup can involve acquiring more equipment. Whether that’s screens, speakers, projectors and seating for a watch-a-long event, or sound equipment for the huge celebratory nights out; nightclubs need to check their contents cover. A bar or club’s Sums Insured for contents should cover the total cost of the items on the premises, in the event of a fire or flood. Upon purchasing equipment, contact your broker to up the content cover in your policy.
Review your stock insurance
Nightclubs, pubs and bars should be stocking up in preparation for a busy period of increased footfall over the duration of the world cup tournament. Food, drinks, cups, glass and one-use plastics will all need to be purchased as to not witness a shortfall and lose potential income. Stock insurance protects stock from any damages, fire or water damage, but with an abundance of stock on the premises, policyholders will need to make sure their insurance limits are up to date.
Review your Streaming licenses
Much of the World Cup will be streamed via BBC and ITV. To legally stream television in a nightclub, the owners much purchase a commercial tv license, as well as a music license. Some World Cup games will be shown on Youtube, therefore Youtube Premium without ads may also be a worthwhile investment.
Necessary licenses will also include a TENs license. Temporary Event Notices are required for carrying out licensable activity on unlicensed premises. This gives the council an opportunity to object to the event, considering potential for crime and disorder, nuisance or a threat to public safety.
Review your capacity limit
Pubs, bars, nightclubs alongside any and all venue will have a capacity limits. For large events, these capacity limits need to be enforced. If an incident occurs with a club above maximum capacity, serious consequences can follow. Therefore venues are advised to review and update their capacity limits, including the health and safety required for larger gatherings.
Review your CCTV
Venues should ensure their CCTV is operations and all-encompassing. Every possible legally-permitted area of the venue should be covered. This will help to prevent or resolve claims involving thefts and accidents. For information on necessary CCTV placement, read here: https://www.ndml.co.uk/articles/nightclub/what-are-the-cctv-requirements-of-nightclubs-and-bars/
Review your terror risk assessment
The terrorism threat level during national events such as the World Cup will be raised. With Martyn’s Law on the horizon, bar and nightclub owners should already be preparing their staff in accordance with the Protect Duty Bill. Insurers recommend policyholders carry out specific risk assessments and document crisis-response plans. Terror insurance will be necessary to defend against the possibility of active assailants and nearby disruption due to terror-related events.
Review your staff training
Deescalation or clean up procedures, your staff need to be on the ball when it comes to health and safety during the World Cup. Compliance risks need to be addressed and proper onboarding for temporary staff need to be practiced ahead of time. Ultimately, well-trained staff will raise customer satisfactions, lower staff turnover and likely improve sales. Spotting signs of sexual harassment, conflict, drug-use and misbehaviour should require education. Begin this immediately to reduce the likelihood of a costly claim.
Review opening hours
In April, the government announced pubs will be allowed to extend their opening hours to accommodate for the world cup. During key matches, pubs will be permitted to serve alcohol until 1am, but for England and Scotland matches kicking off at 9pm/10pm, opening hours can stretch to 2am – Review the information on hours here. Ensure these hours are followed as to not incur repercussions.