Hosts mop up as rains prompt cover warning

by Richard Matthews Flood-hit licensees could face increased insurance premiums following the New Year deluge. Experts are urging traders to reduce payments and excess charges by shopping around for cover and preparing more detailed contingency plans. Although some pubs were affected by flooding, it appeared that remedial work by the Environment Agency had helped protect many premises. Derek Thain, manager of the Anchor at Yalding in Kent, said that although his car park had been flooded for days the water had not reached the pub. "We've had previous flooding and the pub had to be virtually re-built after the floods of two years ago. Consequently the excess on the pub's insurance runs into thousands but it looks like this time we have got away with it," he said. At the Chequers in nearby Laddingford, Charles Leaver was kept busy pumping out flood water from the cellar. His wife, Tracey, said: "The water comes up through the drains and we have to put our wellingtons on to change a barrel, but the stock is not affected because it is on a higher level." One pub that suffered was the Swan at Upton-on-Severn ­ the Worcestershire town which is flooded virtually every year. Barman Gavin Moore said: "The water went right through the pub, but wasn't as bad as previous years and we moved most of the carpets and furniture to safety in advance. We can't get insurance anymore and just have to get on with it." Pat Perry, managing director of environmental health and business risk specialists Perry Scott Nash, urged licensees to shop around more for insurance and demonstrate to companies they had contingency plans in place to deal with flooding. "Many licensees seem to throw their hands up and accept that they can't get cover or they will face a higher excess, instead of talking to their insurance company or broker," she said. "The more they can do to reduce the risk by having contingency plans in place to deal with flooding, then the more they can reduce their premiums. "If the Environment Agency is carrying out flood defence work then they should talk to them and produce evidence to insurers that things are improving. "You can bet that premiums will continue to rise unless licensees produce compelling evidence why they shouldn't, but the onus is on the licensee to demonstrate how he deals with the flood risk in terms of sandbagging or moving valuable stock out of danger" Ralph Lepore, associate director of March Sport and Leisure, which operates a specific insurance scheme for the trade, said new licensees were likely to be harder hit, with higher premiums than those licensees who have been running pubs in high-risk areas for many years. "Insurers look at both the pub and the person running it, but a licensee who has successfully coped with flooding over many years is likely to be more favourably looked upon in contrast to a newcomer who has just moved to an area that is prone to flooding or someone who simply wants to change insurers," he said.