Public Liability Insurance (PLI) for Wedding Bands and Musicians in the UK - The Definitive Guide (2024)
26 September 2019 (Updated 26 March 2024)
Reading time — 2 minutes
Public Liability Insurance (PLI) for Wedding Bands and Musicians in the UK - The Definitive Guide (2024)

At FixTheMusic, we supply bands and musicians for thousands of weddings in the UK each year. A common question revolves around whether the chosen band holds public liability insurance (PLI). This is because almost every venue in the UK requires suppliers to hold this insurance if they are to work on their premises.

We've written this article to help both wedding couples and bands understand why public liability insurance is required and what both parties should be looking for when their wedding venue asks about it.

We've put together a set of frequently asked questions to guide both couples and bands through this essential aspect of wedding planning.

What is public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance is a type of insurance that covers the holder if someone claims they have been injured or had their property damaged. Together with PAT-tested equipment, holding PLI stands as a fundamental requirement for compliance within the wedding band industry.

Why do musicians and bands need public liability insurance?

Most wedding venues in the UK require musicians who perform there to hold PLI cover.

Public liability insurance provides protection from the financial consequences of legal action and compensation claims made against you if a third party (not including an employee) is injured or their property is damaged whilst at your business location (e.g. your home) or when you are working in their business property, home or office.

This includes the cost of medical treatment and transport costs incurred by the National Health Service if they claim this amount from your business after an accident.

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When should I ask my band for their public liability insurance certificate?

Public liability insurance is renewed annually. Although it's worth checking that your band holds public liability insurance at the time you book them, as most weddings are booked a year or two in advance, the band will only provide the relevant certificate for your wedding 2 or 3 months before the wedding date. If the insurance certificate expires shortly before your wedding date, then the band will send your venue the renewed certificate much closer to the time.

Up to what amount should public liability insurance protect me?

It is recommended to obtain coverage of up to £10,000,000. This level of protection is required by some local authorities and organisations in the UK. Many bands will hold public liability insurance up to £5,000,000 which is usually sufficient for most weddings.

Do wedding venues require that bands and musicians have public liability insurance?

Yes. Wedding venues, such as hotels, and other event venues in the UK often require that bands and musicians performing on their premises must possess public liability insurance.

As a band, is it worth getting public liability insurance?

Absolutely. It won't be possible to perform at weddings in the UK without holding public liability insurance. It also shows to potential clients and couples that you take the job seriously and will help you to secure more bookings.

Which provider should I choose for public liability insurance in the UK?

The Musicians’ Union provides public liability insurance up to £10,000,000 as part of their membership package.

To comply with the Musicians’ Union cover, musicians must make sure they adhere to any statutory requirements and also show a duty of care by going to reasonable lengths to prevent any damage or injury.

Does my equipment need to be Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) certified for my public liability insurance to be valid?

If you use electronic equipment, the lack of a PAT certificate does not, in itself, invalidate public liability insurance, but possessing a valid PAT certificate will be regarded favourably by insurers in the event of a claim against you.

For this reason, it is recommended to obtain both public liability insurance and PAT certification if you use electronic equipment.

What about other providers of public liability insurance for musicians in the UK?

Allianz Musical Insurance offers public liability insurance and personal accident insurance for musicians playing anywhere in the UK, but their protection is limited to £5,000,000.

Does each band member need to hold PLI?

Normally the PLI certificate is in the name of the band manager or the band itself. It isn't a requirement for each band member to hold PLI individually.

Do bands based outside the UK need to hold public liability insurance?

In our experience of working with wedding venues in France, Italy and Spain and elsewhere in Europe, we've found that most venues don't require bands to hold public liability insurance. That said, we've started to notice more venues requesting proof of insurance so it might be something that becomes more common over the next few years.

This video provides a brief summary of the most important points discussed above in this guide:

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Musicians on FixTheMusic possess the relevant public liability insurance documents to allow them to perform at all venues in the UK and Europe.

Wedding bands on FixTheMusic have public liability insurance and PAT tested equipment.

Adam is a co-founder of FixTheMusic and works on everything from copywriting and marketing to design and user experience. He studied Music at Cambridge University. Adam is a keen pianist, and also learned cello and trumpet from an early age.

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