Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What public liability insurance coverage and classification do I need for Christmas markets and event activations?
Members recommend securing **£5M of public liability cover** as a minimum—this is required by many event organisers. Several insurers and brokers have been used by the community: - **Simply Business** (simplybusiness.co.uk) — easy to deal with and competitive pricing - **FSB** — recommended as a route for cover - **CMTIA** (cmtia.co.uk) — described as "the bog standard" option, though verify they cover your specific event type before applying One member reported that CMTIA initially said they don't provide event cover, so confirm coverage explicitly when applying—don't assume. Another member noted they obtained £5M cover through a broker and believed it covered events, but recommend double-checking the policy wording. **Key caveat:** Classification and specific event coverage terms vary by insurer and event type. Contact brokers directly to confirm your Christmas market or activation qualifies under their policies before committing.
What are the best practices and contacts for selling at seasonal city centre Christmas markets?
Members with experience selling bottles at fixed city centre Christmas markets (such as Bath) recommend working with established market operators. **Sapling** is a known operator that members have used successfully for multiple Christmas market events—one member reported completing a couple of events and planning four more for the current year. This indicates Sapling manages seasonal Christmas markets and can accommodate bottle sales. For specific advice on stall setup, pricing, logistics and market selection, members with direct Sapling experience are available within the community for detailed discussion. No other specific market operators, fee structures, or tactical guidance were detailed in the available discussion.