Hospitality businesses urged to revisit rejected Covid-19 insurance claims
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Thousands of hospitality and leisure businesses had their Covid-19 business interruption claims denied during the pandemic, often unfairly.
With new legal rulings now in force, many of those claims are being reassessed, giving businesses a renewed opportunity to recover the compensation they were previously denied.
Legal decisions reshape the claims landscape
Law firm Hugh James has played a leading role in several high-profile victories that have shifted the legal landscape for Covid-19 insurance claims. Recent successes include:
- A landmark High Court victory for a Michelin-starred Welsh restaurant, setting a vital precedent for businesses affected by closure and access restrictions.
- A £7.5 million arbitration win for hair and beauty salons across the UK under the ‘Salon Gold’ policy.
- A pivotal Court of Appeal judgment which clarified insurer obligations and opened the door for thousands of previously unsuccessful claims to be reassessed.
These outcomes have paved the way for many businesses to challenge rejected claims, or bring entirely new ones, even if they had previously been told they were not eligible.
Time is limited
Although the legal deadline to bring Covid-19 business interruption claims is March 2026, the law firm Hugh James, which is UKHospitality’s recommended legal provider, will be closing its intake of new claims on 23 February 2026. This ensures sufficient time to process each case effectively before the statutory deadline.
Sector-specific expertise and proven results
Hugh James has acted for a broad range of clients across the hospitality and leisure sectors, from pubs, bars and hotels to fitness centres and visitor attractions. The team offers a no win, no fee service and has already helped hundreds of businesses secure meaningful recoveries.
“Without Hugh James, we wouldn’t have known we had a valid claim. They helped us challenge the rejection, made the process stress-free, and delivered results.”
– Why Not Bar, Cardiff
How to get started
Whether a claim was previously rejected, never submitted, or simply overlooked, businesses may still be eligible. Legal rulings have changed the outlook, but the window to act is closing.
