Your Stall, Your Rules – Why You Need a Disclaimer Sign This Summer

Festival season is here. The music’s loud, the sun’s (hopefully) out, and your pitch is busier than ever. You’ve got the food prepped, the van loaded, and staff briefed. But there’s one thing many traders forget to bring to summer events: a proper disclaimer sign. 

It’s not the most exciting part of your set-up, but it can be a game-changer when things don’t go to plan. 

What’s a disclaimer sign, and why do I need one? 

A disclaimer is simply a clear, upfront notice to let your customers know what you are, and aren’t, responsible for. You can’t waive away your legal duties (like food safety or hygiene), but a good disclaimer helps manage expectations and reduce the chances of complaints or legal issues. 

Here’s the reality: when people are hot, hungry, or slightly drunk at a festival, they don’t always think things through. That’s when they spill a hot curry on themselves or eat something without asking about allergens. And guess who they’ll blame? 

Real-world examples 

We’ve seen cases where: 

• Someone tripped over a cable near a food stall and demanded compensation. 

• A customer complained about being “burned” by the steam from a hot dog. 

• Someone tried to claim they weren’t warned about allergens despite signs being nearby, but not obvious enough. 

A disclaimer won’t stop these situations from happening, but it will show you took steps to warn people and can help protect your business if things escalate. 

Where to put your disclaimer 

You don’t need a flashing neon sign, but you do need something clear and visible. Ideally, it should be: 

• Near your counter or serving hatch 

• Printed in plain language and big enough to read at a glance 

• Repeated on your printed menu or price list, if you have one 

And if you’ve got outdoor lighting, make sure it’s still visible after dark. 

What should it say? 

You’ll want to tailor your disclaimer to your menu and setup, but here are some handy lines to get you thinking: 

• “Please let us know about allergies or dietary needs before ordering.” 

• “Food served hot.  Take care when handling.” 

• “Outdoor flooring may be uneven, please mind your step.” 

• “We do not accept responsibility for injury or damage once food has been collected.” 

You’re not trying to scare people off, you’re just covering your back and being upfront. 

Quick legal check, anyone? 

If you’re not sure whether your disclaimers, booking forms, or customer terms are doing the job, we’re here to help. NCASS members can book a free 30-minute legal check this summer. We’ll go through your paperwork and flag anything that could trip you up, so you can focus on the queue, not a claim. 

Other support available: 

• Pay-as-you-go legal advice from £495 

• Contract or document reviews from £20 

• Debt recovery help from £50 

Get in touch to book your call! 

📨 [email protected] 

💻www.mckenzielegalandhr.co.uk 

☎ 0118 321 4188