Friday nights treat is still a takeaway for most Brits. Whilst the recession has put paid to an expensive sit down meal in a restaurant, takeaways are still doing a roaring trade.

The established fish and chip shop owners we speak to are quite up beat. Yes their costs have increased and some customers are cutting back, but compared to other small businesses they are surviving.

The sensible and prudent shop owner, although being careful about money, does not cut back on the cover provided through their fish and chip shop insurance.

Many shops are leased from landlords. The landlord arranges a separate commercial building insurance policy and bills/invoices the shop owner annually. However, most commercial leases for shop premises in England and Wales stipulate that the tenant must insure the shop front glass.

Fish and chips shops usually have a large glass shop front, all the better for customers to see in the premises. The problem with a large glass frontage is that it can be a target for malicious damage.

A broken shop front window can cost a lost to replace, particularly when you add in the emergency call out and boarding up costs.

As the darker nights start to crawl in, malicious damage and vandalism increases. Now is the time to check that your shop insurance policy provides adequate glass cover.

After Norman Lamont’s disastrous green shoots comments in the very early 1990’s which, whether he will admit it or not, helped fill in his P45, no-one is keen to signal the end of the recession.

You will find the Sunday broadsheets full of glimpses of journalists picking through the pieces and coming to a majority conclusion that we are on the way out of the recession. It is dangerous of course to think that getting out of a recession is a quick process. Whilst the figures may point to growth before the end of 2009, the pain is going to go on.

There are signs though that the commercial property market is picking up. To be fair, it couldn’t get much worse. So the Honda effect has kicked in and any slowdown in the deterioration is seen as good news.

The best place to look for signs is where it is not so obvious. The official stats can be read any way you want. The commercial property insurance market is one area where there are a few pointers.

Brokers are reporting that there are fewer enquiries for unoccupied property or buildings insurance. In addition, a few of the mega-brokers who specialise in property portfolios are stating that enquiries are on the increase from overseas investors coming into the market. It may only be a bit more than a trickle, but it is better than the complete exodus we have seen for 18 months.

Everyone says property and shares are a long term bet. Sometimes you just need to put your investments away i a box and leave it for a couple of years. Those that have done so with their commercial property portfolios might see the fruits of the dedication, but it will take a number of years to make you smile.