With a little more shopping I just got a quote of £438pa from Esure (£399 if I paid up front rather than monthly), if I paid the amount in full rather than monthly AXA was £394 although that admittedly moved from excess from £200 to £400 Esure don't and get good reviews.
With a slight adjust of excess from £250 to £300 I got Esure down to £340.
That's a pretty big difference from the £800 from AF. Seriously, shop around.