One of the many virtues of growing chillis is that the pests that normally attack other plants seeem to give them a wide birth. I imagine it is something to do with the firey taste or possibly odour that snails and slugs have yet to develop a taste for. Even rabbits won't touch them. Their power as a deterrent does not extend to neighbouring plants though, so lettuces or cucmbers nearby will still need protection.
My tip for growing chiilis is start early. Rather like tomatoes they take time to get going and if they are to ripen before the autumn sets in they need to have germinated early, ideally before the Spring.