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VenueReady · Martyn's Law guides

Martyn's Law checklist for small venues

For pubs, cafés, shops, village halls, places of worship and other venues where 200 to 799 people may be present at the same time. Nothing here needs building work or new equipment.

  1. Work out your number

    The most people you can reasonably expect at the same time at your busiest regular times, including staff and volunteers and any outdoor areas. Use your fire risk assessment, your licence, your own records or ticket numbers. Write down the figure and how you worked it out.

  2. Check your tier

    Under 200: the law does not apply. 200 to 799: standard tier. 800 or more: enhanced tier. Places of worship stay in the standard tier however many people they hold.

  3. Know who is responsible

    The person or organisation in control of the premises, not necessarily the owner. For a tenanted pub that is usually the tenant. For a village hall, the management committee.

  4. Write your four procedures

    Keep each one short and practical, as far as is reasonably practicable:

    • Evacuation: getting people out, away from danger.
    • Invacuation: moving people to a safer place inside.
    • Lockdown: securing the premises so no one gets in.
    • Communication: how you warn staff and the public.

    If you decide one does not suit your premises, write down why. A written plan is not required by law, but the guidance calls it good practice.

  5. Brief your team

    Everyone who works there, including volunteers, should know the procedures and their own part in them. A short briefing is enough. There is no required training, though ProtectUK's free ACT Awareness e-learning is a good start.

  6. Practise

    Not required by law, but a five-minute walk-through or drill shows quickly what is unclear. Ask your team what they would change.

  7. Keep a simple record

    Your number and how you worked it out, your procedures and who was briefed and when. It is the easiest way to show the regulator what you have done.

  8. Tell the SIA when the service opens

    The Security Industry Authority will run a free online service. You will have three months from the start date to tell them about your premises and 28 days to tell them about later changes.

  9. Review when things change

    Look again if your numbers, layout, staff or use change. Once a year is a sensible habit.

You do not have to buy anything

The official guidance is free. Neither the SIA nor the Home Office endorses any product, including ours. ProtectUK has free flowcharts, videos and e-learning. VenueReady is there if you want the procedures written for you, on every staff phone and recorded in one place.

When

The government expects the duties to start in spring 2027. The exact date has not been confirmed yet and will be announced in advance. You do not have to do anything today, but the steps are simple and worth doing early.

Do the whole checklist in one place

VenueReady checks your tier, writes your four procedures, puts them on every staff phone, alerts the whole team in one press and keeps the records of briefings and drills.

Check if the law applies to you See how VenueReady works

The tier check is free and needs no account. VenueReady helps you organise and record your preparations. It does not certify compliance or replace professional advice.

Where this comes from

Checked against the official guidance on 17 October 2026. If the guidance changes, it wins over this page.

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