VenueReady · Martyn's Law guides

Does Martyn's Law apply to my pub?

It does if you can reasonably expect 200 or more people in the pub at the same time, counting your staff and anyone in the beer garden. Most busy pubs that reach that figure will be in the standard tier.

The short answer

Under 200 people at your busiest: the law does not apply. 200 to 799: standard tier, which means simple procedures, staff who know them and telling the regulator. 800 or more: enhanced tier, which asks for more.

Pubs are covered by the law

Martyn's Law is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It covers buildings used mainly for certain purposes and selling food or drink to have on the premises is one of them. The official guidance names bars, pubs, restaurants and cafés.

How to work out your number

The figure is the most people you can reasonably expect at the same time, from time to time. It is not an average, so think about your busiest nights.

Count your staff. The guidance says the figure must include them.
Count the beer garden. The guidance gives a pub with a beer garden as an example of premises that are a building and other land.
Think about regular busy times. Weekends, big matches on the screen, quiz nights and live music all count if they happen from time to time.
A one-off does not change your tier. An unexpected crowd that you would not expect again does not count. An event you hold every year does.

You can use the safe occupancy figure from your fire risk assessment, the capacity on your premises licence, your own records of busy nights, or ticket numbers for events. If your real busiest night is well below your licensed capacity, you can use your records instead, as long as you can show how you got there. Write down the figure and how you worked it out, because the regulator can ask.

Who is responsible

The person in control of the pub, which usually means whoever runs it. The official example of a busy pub names the pub operator. For a tenanted pub, the latest guidance says it is usually the tenant, as the person in control, rather than the brewery or pub company that owns the building.

What the standard tier asks

Three things. None of them needs building work or new equipment.

Tell the regulator. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will run a free online service. You will have three months from the start date to tell them about your pub, including your figure and how you worked it out.
Have four simple procedures, as far as is reasonably practicable for your pub.
Make sure your staff know them, including what their own job is. There is no required training course.

What the four procedures mean in a pub:

Evacuation: Getting customers and staff out, away from danger, by the safest exits and to a place to gather.
Invacuation: Bringing people inside, including from the beer garden, to a safer place away from the danger.
Lockdown: Closing and securing the doors so no one can get in and keeping people away from them.
Communication: How staff warn each other and tell customers what to do and who calls 999.

The law does not say the procedures must be written down, but the guidance says it is good practice and it is the easiest way to show what you have done.

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.

Get your pub ready in about an hour

VenueReady writes your four procedures from a few questions about your pub, puts them on every staff phone, lets managers alert the whole team in one press and keeps a record 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.