Martyn’s Law applies to any qualifying venue where 200 or more people, including staff, can reasonably be expected at the same time. It is expected to come into force in spring 2027, and for most pubs, clubs and restaurants it asks for clear procedures and briefed staff rather than new equipment.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. It is known as Martyn’s Law after Martyn Hett, one of 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, and it follows years of campaigning by his mother, Figen Murray.
The Home Office published its statutory guidance on 15 April 2026. The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which will regulate the new rules, has said it expects the law to come into force in spring 2027, with the exact date to be confirmed through Parliament.
That leaves one winter to get ready, and winter is when a busy venue has the least spare time. Here is what the law actually asks of hospitality venues, and where the technology you may already have can help.
According to the Home Office factsheet, premises are in scope if they meet four tests:
In scope venues fall into one of two tiers:
Staff count towards the total. So does your peak, not your average. A members’ club that is half empty on a Tuesday but hosts 250 on derby day is likely to be in scope. So is a pub whose function room fills for Christmas parties.
The Home Office accepts methods you may already use, such as your fire safety occupancy calculation or your own historic data. It has also published a supplementary document on counting methods alongside the statutory guidance. Because premises can include land as well as buildings, think about beer gardens and outdoor areas when you count.
Two things. You must notify the SIA that you are responsible for the premises, and you must have appropriate public protection procedures in place, so far as is reasonably practicable. The standard duty factsheet sets out four procedures:
Staff must also know the procedures and their own part in them. The guidance is blunt on this point: an evacuation plan that nobody on shift understands does not count.
The Home Office gives the example of a 400-seat restaurant. Its procedures might include two exit routes, a plan to move diners into the main restaurant and staff areas, and named staff who know how to lock doors, close shutters and turn off lights when the shift manager tells them to. New staff get a short briefing at induction, alongside fire and health and safety, and the procedures are reviewed once a year.
That is the level of detail the standard tier is aiming for. It is practical, specific to the building and short enough for a new starter to remember.
No. The standard duty factsheet states that the Act does not require physical alterations or the purchase of specific equipment, and the Home Office says costs for standard tier venues relate mainly to staff time. It also says venues do not need to pay consultants to comply, and that neither the Home Office nor the SIA endorses any third-party product.
We would rather you heard that from us than found out after buying something you did not need. That said, the guidance also notes that in some circumstances changes to equipment may be reasonably practicable. That is where the doors, cameras and screens you already have can make your procedures easier to carry out.
Walk your building and time how long it takes to lock every public entrance. In a venue with several doors, a cellar hatch and a beer garden gate, it can take longer than you expect.
With electronic access control, a manager may be able to secure doors from one place, depending on the system and how it is set up. Fire safety still comes first. Doors on escape routes must release when the fire alarm sounds, which is why we fitted fail-safe locks with green emergency releases at Add People’s office. Any lockdown plan has to work alongside your fire strategy, not against it.
Our guide to access control for pubs, bars and clubs explains the options in plain terms.
Picture a busy Saturday with music playing. How would you tell 300 people to stay where they are? Options include:
CCTV lets a manager see entrances, outside areas and car parks from one screen or a phone. That is not a requirement for the standard tier, but it helps whoever is in charge decide which procedure to use. Our post on smart CCTV for pubs, bars and clubs covers what modern cameras can do.
Venues expecting 800 or more people, such as large clubs, theatres and stadium hospitality, have further duties. They must:
Law firm Lewis Silkin’s summary of the statutory guidance groups those measures into monitoring, movement, physical security and information security.
ProtectUK, run by Counter Terrorism Policing, publishes free guidance and training resources to help.
For most hospitality venues, Martyn’s Law is about knowing what you would do and making sure your team knows it too. Write the procedures first. Then look at whether your doors, cameras and screens make those procedures quicker and easier to follow.
Want a practical view of your venue? Talk to CCR Systems and we will walk the building with you, looking at your doors, cameras and how you would reach everyone inside. If what you have is already enough, we will tell you. Call 0151 644 8296.
