Which of my sites are in scope?
Martyn's Law applies premises by premises. Each site with a building, used for a listed purpose such as food and drink or entertainment, where 200 or more people may be present at the same time, from time to time, is in scope. A group can easily have some sites in scope and some not: a busy town-centre pub might be, a small village local might not.
Sites from 200 to 799 people are in the standard tier. Any site that can hold 800 or more is in the enhanced tier, with extra measures and a written document for the SIA.
Who is responsible at each site?
The duty sits with the person who has control of the premises in connection with how they are used. For managed houses that is usually the operating company. For tenanted or leased pubs it is often the tenant, because they run the building day to day. Where more than one person has control, they must co-operate. Work this out for each site and write it down.
What you need to do
- List your sites and their peak numbers. Count customers, outside areas and staff on each site’s busiest regular occasions.
- Notify the SIA for each site in scope. Each premises is notified separately, with its own capacity figure and how you worked it out.
- Set group-wide procedures. Use the same structure and wording at every site, then add the details that differ: exits, safer areas, who leads on shift.
- Brief staff at every site. Relief managers and staff who cover other sites benefit most from consistent procedures. Keep a record of who has been briefed where.
- Review on a cycle. Check each site after refits, changes of use, new managers or a change in the guidance.
Things groups often miss
- Relief managers. They move between sites. Consistent wording means they already know the plan when they arrive.
- One record, every site. Owners and area managers should be able to see who has been briefed at each venue without chasing emails.
- Sites change. A new beer garden or a function room brought back into use can push a site over 200.
Common questions
Do we notify the SIA once for the whole group?
No. Each premises in scope is notified separately.
Who is responsible for a tenanted pub?
Usually whoever controls the premises day to day, which is often the tenant. Where control is shared, both must co-operate. Check your lease and agree it in writing.
Can we use the same procedures at every site?
Use the same structure and wording, which helps staff who move between sites, but each site needs its own details: exits, safer areas, lockdown points and who leads.
When does it start?
The duties are expected to start from spring 2027 at the earliest. The government will confirm the date.
Get your procedures and your team sorted
Check your venue in two minutes with our free scope checker. Then answer plain-English questions and get your procedures, staff and role cards, hirer notice and records, plus a QR poster that briefs your staff on their phones in three minutes, with 15 staff places included. £129 one-off, or £349 for up to three venues. Built by event producers with over ten years running live music and festivals.
Sources: Home Office, Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 statutory guidance (April 2026); ProtectUK. For the full picture, read Martyn's Law explained. This page is general information, not legal advice, and is not endorsed by the Home Office or the SIA. Last reviewed 23 October 2026.