Does it apply to my pub?
Martyn's Law applies to premises with at least one building, used for things like food and drink, where 200 or more people may be present at the same time, from time to time. Pubs, bars and restaurants are on the list. Count everyone you reasonably expect on your busiest regular occasions: customers inside, people in your beer garden or smoking area, and your staff.
From 200 to 799 people you are in the standard tier. That is where most busy pubs sit. Under 200, the law does not apply. A one-off spike, such as a single big event, does not change your tier on its own, but regular busy nights do.
What you need to do
At standard tier there are two duties: tell the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that you are responsible for the premises, and have simple public protection procedures that staff know, so far as is reasonably practicable. You do not have to buy equipment, alter the building or pay for training.
- Decide who is in charge. Usually the duty manager on shift, with a back-up. They decide which procedure to use.
- Plan for a threat inside. How you get everyone out quickly and away, without using the fire alarm unless there is a fire.
- Plan for a threat outside. How door staff or bar staff bring people in from the pavement, smoking area and beer garden, and where they go: rooms away from the front windows.
- Plan a lockdown. Which doors and shutters you lock, how, and where the keys are kept on shift.
- Plan what you say. Music off, then a short, calm instruction. Agree a discreet code word so staff know what is happening before customers do.
- Brief your staff. Give everyone a prompt card, and keep a record that they have been briefed.
Things pubs often miss
- The beer garden and the pavement count. Smokers, queues and drinkers outside are often the people most exposed, so your plan for bringing people inside matters most.
- Busy nights change everything. Live music, big sport and bank holidays bring more people and more temporary staff. Plan for your busiest regular night, not a quiet Tuesday.
- Use what you already have. CCTV, door supervisors, radios and your Pubwatch link can all help, and your plan should say how.
- Function rooms and private hire. Decide who runs the procedures when the room is hired out, and give hirers a short notice to read.
Common questions
Does Martyn's Law apply to my pub?
If 200 or more people, including staff, may be there at the same time on your busiest regular occasions, yes, at standard tier. Count the beer garden and outside areas you use. Under 200, it does not apply.
Do I need door supervisors or CCTV?
No. At standard tier you do not have to buy equipment or hire security. If you already have them, your procedures should make use of them.
Do we have to write anything down?
Standard tier premises are not legally required to write their procedures down, but the Home Office guidance says you should. It helps your staff, and it helps you show the SIA what you have done if they inspect.
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 in place
Check your venue in two minutes with our free scope checker. Then answer plain-English questions in the Procedures Generator and get your procedures, staff and role cards, hirer notice and records written for you. One-off price, no subscription, and free updates until 12 months after the law comes into force. Produced by the team at 14twenty Productions, with over ten years running live events.
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.