Martyn's Law for pubs and function rooms

Updated 26 October 2026. Guidance, not legal advice.

Most pubs serve food or drink to the public, which is one of the uses Martyn's Law covers. Whether yours is covered comes down to one question: could 200 or more people be there at the same time, counting the garden?

What is Martyn's Law?

Martyn's Law is the common name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. It's named after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017, and follows years of campaigning by his mother, Figen Murray. It became law on 3 April 2025, and the Home Office published its final statutory guidance on 15 April 2026.

Is your pub covered?

Premises are covered if they include a building, are mainly used for a listed purpose, and 200 or more people could reasonably be there at once. For pubs, the listed purposes are usually:

• Food and drink for customers to eat or drink on the premises.
• A venue for hire, if you hire out a function room.
• Entertainment, such as live music, comedy or quiz nights.

Counting people

• Include the garden, terrace and any outside drinking area that is part of the premises, as well as the bar and function room.
• Count staff, door staff and performers as well as customers.
• Use your busiest occasions, not an average night. The guidance accepts any reasonable method, such as your fire risk assessment, your licence conditions or past numbers.

What the numbers mean

• Under 200: not covered.
• 200 to 799: standard tier. Most pubs that are covered will be here.
• 800 or more: enhanced tier, with heavier duties and specialist advice needed.

Who is responsible?

The duty falls on whoever controls the premises. In a managed pub that's usually the pub company or operator. In a tenanted or leased pub it's often the tenant, but it depends on your agreement, and responsibility can be shared. Talk to your pub company or landlord early so it's clear who does what.

What the standard tier asks you to do

1. Tell the regulator

Notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that the pub is covered and who the responsible person is. Its online notification service is expected to open in early 2027.

2. Have procedures for four situations

• Evacuation: getting customers out of the bar, function room and garden, away from danger, and where they go.
• Invacuation: bringing people in from the garden or street when the danger is outside.
• Lockdown: which doors and garden gates can be locked, who has the keys and how quickly.
• Communication: how staff tell everyone what to do: turning the music off, using a microphone, and briefing door staff.

3. Brief your team

Bar staff change often, so keep the briefing to one page and make it part of every new starter's first shift. Whoever is in charge on the night must know the procedures.

Function room hires and events

• Give anyone who hires the function room a one-page sheet: exits, keys and who to call.
• Add a line to your hire terms asking hirers to read your emergency briefing.
• For ticketed events and live music, brief door staff and performers before doors open.

Fines and timing

The SIA expects to start with advice and support. It can issue compliance notices, and for standard tier premises the maximum fines are £10,000, plus up to £500 a day for continuing failures. The duties are expected to start in spring 2027, with the SIA's notification service opening in early 2027.

Free help and official guidance

• ProtectUK: the official home of the Martyn's Law guidance, with free training for staff.
• Your pub company, trade association or licensing authority, which may publish their own advice.

This guide summarises the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and the Home Office statutory guidance as we understand them. It isn't legal advice. If your situation is unusual, check with the SIA or a solicitor.