You've booked a venue. Here's what Martyn's Law means for you.
Hiring a hall, a function room or a clubhouse for a party, a class or a celebration? The venue stays responsible. Your part is to know its plans on the day, and that takes a few minutes.
In short
The venue stays responsible. You know the plans.
Martyn's Law asks venues where 200 or more people can gather to have a few simple plans for an emergency, and for the people in charge to know them.
Booking a room doesn't hand the law to you. The Home Office's guidance says that when a venue is hired out, the responsible person stays the same: usually the committee, trustees, club or company that runs the building.
But on the day, you're the one in charge. So the venue should explain what it expects of you, often in its hire terms, and be able to show it did. Most venues will send you a short briefing to read and confirm. That's it.
What the venue may ask of you
Every venue is different, but these are the usual things, from booking to home time.
Before your booking
- Read the venue's short briefing for the building, and confirm you've read it.
- Name one person in charge for the booking, who will be there throughout.
- Tell the venue how many people you expect at the busiest moment, counting helpers, performers and caterers.
- Tell the venue straight away if your numbers grow.
On the day
- Walk round with your helpers: the ways out, which way to go from there, and the room to bring people into.
- Keep exits and routes clear, and keep doors closed that should be closed.
- Keep a rough count of how many people are in the building.
- Keep a phone to hand, with the venue's contact number in it.
If something happens
- Follow the venue's plans, and any instructions from the venue or the emergency services.
- Call 999 if anyone is in danger.
- Tell the venue's contact as soon as you safely can.
Afterwards
- Tell the venue about anything that worried you, such as a blocked exit, a door that wouldn't lock, or something that seemed out of place.
The four plans from your side
Every venue in scope has four simple plans. You don't write them. You just need the answers for the building you've booked, and to pass them on to your helpers.
Get everyone out (evacuation)
Where are the ways out, and which way should people go? Who checks the toilets and side rooms?
Bring everyone in (invacuation)
Which doors do you close, and which room is the safest place to wait?
Lock down (lockdown)
Which doors can be locked, and who has the keys? The venue tells only the people who need to know.
Keep people informed (communication)
How will you tell everyone what to do? Stop the music, use the microphone, and use the words the venue has agreed.
What you don't need
For an ordinary booking, there's nothing to buy and no course to take. The standard tier doesn't ask for security staff, bag searches, CCTV or new equipment, building work or a training course.
Planning a big public event?
If your event is open to the public, needs a ticket, a pass or membership to get in, and could bring 800 or more people at once, it may be a "qualifying event". Then whoever takes control of the building for it can become the responsible person for the event, with the enhanced tier's extra duties. Tell the venue when you book, and get specialist advice.
Run a venue yourself? Many hirers do.
If you sit on a hall committee, help run a place of worship or a sports club, or manage a pub, the same law may apply to your building. hailo writes your four plans for it, sends every volunteer, member of staff and hirer a short briefing by link, and keeps the record.
Questions hirers ask
Am I responsible for Martyn's Law when I hire a venue?
Usually not. When a venue is hired out, the responsible person stays the same: the people who run the building. Your part is to know the venue's plans for your booking and make sure your helpers do. The exception is a big public event of 800 or more people, which can have a responsible person of its own.
Do I need training to hire a venue?
No. The law doesn't ask hirers for a course or a certificate. Read the venue's briefing, walk round the ways out with your helpers, and you're ready.
The venue hasn't sent me anything. What should I do?
Ask them. The duties aren't expected to start until spring 2027, so many venues are still getting ready. You can still ask where the ways out are, which room to go to if you need to bring people in, and who to call, and tell your helpers.
Does it matter for a small party?
The law is about the building, not the size of your booking. Venues usually brief every hirer, so the plans work whoever is in charge that day. For a small party it takes a few minutes.
Will the venue tell me where the keys are kept?
Only if you need to know. Some details, like where keys are kept or where people would shelter, are shared only with the people who have a part to play. If you're the person in charge, the venue tells you what you need for your booking.
Sources
- Home Office: statutory guidance
- Home Office: standard duty requirements factsheet
- Home Office: overarching factsheet
General information, not legal advice.
Read next in plain English
Guides
- What is Martyn's Law? A plain-English guide for venues
- Martyn's Law checklist: what to do, step by step
- What is invacuation? Bringing people inside, safely
- Martyn's Law and your fire risk assessment: what you can reuse
- Helping everyone out: people who can't move quickly
- Who is the responsible person for Martyn's Law?
- Does Martyn's Law need training?
- Martyn's Law penalties and fines: what really happens
- When does Martyn's Law come into force?
- Martyn's Law enhanced tier and qualifying events, in plain English
- Martyn's Law quick guide
- Martyn's Law committee pack
- Martyn's Law plan templates
- Questions to ask before you buy Martyn's Law software
- Martyn's Law glossary