VenueReadyMartyn's Law Deadline is Here. Don't Miss Out.
When the Act comes into force, venues where 200 or more people may be present will need public protection procedures in place, and will need to notify the SIA. Writing those procedures down isn't itself required at standard duty — but it's how you evidence them to the SIA, your insurer and your staff. VenueReady builds your documented pack from your venue's own details in under an hour, so you're ready before enforcement starts.
Think your venue is under 200 capacity? Check again, you could be wrong.
Your building might only hold 100 people, but under the Act your “premises” includes your field, garden, car park and surrounding land. If your Summer Fete, Bonfire Night, wedding reception hire or outdoor bar draws 200+ people collectively (indoor and out, staff and volunteers count), you’re likely in scope, even if the building never holds more than 100.
The test isn’t your indoor capacity. It’s whether 200+ people may be present anywhere on your premises at any one time. An annual fete counts, outdoor weddings count, any outdoor event hires with extended land count.
One important caveat. The Act also excludes some open-air land. A park, garden, recreation ground or similar open space is generally outside the Act where nobody checks whether visitors have paid, hold a ticket or are members — and putting controls in place for a single event doesn’t change that for the rest of the year. Whether your field counts as part of your venue or as separate excluded land depends on the facts, so treat this as a reason to take advice rather than an answer.
There is a ceiling as well as a floor.
If an event on your premises is expected to draw 800 or more people and entry is controlled — tickets, invitations, passes or membership — that event is likely a qualifying event under the Act, not standard duty. Qualifying events carry heavier requirements, and the duty usually sits with whoever is running the event rather than with the venue. VenueReady covers standard duty premises from 200 to 799. If your fete, festival or hire day goes over 800, speak to a security consultant about that event.
⚠️ Enforcement expected from April 2027. Time to prepare is running out.
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Learn about Martyn's Law
Your 200+ Capacity? You're Affected
Premises where 200 or more people may be present — counting outdoor land, car parks and fields — will need public protection procedures in place, and will need to notify the SIA. Learn what applies to you.
The Clock is Ticking
Commencement is expected around spring 2027, with the exact date to be confirmed by the Home Office. Nothing is in force yet — which makes now the easy time to get ready.
See Your Venues Covered
Concert halls, bars, restaurants, sports facilities, nightclubs, event spaces — if 200+, we've got you covered.
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Why the 200+ Capacity Rule Matters, and Why You Need to Act Now
Martyn's Law was created to prevent tragedies like the Manchester Arena bombing. It received Royal Assent in April 2025, and when its main provisions come into force venues where 200 or more people may be present will need public protection procedures in place — evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication — and will need to notify the SIA. Enforcement is expected from April 2027. That's sooner than you think.
For premises with 200–799 capacity, the standard duty does not require you to write those procedures down. But documented procedures are how you show what is in place, and they are what an inspector, an insurer or a new member of staff will ask to see. VenueReady puts yours in one place, with a training log and annual review reminders.
What the standard duty actually requires (200–799 capacity):
- Notify the SIA that you are responsible for the premises — required once the Act commences, and the step most venues overlook
- Have appropriate public protection procedures in place, so far as is reasonably practicable: evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication
- Make sure the people working at your premises know what those procedures are
Strongly recommended, though not required at standard duty:
- Write your procedures down, so you can show what is in place
- Keep a record of who has been briefed and when
- Review your procedures annually, and whenever your premises, capacity or people change
Who Needs to Comply?
Think your venue is under 200 capacity? Check again, you could be wrong.
Your building might only hold 100 people, but under the Act your “premises” includes your field, garden, car park and surrounding land. If your Summer Fete, Bonfire Night, wedding reception hire or outdoor bar draws 200+ people collectively (indoor and out, staff and volunteers count), you’re likely in scope, even if the building never holds more than 100.
The test isn’t your indoor capacity. It’s whether 200+ people may be present anywhere on your premises at any one time. An annual fete counts, outdoor weddings count, any outdoor event hires with extended land count.
One important caveat. The Act also excludes some open-air land. A park, garden, recreation ground or similar open space is generally outside the Act where nobody checks whether visitors have paid, hold a ticket or are members — and putting controls in place for a single event doesn’t change that for the rest of the year. Whether your field counts as part of your venue or as separate excluded land depends on the facts, so treat this as a reason to take advice rather than an answer.
There is a ceiling as well as a floor.
If an event on your premises is expected to draw 800 or more people and entry is controlled — tickets, invitations, passes or membership — that event is likely a qualifying event under the Act, not standard duty. Qualifying events carry heavier requirements, and the duty usually sits with whoever is running the event rather than with the venue. VenueReady covers standard duty premises from 200 to 799. If your fete, festival or hire day goes over 800, speak to a security consultant about that event.
If your venue and land holds 200 or more people at any one time, you're affected. That includes:
Can't be sure about your capacity? Our free wizard calculates it in seconds. Get started free →
Built for standard-tier venues
VenueReady is designed specifically for venues with a capacity of 200–799 people.
How VenueReady helps
Tailored Compliance Documents
Template procedures, populated with your venue’s own details — your layout, your contacts, your assembly points — ready for you to review, edit and adopt.
Staff Training Log
Track who has been briefed and when, creating the audit trail you need.
Ready in Minutes
Complete the wizard, review your documents, and have your compliance pack ready the same day.
Annual Review Reminders
Stay on top of your obligations with built-in review date tracking.
Simple pricing
No subscriptions. One venue, one payment.
ÂŁ50
Launch price, rising to ÂŁ100 once the Act comes into force
One-time payment per venue
- Your complete tailored compliance document pack
- Editable text — make them yours
- Staff training log
- Compliance dashboard & reminders
- Built-in assistant for guidance & support
- Free updates as guidance evolves
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Don't wait for enforcement
The Act's main duties are expected to commence around spring 2027, and the Home Office will confirm the date. Nothing is in force yet, so nobody is behind — but getting your procedures in place while there's no pressure is far easier than doing it against a deadline, and it helps keep your visitors and staff safe in the meantime.
Time's running out. Act today.