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.
Have outdoor space? It can matter either way.
The Act counts the most people who may be on your premises at the same time, staff and volunteers included — not just the people inside the building. Outdoor areas that form part of your premises count too, so a venue whose building holds 100 could reach 200 on a busy day.
But some open-air land is excluded altogether. A park, garden, recreation ground or similar open space used for leisure is outside the Act where nothing checks that visitors have paid, hold a ticket or pass, or are members or guests — and a gate or steward put on for one event doesn’t change that for the rest of the year. If your field is excluded land, only your building counts, and a building that holds under 200 may not be covered at all.
Which of these applies to a hall with an adjoining field depends on the facts and hasn’t been decided by the courts. Treat this as a reason to look carefully, or to take advice — not as an answer in either direction.
There is a ceiling as well as a floor.
If an event is expected to draw 800 or more people and there are checks that they have paid, hold a ticket or pass, or are members or guests of a club, that event is likely to be a qualifying event under section 3 of the Act, with 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, and offers voluntary procedures below 200. If an event on your site may reach 800, speak to a security consultant about it.
⚠️ 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?
Have outdoor space? It can matter either way.
The Act counts the most people who may be on your premises at the same time, staff and volunteers included — not just the people inside the building. Outdoor areas that form part of your premises count too, so a venue whose building holds 100 could reach 200 on a busy day.
But some open-air land is excluded altogether. A park, garden, recreation ground or similar open space used for leisure is outside the Act where nothing checks that visitors have paid, hold a ticket or pass, or are members or guests — and a gate or steward put on for one event doesn’t change that for the rest of the year. If your field is excluded land, only your building counts, and a building that holds under 200 may not be covered at all.
Which of these applies to a hall with an adjoining field depends on the facts and hasn’t been decided by the courts. Treat this as a reason to look carefully, or to take advice — not as an answer in either direction.
There is a ceiling as well as a floor.
If an event is expected to draw 800 or more people and there are checks that they have paid, hold a ticket or pass, or are members or guests of a club, that event is likely to be a qualifying event under section 3 of the Act, with 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, and offers voluntary procedures below 200. If an event on your site may reach 800, speak to a security consultant about it.
If your venue and land hold 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, with a voluntary option for smaller venues that want simple procedures in place anyway.
How VenueReady helps
Compliance Documents Built From Your Details
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 £100 for new customers once the Act’s main duties come into force
One-time payment per venue
- Your complete 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
Complete the wizard free — pay only when you're ready to unlock your documents
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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.