Martyn’s Law for theatres and cinemas.

The premises must include a building, be wholly or mainly used for a qualifying activity, reasonably expect 200 or more people together from time to time, and not be excluded. Ticketed or members-only access does not automatically take the venue outside scope.

Establish whether you are assessing one venue, a group of buildings or separately controlled premises within a larger site. A theatre inside a wider complex may need its own assessment. Qualifying premises within larger premises can also have co-ordination duties.

Check your tierUnderstand premises and responsibility

For a cinema, examine overlapping screenings rather than one screen’s seating alone. For a theatre, consider audience members together with staff and volunteers. For a nightclub or music venue, review predictable busy nights and the people working in the qualifying use areas.

Fixed seating, tickets, historic attendance and safe occupancy are possible methods. Add employees, contractors and volunteers if your chosen figure excludes them. Keep evidence of the greatest reasonably expected number at once, rather than using annual admissions or an average night.

• Check performance and screening schedules for overlaps.
• Include front-of-house, technical and other relevant staff.
• Record how standing areas and additional rooms affect the number.

Choose a counting method

The guidance gives a nightclub example where five or six large nights a year can make 800 or more people reasonably expected from time to time. A venue does not remain standard tier just because most nights are quieter.

A genuine one-off at standard-tier or out-of-scope premises may instead qualify under the event rules. Every criterion must be met, including public access, the attendance threshold, relevant entry checks and no exclusion. A performance at enhanced-tier premises is covered through the premises duties and does not need individual event notification.

Check qualifying eventsRead the enhanced-tier guide

Standard-tier procedures cover evacuation, moving people to a safer place inside, preventing entry or exit, and communication when terrorism is suspected. They must be appropriate so far as reasonably practicable. Staff with roles must understand them and have the tools to act.

Consider how instructions would reach an auditorium during a performance, a cinema screen during a film or a loud dance floor. Think about touring crews, casual staff and volunteer ushers. Agree who can interrupt activity and operate relevant doors or communication systems.

Standard tier does not require a formal risk assessment or a written plan. Recording procedures is recommended, as are practice and periodic review. Evacuation arrangements should account for a different situation from a fire, rather than assume the same assembly point.

Explore the four procedures

Enhanced tier adds assessed public protection measures covering monitoring, movement of people, physical safety and security, and security of information. The measures must be appropriate so far as reasonably practicable and kept under review.

A written document must describe procedures and measures and assess how they reduce vulnerability and the risk of physical harm. An organisation must also designate a senior individual in management or control. This role should not simply be assigned to junior staff.

Review arrangements when attendance, layout or use changes. For a venue with visiting productions or promoters, clarify control and co-operation arrangements alongside the practical show briefing.

Understand assessment and measuresEnhanced tier support

Core duties are not yet enforceable. Commencement is expected in spring 2027, with the date still unconfirmed. Compare your programme with attendance evidence and identify the organisation responsible before preparing notification.

The law does not require buying software or specialist services. Wardcote supports standard-tier procedures, briefings, records and notification preparation. For enhanced-tier venues and qualifying events, Wardcote arranges support from an experienced team it works with.

Prepare SIA notification detailsWardcote’s standard-tier software