Martyn’s Law for village halls.

Venues for hire used mainly for visiting members of the public are a qualifying use. Premises must include a building, reasonably expect 200 or more people together from time to time and not be excluded. Membership or ticket requirements do not automatically take a hall outside scope.

A church hall does not automatically receive the worship exception because a church owns it. Examine its principal use. A hall mainly hired for classes, parties and meetings may have a different position from premises principally used for communal worship.

Check your tierRead the places of worship guide

Review your booking calendar and attendance evidence. Consider regular dances, fairs, community meals and seasonal gatherings. Count everyone present in the qualifying use areas, including employees, contractors and volunteers. Use the expected peak at once, rather than the total passing through all day.

The statutory guidance gives a village hall example where a one-off concert of 250 does not bring the hall into scope. If concerts of that size become expected, the position changes. Keep a record explaining which gatherings are predictable and how you calculated the number.

How to count people

The responsible person is whoever controls the premises in connection with the qualifying use. For trustees, the first step is to establish the organisation and control arrangements, rather than assume the booking secretary or caretaker carries the legal duty.

Hirers normally do not become the responsible person for the premises. You can include relevant requirements in hire terms, and the responsible person must be able to show the SIA what it specified. Agree who briefs the hirer and what information they receive.

• Record the legal operator and practical contact for the hall.
• Check who controls access and relevant building systems.
• Give hirers clear instructions for the spaces they use.

Understand the responsible person

At standard tier, you need SIA notification and appropriate procedures for evacuation, moving people to a safer place inside, preventing entry or exit, and communication when terrorism is suspected. These must be in place so far as reasonably practicable.

Think about an evening when trustees are absent and a hirer is running the activity. Who can give an instruction, operate the relevant doors and communicate with people in adjoining rooms? Include volunteers and contractors in the relevant arrangements.

Standard tier requires neither a formal risk assessment nor a written plan. Documenting procedures is recommended, especially where different groups use the hall. Practising and reviewing them is good practice.

Explore the four proceduresRead the standard-tier checklist

A genuine one-off public event expecting 800 or more people together may be a qualifying event at standard-tier or out-of-scope premises. It must meet every event criterion, including checks on payment, tickets, passes or membership or guest status, and no applicable exclusion.

For a qualifying event, whoever controls the premises for that event becomes its responsible person, often the organiser or hirer. Enhanced duties apply to the event. If attendance of 800 or more becomes reasonably expected from time to time, reassess whether the premises themselves are enhanced tier.

Check every event criterionUnderstand enhanced duties

Core duties are not yet enforceable; commencement is expected in spring 2027, with the exact date unconfirmed. Start with your calendar, expected numbers and operator details. The law does not require buying software or specialist services.

Wardcote offers standard-tier support with procedures, briefings, records and notification preparation. For enhanced-tier venues and qualifying events, Wardcote offers hands-on enhanced tier support from an experienced team it works with.

Wardcote’s standard-tier softwareEnhanced tier support