Martyn's Law: what pubs that host events need to know before April 2027
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — better known as Martyn's Law — becomes enforceable in April 2027. Here's what it actually asks of pubs, and where the line falls between the standard and enhanced tiers.
By Tapwell editorial
Martyn's Law — formally the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 — received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. The Home Office has confirmed an implementation period of at least 24 months, meaning the duties become enforceable from April 2027 at the earliest. It is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, and was championed by his mother Figen Murray.
For most publicans the honest answer is: you probably fall under the standard tier, and the asks are proportionate. But if you run a live-music venue, a large beer garden with ticketed events, or a function room that regularly holds 200+ people, you need to read on carefully.
Who the law applies to
The Act applies to 'qualifying premises' — publicly accessible places used for one or more specified activities. Pubs, bars, and restaurants are explicitly named. What matters is the number of people who may be present at the same time, not just paying customers or a fire-safety capacity.
- Standard tier: 200 to 799 people reasonably expected to be present.
- Enhanced tier: 800 or more people reasonably expected to be present.
- Below 200: outside the scope of the Act entirely.
'Reasonably expected' is a judgement call — it's not the maximum the fire officer will allow, but a realistic assessment of typical attendance, including staff, contractors and guests. A back-street local doing 60 covers on a Friday is not in scope. A gastropub with a 250-seat marquee for weddings almost certainly is.
What the standard tier actually requires
Standard-tier duties are deliberately light. The Home Office has been clear that no physical alterations to premises are required and there is no expectation to buy specialist equipment. What's needed is:
- Notify the regulator (the Security Industry Authority) that the premises is in scope.
- Put in place simple, sensible procedures that would reduce harm in the event of an attack — for example, evacuation, invacuation (moving people to a safer part of the building), lockdown, and communication.
- Make sure staff know those procedures. Training can be light-touch — the government's ProtectUK e-learning is free.
- Keep the procedures under review, especially if the premises or its use changes.
Where the enhanced tier bites
At 800+ capacity the obligations step up significantly. Enhanced-tier premises must document their procedures and, crucially, take 'reasonably practicable' public-protection measures — things like monitoring of the premises and vicinity, physical safety measures, and security of information. A named senior individual becomes accountable, and the SIA can inspect and fine.
“The point of Martyn's Law isn't to turn every landlord into a counter-terrorism officer. It's to make sure that, if the worst happens, staff aren't standing there wondering what to do.”
— Home Office fact sheet, April 2025
The insurance angle
Public liability insurance does not cover fines from a regulator, and it won't cover the cost of retrofitting procedures you should already have. What it does cover is your legal liability to third parties for injury or damage. If a claim ever alleges that an incident was made worse by inadequate procedures, an insurer will want to see that you complied with the law in force at the time.
Two practical points for policyholders:
- Review your capacity estimate honestly — including staff and contractors. A pub that flips between 150 covers on a Tuesday and 350 for a wedding on a Saturday is in scope on Saturdays.
- If you host third-party events (weddings, wakes, private hires), make sure the hire agreement is clear about whose procedures apply and who is the 'responsible person' on the day.
What to do now
You have until at least April 2027, but the sensible path is to do the standard-tier work in 2026 while it's quiet: sit down with a manager, walk through evacuation and lockdown, write a one-page procedure, and put it in the staff handbook. If you're anywhere near the 800 line, get advice — the enhanced duties are materially heavier and the SIA will have enforcement powers including fines.
If you'd like us to review how your current policy responds to event-related risks — from marquees to music licences — pick up the phone to the broker line on 0330 50 2088.