What is Martyn's Law?
The whole Act in plain English: who it applies to, the two tiers, what's required, the real penalties and the timeline. Start here, then dig into the guide for your venue.
Guides
Everything here is written from the Act and the statutory guidance directly, with paragraph references included, so you can check us. If a guide ever says "you must", the law says it too.
Who does Martyn's Law apply to?
The full four-condition test and the complete list of the 17 Schedule 1 uses, with the official examples for each category.
When does Martyn's Law come into force?
Royal Assent already happened, but the duties haven't. The current timeline, what's still to be decided, and what to do while you wait.
The Martyn's Law checklist
Seven steps to get a standard-tier venue ready: what to do, in what order, and what the law doesn’t require you to do at all. Every step cited.
The standard tier, explained properly
What the law actually requires of venues expecting 200–799 people: the four procedures, the real penalties, and the list of things you do NOT have to buy.
Martyn's Law penalties and fines
The accurate numbers by tier: £10,000 for standard tier, not the £18m headline figure that only applies to enhanced-tier premises. The full enforcement ladder.
A free Martyn's Law procedures template
No document is legally required at the standard tier, but here's a free one anyway, with a filled-in example for every section.
The annual festival trap
One big day a year can put your whole venue in the enhanced tier, because of the "from time to time" rule most venues have never heard of.
Martyn's Law for village halls
Volunteer-run, hired out to strangers, often unstaffed: how the standard tier duty lands on committees and what a sensible response looks like.
Martyn's Law for pubs and bars
Weekend peaks count even if weekdays are quiet, and if you're a tied tenant, the responsible person might be the brewery, not you.
Martyn's Law for golf and sports clubs
Members-only is not an exemption, and the open course loses its exclusion the moment you check membership at the gate. What actually counts, and who's responsible.
Martyn's Law for churches and places of worship
Places of worship are always standard tier, whatever their capacity. Who counts as the responsible person, and how weddings, funerals and festivals affect your numbers.
Martyn's Law for gyms and leisure centres
It's your busiest hour that counts, not your membership list. How to work out peak capacity, and who's responsible at franchises and council-run sites.
Be ready before Spring 2027
The service opens for early access before the law commences. Join the list for the launch date, founding-member pricing, and one useful plain-English update when something actually changes, with no filler.
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