Martyn's Law checklist
Martyn's Law Checklist for Hospitality Venues
This Martyn's Law checklist gives pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality operators a practical way to review their readiness. It covers likely scope, the responsible person, the four Standard Tier public protection procedures, staff briefings, evidence and ongoing reviews.
Quick answer
A hospitality venue preparing for Martyn's Law should first establish whether the premises may be in scope, identify the responsible person, understand its likely tier, review evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication procedures, brief relevant staff and maintain a clear record of what has been done.
Martyn's Law compliance checklist: 10 areas to review
Use the checklist below as an operational readiness tool. It does not replace the Act, statutory guidance or the judgement of the responsible person.
1. Check whether your venue may be in scope
2. Identify the responsible person
3. Understand the likely tier
4. Review your evacuation procedure
5. Review your invacuation procedure
6. Review your lockdown procedure
7. Review your communication procedure
8. Brief relevant staff
9. Keep a clear venue record
10. Review your arrangements
Does completing this checklist mean I comply with Martyn's Law?
No. Hospli deliberately does not describe this as a compliance certificate. A checklist helps you organise what has been considered and what remains outstanding, but legal responsibility remains with the responsible person.
Hospli is designed to go beyond a one-off checklist by helping a hospitality venue maintain its assessment, procedures, staff acknowledgements, evidence timeline and review history over time.
If you are specifically looking for a Martyn's Law risk assessment or template, read our Martyn's Law risk assessment guide before relying on a generic document.
Martyn's Law checklist for pubs
Pub operators should pay particular attention to expected numbers, staff, function rooms, beer gardens and other relevant areas, as well as the operating relationship between tenants, breweries, landlords and management companies when identifying the responsible person.
Martyn's Law checklist for hotels
Hotels may need to consider guests, staff, restaurants, bars, conferences, weddings, functions and other activities when assessing how many people may reasonably be expected at the same time.
Turn your checklist into a maintained venue record
A static checklist is useful for identifying gaps. Hospli's Standard Tier workflow is designed to help hospitality managers keep those arrangements organised after the first review.
- Check the venue's likely pathway.
- Record the responsible person.
- Build the four procedure areas.
- Brief staff against the current procedure versions.
- Maintain evidence and review reminders.
- Generate a reproducible Venue Record Pack.
Martyn's Law checklist FAQs
What should be on a Martyn's Law checklist?
A practical hospitality checklist should cover likely scope and capacity, the responsible person, evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication procedures, staff briefing arrangements, evidence records and ongoing reviews.
Is there an official Martyn's Law compliance checklist?
Official Home Office and SIA guidance explains the statutory duties and should remain the source of truth. This Hospli checklist is an operational readiness aid for hospitality venues and is not an official government compliance certificate or substitute for the legislation.
Does completing a Martyn's Law checklist make a venue compliant?
No. A checklist can help a responsible person organise readiness, but completing one does not itself establish legal compliance or transfer the responsible person's duties.
Do pubs and restaurants need a Martyn's Law checklist?
A checklist is not itself the legal duty. However, pubs, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality premises that may fall within scope can use a structured checklist to identify what has been assessed, what procedures remain outstanding and what evidence should be maintained.
Official Martyn's Law guidance
This checklist was last reviewed on 4 September 2026 against current official guidance.
- Home Office — Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025: statutory guidance
- Security Industry Authority — Understanding Martyn's Law and the SIA's role as regulator
Hospli is an independent readiness and record-keeping tool. It is not government approved, does not provide certification and does not transfer the responsible person's legal duties.