Martyn's Law for hotels
Martyn's Law for Hotels: What UK Operators Need to Know
Martyn's Law for hotels requires operators to look at the premises as they are actually used. Guest bedrooms are only part of the picture: staff, restaurants, bars, conferences, weddings, functions and other activity may all affect how many people it is reasonable to expect could be present at the same time.
Quick answer
A hotel may fall within Martyn's Law where it meets the statutory scope criteria and 200 or more people, including staff, may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time from time to time. For ordinary qualifying premises, 200–799 is generally Standard Tier and 800 or more is Enhanced Tier.
Does Martyn's Law apply to hotels?
Hotels are one of the types of premises that can fall within the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. Whether a particular hotel is in scope depends on the statutory criteria and the number of people it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time.
That means a hotel operator should not assess the premises simply by counting bedrooms or maximum overnight guests.
How should a hotel assess expected numbers?
The relevant question is the greatest number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time, from time to time.
Guests
Consider overnight guests and other visitors who may reasonably be present.
Staff
Include employees, contractors, volunteers and others working at the premises.
Restaurants and bars
Include customers using food and drink areas where relevant to the premises.
Weddings and functions
Consider guests attending weddings, parties, dinners and other functions.
Conferences
Delegates, exhibitors, speakers and event staff may affect the expected number.
Other activity
Leisure facilities, entertainment and other areas may also be relevant depending on the hotel.
Martyn's Law hotel capacity: are bedroom numbers enough?
No. Bedroom capacity is not automatically the same as the number used for Martyn's Law.
A 100-bedroom hotel could have significantly more people present when staff, restaurant customers, conference delegates or wedding guests are included. Conversely, a theoretical maximum that is not reasonably expected may not represent the statutory test either.
The assessment should be based on evidence about how the premises actually operates.
What is the Martyn's Law Standard Tier for hotels?
For ordinary qualifying premises, the Standard Tier generally applies where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be expected to be present at the same time.
Standard Tier responsible persons will need, so far as reasonably practicable, appropriate public protection procedures covering four areas:
Evacuation
Moving people out of the premises or away from danger.
Invacuation
Moving people to a safer place within the premises where appropriate.
Lockdown
Restricting access or movement where doing so may reduce physical harm.
Communication
Providing relevant information or instructions to people at the premises.
Who is the Martyn's Law responsible person for a hotel?
The responsible person is generally the individual, organisation or company with control of the premises in connection with the use that brings it within scope.
This is particularly important where a hotel property is owned by one company but operated by another. Property ownership alone does not automatically decide who holds the statutory responsibility.
Martyn's Law procedures in a hotel environment
Hotels can be operationally more complex than a single-room venue. Procedures should reflect the actual building, staffing and guest environment rather than relying on generic wording.
- Consider bedrooms, corridors, reception, restaurants and bars.
- Consider conference, wedding and function areas where applicable.
- Think about guests who are unfamiliar with the building.
- Consider night-time staffing and changes between shifts.
- Decide how instructions can reach people in different parts of the premises.
- Consider people who may require additional assistance.
Do hotel staff need Martyn's Law training?
Relevant staff need to understand the procedures they may be expected to follow. Hospli does not currently sell a standalone Martyn's Law training course, and the V1 product does not present staff briefing as a government-approved qualification.
Instead, Hospli supports practical staff briefing and records which staff members have acknowledged the current procedure information.
Martyn's Law hotel checklist
- Confirm how the premises is used.
- Assess the greatest number reasonably expected at one time.
- Include staff and relevant non-resident visitors.
- Consider conferences, weddings and functions.
- Identify the responsible person.
- Determine the likely tier.
- Review evacuation procedures.
- Review invacuation procedures.
- Review lockdown procedures.
- Review communication procedures.
- Brief relevant staff.
- Keep evidence and review arrangements up to date.
How Hospli supports hotel readiness
Hospli is designed to keep the readiness record connected rather than scattering it across documents, spreadsheets and email.
- Assess the venue's likely pathway.
- Record the responsible person.
- Build and version the four procedure areas.
- Brief staff and record acknowledgements.
- Maintain an evidence timeline.
- Schedule procedure and venue reviews.
- Generate a reproducible Hospli Venue Record Pack.
Martyn's Law hotel FAQs
Does Martyn's Law apply to hotels?
Hotels can fall within Martyn's Law where they meet the statutory scope criteria and the relevant expected-person threshold. Operators should consider the premises as actually used rather than looking only at the number of guest bedrooms.
Do hotel staff count towards the Martyn's Law threshold?
Yes. Current statutory guidance says staff are included when considering how many individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time.
Do wedding guests and conference delegates count?
They may be relevant where those people form part of the number reasonably expected to be present at the premises at the same time. Hotels with conferences, weddings, restaurants, bars or other events should consider their real operating pattern.
Is hotel bedroom capacity the same as Martyn's Law capacity?
No. Bedroom numbers alone do not establish the relevant figure. The statutory approach looks at the number of individuals it is reasonable to expect may be present at the same time, including staff.
Who is the responsible person for a hotel?
It will generally be the individual, organisation or company with control of the premises in connection with the qualifying use. Property ownership alone does not necessarily determine responsibility.
Official sources and current guidance
This page 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 supports readiness and record keeping. It does not provide government approval, certification or a binding legal determination about whether a hotel is within scope.