Martyn's Law risk assessment

Martyn's Law Risk Assessment for Hospitality Venues

If you are searching for a Martyn's Law risk assessment, the most important point is that a generic template is not the same thing as meeting the Act's duties. Hospitality operators need to understand their premises, likely tier, responsible person and the practical public protection procedures that would apply to the venue.

Quick answer

For Standard Tier hospitality premises, the core operational focus is on appropriate public protection procedures for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication. A risk assessment-style review can help organise the facts and assumptions behind those arrangements, but a downloaded template should not be treated as automatic legal compliance.

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Does Martyn's Law require a risk assessment?

The phrase Martyn's Law risk assessment is commonly used by businesses searching for practical preparation help, but the legislation should not be reduced to a single generic risk-assessment document.

For Standard Tier premises, the current statutory framework focuses on notifying the regulator and having appropriate public protection procedures in place, so far as reasonably practicable, to reduce physical harm if an attack occurs at the premises or in the immediate vicinity.

That means the useful question for a hospitality operator is not simply, “Have I filled in a risk assessment?” but:

Have we assessed whether the venue may be in scope?
Have we identified the responsible person?
Do our procedures reflect the real venue and operation?
Do staff know what they are expected to do?
Can we show what has been reviewed and maintained?

What should a Martyn's Law risk assessment review cover?

Venue use

Record how the premises is used, including food and drink, entertainment, accommodation or function activity where relevant.

Expected people

Consider the greatest number of people reasonably expected at the same time, including staff and other relevant people.

Relevant areas

Consider function rooms, beer gardens, terraces, conference areas and event spaces where they form part of the premises.

Responsible person

Record who has control of the premises in connection with its qualifying use and review the operating arrangement carefully.

Public protection procedures

Review evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication arrangements against the real operation of the venue.

Staff readiness

Make sure relevant staff understand the procedures and keep a clear record of briefings or acknowledgements.

Martyn's Law risk assessment template: what to avoid

A downloadable template can be useful as a starting structure, but there are several traps hospitality operators should avoid.

Do not assume one generic document fits every pub, restaurant, hotel or venue.
Do not treat licensed capacity as the only figure that matters.
Do not copy procedures that do not match the actual venue layout or operating model.
Do not assume buying a template transfers responsibility away from the responsible person.
Do not let the document become stale when the venue, staff or procedures change.

Risk assessment vs public protection procedures

These terms are related, but they are not interchangeable.

Readiness or risk review

Helps organise facts about the venue, expected numbers, operating arrangements, responsible person and practical considerations.

Public protection procedures

Describe what should happen for evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication if an attack occurs or is occurring nearby.

Martyn's Law risk assessment for pubs

A pub review should consider more than the number of customers in the bar. Staff, contractors, performers, function rooms, beer gardens and other relevant areas can all affect the picture.

Operating arrangements also matter. A pub tenant may be the responsible person even where another organisation holds the premises licence, depending on who has control in connection with the qualifying use.

Martyn's Law risk assessment for hotels

Hotels may need to consider guests, staff, restaurants, bars, conferences, weddings and other events together rather than looking at room numbers in isolation.

The assessment should reflect the real operating pattern of the premises rather than relying on a single theoretical capacity figure.

How Hospli helps hospitality venues organise readiness

Hospli does not sell a generic document and call the job finished. The V1 workflow is designed to help responsible people maintain a living venue record.

Check the likely venue pathway.
Record the responsible person.
Build the four procedure areas.
Version procedures as they change.
Brief staff against the current procedure version.
Keep an evidence timeline.
Schedule reviews and maintain the record over time.

Start with your venue

Use the free Hospli Venue Checker to work through the key scope and expected-person questions in plain English.

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Martyn's Law risk assessment FAQs

Does Martyn's Law require a risk assessment?

The Act requires responsible persons to have appropriate public protection procedures and, for Enhanced Tier premises and qualifying events, additional measures and documentation. Standard Tier hospitality venues should avoid assuming that a generic risk assessment template alone satisfies the legal duties.

What should a Martyn's Law risk assessment include?

A useful readiness review should consider the premises, expected numbers, relevant areas, operating arrangements, the responsible person and how evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication procedures would work in practice. Official guidance remains the source of truth for the legal duties.

Can I download a Martyn's Law risk assessment template?

A template can help organise thinking, but it should not be treated as a universal compliance document. Hospitality premises vary significantly, so the record should reflect the actual venue, expected numbers, operating model and procedures.

Does Hospli complete a legal risk assessment for me?

No. Hospli helps responsible people structure venue information, procedures, staff briefings, evidence and reviews. It does not replace the responsible person's judgement or provide a binding legal risk assessment.

Official sources and current guidance

This page was last reviewed on 4 September 2026 against current official guidance.

Hospli supports readiness and record keeping. It does not provide government approval, certification or a binding legal risk assessment.