Will your venue realistically reach 200 people?
The Martyn's Law threshold is whether 200 or more people may reasonably be expected at the same time — realistic attendance, not the number on your fire-capacity sign. This quick reckoner helps you think it through.
How busy does your venue really get?
Count everyone who'd be there at the same time — visitors, staff, volunteers, performers. This is realistic attendance at your busiest, not the number on a fire-capacity sign.
A typical big week — the service, market, class or match that draws your largest regular crowd. How many people, all told?
The fete, panto, wedding or festival that packs the place out. Everyone in at once — visitors and helpers.
This is a simplified reckoner to help you reason about the 200-person threshold in the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, for general information only — not legal advice, and not an exhaustive scope test. It doesn't account for every exclusion or the worship and education carve-outs. Confirm your position with the free scope checker and the official statutory guidance.
Counting it properly — the part most people get wrong
The whole question turns on one phrase in the Act: "reasonably expected to be present at the same time." Three things follow from it, and they're where the confusion lives:
- Count everyone, not just the public — visitors, staff, volunteers, performers, bar and kitchen helpers, the committee. Anyone in the building at that moment.
- It's the busiest realistic moment, not a daily or seasonal total — the most people in at once, not how many came through the doors all day.
- Ignore the fire-capacity sign — that's the maximum the building could physically hold. The law asks what you'd realistically expect, which is often a much smaller number.
A worked example. A village hall runs a monthly quiz (60 people), a summer fete that uses the hall (140 visitors + 25 helpers = 165), and a Christmas panto (180 tickets + 20 cast and crew = 200). Its realistic busiest moment is 200 — so it's right on the threshold and should run the full scope checker, even though a normal week is nowhere near.
Why bother getting it right? Because the figure decides whether the duties apply to you at all — and because your insurer and your hirers will start asking. Whichever way it lands, write down how you reached the number and revisit it each year: a venue that can show its reasoning is in a strong position, in or out of scope.
Common questions
Is this the number on my fire certificate?
No — and that's the most common mix-up. Martyn's Law is about how many people may realistically be expected at the same time, not the maximum your fire certificate or licence allows. A hall rated for 300 that never draws more than 80 is reasoning from the wrong number.
Who do I count?
Everyone present at once: visitors, staff, volunteers, performers, contractors. Not the total over a day or a season — the most people in the building at a single busy moment.
We only reach big numbers once a year — does that count?
Yes. There's no "occasional use" exemption for premises. If your fete or panto realistically brings 200+ together, that can put you in scope even if a normal week is quiet.
What if our numbers change after we check this?
Re-check whenever something changes — a new regular booking, a bigger annual event, a change of layout — and at least once a year. Keep your latest reckoning with your other records; it is the evidence that you considered the question, whichever way it landed.
What happens once we know we're at or over 200?
You're likely in scope, and almost certainly at the standard tier (200–799), where the duties are deliberately simple: notify the SIA, four workable procedures, and people who know them. Our standard tier guide sets out exactly what that means — and the scope checker confirms your tier first.
Does this decide whether the law applies?
No. It's a quick reckoner to help you reason about the 200 threshold, not a legal determination. For the full picture — scope, tier and the worship and education carve-outs — use the free scope checker, and always confirm against the official guidance.