Martyn’s Law checklist for community halls
Halls are often hirer-run and lightly staffed — sometimes unstaffed. Procedures can lean on notices, hirer induction sheets and simple communication trees rather than a duty-manager model.
Likely scope route
What to think about
- Your peak is the biggest regular booking, including organisers and volunteers.
- Hirers may deliver parts of your procedures — keep evidence you briefed them.
- Unstaffed periods need notices and contact cards, not assumed staff.
- One-off large events should be checked separately.
- Keep the committee's review dates on a calendar — evidence beats memory.
Procedure focus
What evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication tend to hinge on in community halls.
- Procedures that work through hirer packs and laminated action cards, not a duty rota
- A keyholder role card for every volunteer keyholder
- A reunification step for children's parties
- A no-PA fallback: nominated loud announcement and person-to-person relay
Common evidence gaps
The process gaps venues in this sector most often need to close — each one fixable, and worth a dated record once it is.
- GapThe procedure lives in one trustee's head and leaves at the AGM
- GapHirers run most events but have never seen the hirer briefing pack
- GapFire exits doubling as overflow storage between hires
- GapCapacity copied from the fire notice without counting volunteers and helpers
- GapCommunication plan assumes a PA system the hall does not have
Also serving
Restaurants
Food and drink — most restaurants sit under 200 at any realistic peak and are likely out of scope, but the reasoning is worth recording either way.
View checklist
Festivals & outdoor events
Usually assessed as an event, not premises — a qualifying event needs 800 or more at some point, workers included, with entry checked by ticket, wristband or pass.
View checklist
Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance. Review and approve all documents before use.