Martyn’s Law for Hotels & function rooms
Last reviewed: June 2026
For hotels the question is usually the function trade: weddings, conferences and party nights can push a hotel past 200 people even when the bedrooms alone would not.
New to the Act? Start with the plain-English guide to Martyn’s Law, then run the free readiness check for your hotels with function rooms.
Likely scope route
What to think about
- Count guests, function attendees, and all staff present at the same time.
- Function bookings are classic 'from time to time' peaks.
- External organisers hiring your rooms need co-ordination records.
- Multiple entrances and event wings complicate communication.
- Night-shift staffing is thinner — procedures must still work.
Procedure focus
What evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication tend to hinge on in hotels with function rooms.
- Invacuating function guests deeper into the building, not an exposed lobby
- Every entrance listed with who secures it, day and night
- A recorded pre-function briefing between duty manager and event lead
- Reaching guest-room floors: reception phones, runners to each room
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.
- GapHotel and hirer each assume the other holds the duty, with nothing recorded
- GapCapacity taken from the banqueting plan alone, ignoring crew, caterers and residents
- GapInvacuation plan moves function guests into the glass-fronted lobby
- GapTemporary party-season staff start shifts with no procedure briefing
- GapAn 800-or-more ticketed event booked without checking the qualifying-event branch
Also serving
Community halls
The halls route — standard tier where 200–799 people, volunteers included, are reasonably expected; under 200 at every peak is likely out of scope, recorded.
View checklist
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
Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance. Review and approve all documents before use.