Martyn’s Law for Nightclubs

Last reviewed: June 2026

Late hours, queues, and licence capacities that often approach the 800 threshold mean nightclubs need a clear capacity basis and procedures their door team can actually run at 1am.

New to the Act? Start with the plain-English guide to Martyn’s Law, then run the free readiness check for your nightclubs.

Likely scope route

Entertainment and leisure — licence capacities near the 800 line need a careful count: 200–799 including workers is standard tier, 800 or more enhanced.

What to think about

Licence capacity plus staff and security is your starting figure.
Clubs near 800 should look carefully at which side of the line they sit.
Smoking areas and re-entry queues keep people around the entrance.
Door teams change — briefing records keep new staff covered.
Lockdown and invacuation need to work with music off and lights up.

Procedure focus

What evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication tend to hinge on in nightclubs.

Music cut, strobes off, house lights up as the tested first step
Moving the queue away from the building, never holding it against the doors
Radios tested at peak volume, with dead spots recorded
A named all-clear authority: duty manager or police only

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.

GapEvacuation never tested with the music on and the lights down
GapOnly the DJ knows how to cut the sound, with no staff override
GapLockdown plan leaves the door queue pressed against the locked entrance
GapToilets, VIP rooms and cloakroom missing from sweep allocations
GapAll-clear left to whoever is nearest, not a named authority

Also serving

Hotels & function rooms

The hotels route under Schedule 1 — the biggest function plus residents, diners and event crew sets the figure; 200–799 points to the standard tier.

View checklist

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

Not legal advice or a guarantee of compliance. Review and approve all documents before use.