Visit West publishes a Martyn's Law primer for local venues
Published
The regional tourism body Visit West has shared an explainer on Martyn's Law, helping operators across its area get to grips with what the new duties will involve. It's a useful nudge to start familiarising yourself now.
What happened
Visit West, the tourism organisation for the Bristol and Bath region, has put out a plain-English overview of Martyn's Law — the everyday name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025. The piece walks operators through the basics of the new regime and points them towards further reading.
What it means for venues
Local and regional bodies producing their own explainers is a sign the Act is moving up the agenda for the hospitality, events and visitor economy. The duties are not yet in force — commencement is expected in spring 2027, with the exact date still to be confirmed. Nothing is enforceable today, so there is time to prepare calmly.
As a reminder, the standard tier is expected to cover premises where 200 to 799 people may reasonably be present at the same time, and the enhanced tier 800 or more. Those counts include staff. The Security Industry Authority will be the regulator, though its notification process is not yet live.
What to do now
Use resources like this to build your own understanding of where your venue is likely to sit. Think about your typical maximum occupancy, including staff, so you have a sense of which tier may apply. There is no need to register or notify anyone yet.
Keep it in perspective
This is background reading to help you prepare, not legal guidance and not a substitute for professional advice. The aim for now is simply to familiarise yourself so you're ready well before the duties begin.
This is our plain-English summary. Read the original in full at Visit West.