Martyn's Law, in plain English — guide by guide

Every guide below does the same three jobs: tells you honestly whether the law is likely to apply to your kind of premises, explains what the standard tier actually asks (less than the headlines suggest), and shows you what's worth writing down. Start with the one that sounds like your building — or let the scope checker point you to it in three minutes.

The essentials

The concepts every in-scope venue needs, whatever its type.

Standard tier requirements — the whole of the law's ask for venues of 200–799, in plain English: notify, four procedures, people who know them.
Enhanced tier — almost certainly not you — what the 800+ enhanced tier is, why big churches and schools stay standard, and where to turn if it really is you.
When it comes into force — the timeline in plain English — Royal Assent, statutory guidance, and commencement expected Spring 2027 — and what (if anything) to do at each stage.
What invacuation means — the plain-English definition: moving people to a safer part of the building, away from danger — when you'd use it, and the no-cost steps to plan it.
The responsible person — control, not ownership: how to settle who carries the duty — committee, charity or PCC — and what they actually do.
Penalties & enforcement — the honest answer on penalties and enforcement: the regulator is advisory-first, there are no closures or criminal records at standard tier, and the pressure you'll feel first is your insurer — not a fine.
Glossary — a plain-English reference for every term you'll meet — tiers, the four procedures, the 200 threshold, responsible person, notification and the rest — each in a sentence or two.

Is your venue in scope? Guides by type

Whether the law applies, worked through for your kind of premises.

Village & community halls — the capacity question done properly: why the fire-capacity sign isn't the answer, and what to minute either way.
Churches & places of worship — the 200 threshold still applies; above it, worship premises are standard tier at any size. What that means for PCCs, wardens — and the dioceses behind them.
Mosques, temples & gurdwaras — the same neutral rules for every faith: the 200 threshold decides scope; above it, worship premises stay standard tier at any size. What committees and trustees need to do.
Schools & education — the education carve-out keeps schools standard tier at any size — but the public-access and 200 tests still decide whether a school is in scope at all, and where it usually arises.
Community centres — busier than a small hall, so plan for the standard tier: count across every room at the busiest moment, and settle who the responsible person is when owner and operator differ.
Care homes — the honest answer for care-home managers: why most individual homes are likely out of scope, and how to check properly rather than just assume it.
Sports & social clubs — the matchday maths: players, spectators, bar and function room counted together, and why finals day decides the answer.
Scout & guide halls — mostly good news: how to conclude "out of scope" properly, minute it, and know the two exceptions.
Small theatres & cinemas — count the seats, then everyone else; why licensed venues start 80% prepared, and the two genuinely new procedures.
Pubs & function rooms — the function room decides it: the whole-premises count on your biggest nights, hirer bookings, and why licensed operators start ahead.

Running your venue & special cases

Hirers, events and the people responsible across many buildings.

Hirers & hire agreements — who carries the duty when you hire your space out — almost always the venue, not the hirer — and the few lines in a hire agreement that do the work.
Events in scope — the panic-defusing one: a big fete or panto usually counts towards your premises' own 200 test — it is almost never a 'qualifying event' in its own right, which is a separate rule needing 800 or more people and entry conditions.
Parish & town councils — a clerk's walkthrough: inventory the buildings, count each one, settle who the responsible person is, and minute it like everything else.