Does it apply to your venue?
The Act covers premises that are a building, or a building and other land, mainly used for a Schedule 1 use, where it is reasonable to expect 200 or more people may be present at the same time, from time to time (s.2(2)).
Nightclubs, gig venues and music bars usually fall under "entertainment, leisure or recreation activities of any description" where the activity is principally for visiting members of the public (Sch 1 para 3). A venue that is mainly a bar may instead fall under "food and drink" (Sch 1 para 2). Either way it is a Schedule 1 use, so the label matters less than the numbers. Charging entry, selling tickets in advance or running a guest list doesn't stop your customers counting as members of the public (Sch 1 para 18).
Count everyone who might be inside at your busiest regular night, including door staff, bar staff, DJs, performers and crew. Your licensed capacity and fire risk assessment are a useful starting point, but the test is how many people you can reasonably expect "from time to time", so a few sold-out nights a year can count.
- 200–799 people: Standard Tier.
- 800 or more: Enhanced Tier (s.2(3)). Many larger clubs and music venues will be here. Enhanced Tier brings extra duties, so take professional advice and read the SIA and ProtectUK guidance. This guide covers Standard Tier.
If your venue has several rooms or floors, or sits inside a larger complex, how the "premises" are drawn affects the count. The Act doesn't give a simple rule for every layout, so if you're near a threshold, record your reasoning and take advice.
Check your venue in two minutes with our free scope checker.
Who is responsible?
Whoever has control of the premises in connection with that use (s.4(1)). That is often the operator or premises licence holder, but it depends on your lease and management arrangements. If control is shared, for example between a landlord and an operator, or with a promoter who hires the venue, each may be responsible and can act jointly (s.4(4)). A door security contractor doesn't usually take over your duty, but they need to know your procedures and their part in them. Agree who does what in writing.
What you have to do (Standard Tier)
So far as is reasonably practicable, have appropriate procedures for evacuation, invacuation (moving people to a safer place inside), lockdown and communication if there is reason to suspect an act of terrorism is happening or about to happen nearby (s.5). Make sure the people who would carry them out are informed and, where appropriate, trained, and notify the SIA within three months of the duties starting, using its free service (Notification Requirements Regulations 2026). The notification asks for the most people you expect at once and how you worked that out, so keep a note of your counting. No physical alterations are required at Standard Tier.
What the four procedures might look like in a club or music venue
Examples to help you think, not legal requirements:
- Evacuation: your fire exits are the base, but plan for leaving by routes away from the main door and the queue if the threat is outside. Think about how a dark, loud room gets everyone moving: house lights up and music off.
- Invacuation: if the threat is in the street, keeping people inside with the doors shut may be safer. Know which rooms or back-of-house areas can be closed off, and who makes the call.
- Lockdown: who closes the front doors and fire exits, how you stop the queue pushing in, and how smoking areas and beer gardens are brought inside.
- Communication: a pre-agreed "stop the show" signal for the DJ or stage manager, a short PA script, door staff radios, and who calls 999. Agree how you'd tell the queue and people in the smoking area.
Briefing door, bar and floor staff
Staff turnover is high and many work only a few nights a month. Add a two-minute briefing to the pre-opening team talk, include agency and contractor staff, and keep a simple record of who has had it. Make sure promoters and visiting acts' crew know who can stop the show.
Checklist
- Check whether your venue is in scope and which tier, and keep a dated note of your reasoning
- Agree who is responsible: operator, landlord, promoter, or more than one
- Write short procedures for the four areas
- Brief door, bar and floor staff, including contractors, and record it
- Agree a "stop the show" signal and PA script with DJs and stage managers
- Practise at a quiet time and note what you'd change
- Write down how you worked out your maximum number of people (for example seats plus standing room, staff and volunteers)
- Notify the SIA within three months of the duties starting (it is free)
- Review once a year, or when your layout or capacity changes