Hospitality venues are built around people, bringing communities together to relax, socialise and enjoy each other’s company. Whether it’s the local pub, a fan-favourite restaurant or a community event hosted at a hotel – these hospitality environments are naturally open and welcoming.
With Martyn’s Law set to strengthen expectations around public safety, hospitality venues are a huge focus. Especially on how to support their teams to feel prepared, without losing the atmosphere that makes pubs, restaurants and bars so important for communities. For many pubs and restaurants, they’ll sit just outside of the Standard Tier, unless they hold guests of 200-799 at one time. Others, like hotels and larger venues, will fall under the Enhanced Tier – so it’s important to understand where your venue sits.
Adhering to the new recommendations and legislation under Martyn’s Law isn’t about creating fear or changing the guest experience. It’s about giving your staff the confidence to respond in a calm manner, while supporting others and taking practical action if something unexpected happens.
Realistic preparedness for hospitality teams
Hospitality teams work in a fast-paced, people-focused environment daily, where priorities shift constantly.
Whether it's staff managing customers, coordinating service, or responding to day-to-day challenges. At times, all of this can happen at once, which is a reason why preparedness should be realistic in hospitality environments like restaurants, pubs, bars and hotels.
Instead of introducing complex policies and procedures, effective planning should be easy to remember, simple to execute and manageable actions that staff can apply under pressure.
For example:
- Carrying out risk assessments to identify potential security vulnerabilities
- Understanding what behaviour to look out for and when to escalate concerns
- Knowing who to contact in an emergency
- Being familiar with their surroundings, like exits and quieter areas
- Feeling confident to prioritise safety when needed
Being prepared isn’t about making your staff handle every situation, but providing them with the means to be confident and supported in those first crucial moments when clear thinking matters most.
With short, practical training sessions and regular refreshers, it can make a real difference in keeping the teams up to date, but also in making sure they understand what to do without overwhelming them.
Understanding evacuation, lockdown and communication basics
With any emergency communication, clarity is key, especially in hospitality environments when they’re busy, often loud and crowded. Communication can become challenging, but having a clear, well-thought-out plan and procedures will help staff respond effectively, while guiding others to safety.
In terms of evacuation plans, staff should be able to have a clear understanding of where their exits are and any alternative routes. They should also be able to guide customers and other staff calmly without causing any confusion, and then direct them once they’ve left the building. This is important because even in familiar spaces, it can feel disorienting, so reinforcing this knowledge is crucial.
If there was ever a situation where leaving the building may not be the safest option, staff should be able to communicate:
- Where is there the most protection in the venue
- How to reduce visibility and maintain a calm environment
Any hospitality staff member knows how to communicate with the public, but in an emergency, a different approach might be needed. Such as:
- Clear and direct language
- Simple instructions
- Providing reassurance without speculation
There should also be a designated responsible person who should have control of the venue, coordinate and maintain risk assessments. So, evacuation and lockdown measures are always kept up to date if something changes at the venue.
Why first aid readiness matters during peak times
Hospitality venues experience peak times, whether it's seasonal sunny weather, weekends, events or late-night periods. During these times, incidents can arise due to the number of people present, and if something happens in a busy setting, staff are often the first on the scene.
Which is why first aid readiness is important, and having staff who are trained in basic first aid can help bring immediate support while waiting for emergency services. Simple actions like helping someone sit safely, applying pressure to a wound, applying a bandage, or simply offering reassurance can help an injured individual in those early stages.
In cases where there has been a serious accident or a terrorist incident, being trained on how to handle life-threatening bleeding can mean saving someone’s life. With quick recognition, immediate action and providing the right support being the most critical steps.
Clinical experience isn’t always needed, but staff do need to have:
- Awareness of what situation looks serious
- Confidence to step in
- Practical understanding of what to do
At St John Ambulance, we believe embedding first aid training for hospitality teams, or any workplace, especially those who sit under the Standard or Enhanced Tier under Martyn’s Law, is essential. Because if your staff feel ready to respond in busy and high-pressure environments, it could make a life-changing difference.
Simple and proportionate equipment choices
In conjunction with preparedness in hospitality venues, having the right equipment and knowing how to use it will help in any situation.
This doesn’t need to be complex or excessive amounts of first aid equipment, but proportionate and aligned to the use of your venue.
Basic essentials:
- Standard first aid kits
- First aid supplies to treat common injuries
- Accessible equipment that can be reached quickly by staff
- Exit signs
It’s also essential that your equipment is regularly checked and maintained, to ensure supplies are up to date, replenished and ready to use.
Immediate essentials:
For areas of high footfall, like bars, event spaces or hotels, it’s worth considering extra first aid equipment, additional supplies or specialist items.
This can include:
- Automated external defibrillators (multiple for large sites)
- PAcT kits (to help with life-threatening bleeding)
- Evacuation chairs (if there are lots of stairs)
These first aid equipment pieces will help support more serious incidents, alongside training to ensure staff feel comfortable using them, and will ensure people are supported when they need it most.
First Aid Supplies for the hospitality industry
St John Ambulance HEART Two Semi-automatic Defibrillator
St John Ambulance Large Workplace First Aid Kit Grab Bag BS-8599-1:2019
St John Ambulance Public Access Trauma PAcT First Aid Kit with Tourni-key
St John Ambulance Ten Second Triage Kit
Evacusafe Excel Tracked Evacuation Chair
St John Ambulance Carrying Sheet
Fire Exit Left Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
Fire Exit Right Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
Fire Exit Down Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
Final Fire Exit Sign Vinyl 450 x 150mm
First Aid Supplies for the hospitality industry
Find the right first aid supplies for your team, so you're always prepared.
Supporting safer hospitality environments
Preparing for Martyn’s Law in hospitality is about finding the right balance between protecting people while maintaining welcoming and enjoyable spaces.
For pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels, this can mean:
- Keeping safety procedures simple and realistic
- Ensuring staff understand their role in an emergency
- Building staff confidence through practical training
- Putting the right equipment into place
When teams feel supported, prepared and confident, they are more likely to respond effectively in an emergency, helping to protect colleagues and guests.
At St John Ambulance, we work with hospitality organisations across the UK to deliver first aid training and provide first aid equipment that’s designed for real-world environments. With our easy-to-understand and clear approach to practical skills and guidance, we’re helping build confidence to act when it matters most.
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