Village and community halls
Most village halls sit under 200. Larger halls, and halls that host dances, markets and shows, should check.
A village or community hall is in the standard tier if it is reasonable to expect 200 to 799 people at once. The management committee or trustees are usually the responsible person, and procedures need to work when the hall is let to hirers who do not know the building.
What does it mean for you?
- Put the procedures in the hirer’s pack and on the wall by the main door.
- Hirers need to know the lockdown doors and invacuation room as well as the fire exits.
- A hall with a bar or café may be affected by the principal-use rules.
- ACRE and county village hall associations publish free guidance.
The four procedures are explained on the standard tier page, tiers on which tier am I in, and there is a checklist and a worked example.
Before you pay anyone: the Home Office says premises do not need to buy consultancy to meet the standard tier, and its guidance, the SIA’s guidance and the ProtectUK training are free. Neither the Home Office nor the SIA endorses any provider, including us. The legal responsibility stays with the person responsible for the premises; we help with the work, we do not take the duty off you.
What do the four procedures look like in a village hall?
Evacuation: which exits lead away from the car park and road.
Invacuation: the kitchen, committee room or a room without large windows.
Lockdown: main doors and fire-exit security, without blocking escape in a fire.
Communication: what the hirer says, and a one-page card by the main door.
What are the common gaps?
- Hirers never told the procedure.
- Assuming the committee's knowledge will be there on the night.
- No review after layout or licence changes.
Want a second pair of eyes on it?
Send the venue type, the most people you would expect in at once, and how many sites you run. We will tell you which tier you look to be in and whether the free route is enough before quoting anything.
Common questions
Who is responsible when the hall is hired out?
Usually the person or body in control of the premises, such as the trustees or management committee, not the hirer. Hirers should be briefed on the procedures.