Fire Safety in Hospitality and Leisure Venues: Specific Fire Plan Actions
Hospitality and leisure venues such as restaurants, hotels, theatres, arts centres and event spaces present unique fire safety challenges. High public occupancy, unfamiliar visitors, varied activities and changing layouts all increase fire risk, making a robust and well-managed fire plan essential. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, owners and operators have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect staff, guests and members of the public from fire.
This article explores the specific fire plan needs of hospitality and leisure venues and highlights key lessons from Assured Fire Safety Consultancy’s work at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre.
Fire Risk Assessments for Hospitality and Leisure Settings
A suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is the foundation of effective fire safety management. In hospitality and leisure environments, the assessment must reflect how the building is actually used, including busy peak periods, evening or night-time operation and events where large numbers of people gather. Areas such as commercial kitchens, bars, plant rooms and performance spaces often introduce higher fire loads and ignition risks and should be carefully considered.
The findings of the Fire Risk Assessment should directly inform the venue’s fire plan, ensuring that risks are prioritised and managed in a practical and proportionate way.
Escape Routes and Evacuation Planning
Clearly marked and unobstructed escape routes are essential. Venues must ensure:
Fire exits and escape corridors are clearly signed and illuminated
Routes remain free of obstructions during all operating hours
Emergency lighting works reliably during power loss
Plans should be tested regularly through fire drills and evacuation rehearsals involving staff and, for larger venues, stewards for safety teams.
Fire Detection & Alarm Systems
Appropriate fire detection and alarm systems must be installed and maintained, including:
Smoke and heat detectors in public spaces, back of house areas and service corridors
Manual call points easily accessible throughout the venue
Regular testing and servicing to ensure reliability
Updated standards such as BS 5839-1:2025 guide best practice for alarm systems in non-domestic buildings, including leisure venues.
Firefighting Equipment & Suppression Systems
Based on risk, venues should provide suitable firefighting equipment, such as:
Fire extinguishers of appropriate class for kitchens, electrical areas, and public spaces
Fire blankets and hose reels where required
Automatic suppression systems in high-risk areas like commercial kitchens
Regular servicing of equipment is a statutory requirement, and records must be kept up to date.
Staff Training and Fire Safety Awareness
Staff are central to the successful implementation of any fire plan. Regular fire safety training ensures employees understand evacuation procedures, know how to raise the alarm and can respond appropriately in an emergency. High staff in hospitality settings makes refresher training particularly important, and all training should be documented.
Clear roles, such as fire wardens or evacuation marshals, help ensure coordinated responses during incidents and drills.
Learning from the Bernie Arts Centre
Assured Fire Safety Consultancy supported the Bernie Grant Arts Centre (BGAC) — a major public cultural venue — to achieve safe reopening under constrained budgets. Key takeaways include:
Reviewing and prioritising existing FRA findings to focus on immediate risks
Developing risk-based reopening plans with staged compliance goals
Conducting evacuation training and drills with practical improvement actions
Advising on fire doors, compartmentation and passive measures to verify existing protections and avoid unnecessary costs
The result was compliant, safer venue that reopened successfully while strengthening long-term fire safety management.
Conclusion
Fire safety for hospitality and leisure venues requires more than ticking boxes — it demands a tailored, dynamic fire plan that reflects how your space operates and how people use it. By investing in thorough risk assessments, robust detection and suppression systems, regular training, and clear evacuation procedures, you can safeguard your guests and staff and ensure compliance with fire safety legislation.
Need expert help with your venue’s fire safety planning or risk assessment? Assured Fire Safety Consultancy can support your business with tailored fire safety consultancy, compliance solutions and staff training — helping you operate confidently and safely.
Contact Us!
Get in touch today to discuss your fire safety strategy.
Fire Safety in Hospitality and Leisure Venues: Specific Fire Plan Actions
Hospitality and leisure venues such as restaurants, hotels, theatres, arts centres and event spaces present unique fire safety challenges. High public occupancy, unfamiliar visitors, varied activities and changing layouts all increase fire risk, making a robust and well-managed fire plan essential. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, owners and operators have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect staff, guests and members of the public from fire.
This article explores the specific fire plan needs of hospitality and leisure venues and highlights key lessons from Assured Fire Safety Consultancy’s work at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre.
Fire Risk Assessments for Hospitality and Leisure Settings
A suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is the foundation of effective fire safety management. In hospitality and leisure environments, the assessment must reflect how the building is actually used, including busy peak periods, evening or night-time operation and events where large numbers of people gather. Areas such as commercial kitchens, bars, plant rooms and performance spaces often introduce higher fire loads and ignition risks and should be carefully considered.
The findings of the Fire Risk Assessment should directly inform the venue’s fire plan, ensuring that risks are prioritised and managed in a practical and proportionate way.
Escape Routes and Evacuation Planning
Clearly marked and unobstructed escape routes are essential. Venues must ensure:
Plans should be tested regularly through fire drills and evacuation rehearsals involving staff and, for larger venues, stewards for safety teams.
Fire Detection & Alarm Systems
Appropriate fire detection and alarm systems must be installed and maintained, including:
Updated standards such as BS 5839-1:2025 guide best practice for alarm systems in non-domestic buildings, including leisure venues.
Firefighting Equipment & Suppression Systems
Based on risk, venues should provide suitable firefighting equipment, such as:
Regular servicing of equipment is a statutory requirement, and records must be kept up to date.
Staff Training and Fire Safety Awareness
Staff are central to the successful implementation of any fire plan. Regular fire safety training ensures employees understand evacuation procedures, know how to raise the alarm and can respond appropriately in an emergency. High staff in hospitality settings makes refresher training particularly important, and all training should be documented.
Clear roles, such as fire wardens or evacuation marshals, help ensure coordinated responses during incidents and drills.
Learning from the Bernie Arts Centre
Assured Fire Safety Consultancy supported the Bernie Grant Arts Centre (BGAC) — a major public cultural venue — to achieve safe reopening under constrained budgets. Key takeaways include:
The result was compliant, safer venue that reopened successfully while strengthening long-term fire safety management.
Conclusion
Fire safety for hospitality and leisure venues requires more than ticking boxes — it demands a tailored, dynamic fire plan that reflects how your space operates and how people use it. By investing in thorough risk assessments, robust detection and suppression systems, regular training, and clear evacuation procedures, you can safeguard your guests and staff and ensure compliance with fire safety legislation.
Need expert help with your venue’s fire safety planning or risk assessment? Assured Fire Safety Consultancy can support your business with tailored fire safety consultancy, compliance solutions and staff training — helping you operate confidently and safely.
Contact Us!
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