Licensing

Our licensing professionals understand the pressures on business developers to maximise their opportunities and secure the most flexible licences to help their business grow. In an increasingly difficult regulatory landscape the right practical and legal advice is essential and can be the difference between being profitable and not. Our licensing lawyers have many years’ experience in negotiating the difficulties and problems that can and do arise in setting up new ventures and in dealing with problems occurring during operation. They can advise on the best strategy to obtain the necessary licence with appropriate terms and conditions to maximise the lawful business opportunity. 

• Applied for new licences for the world renowned Hurlingham Club.   
• Secured extended hours for a high-end steak and cocktail restaurant and bar in Leeds City Centre.  
• Obtained alcohol licences for a group of blow dry and updo bars as they roll out across London, to allow customers to enjoy champagne and cocktails during their treatments.   
• Secured the licences for Bounce and Flight Club Dart’s social entertainment venues.  
• Submitted applications for bingo premises licences for a number of operators including holiday parks and also applied for Unlicensed Family Entertainment Centre Permits, Adult Gaming Centre and Family Entertainment Centre premises licences.  
• Secured a 2am licence for Hakkasan.  
• Advised the Royal Albert Hall on all of its licensing aspects including the re-introduction of boxing and wrestling at the venue following the incorrect application, and resolving local residents’ concern and apprehension.  
• Secured licensing for the £30 million development of Warwickshire County Cricket Club at Edgbaston, including the stand arena, conference centre, bar and function facilities.   
• Secured variations of the hours for several pubs located within Westminster’s Stress Area to enable the premises to sell alcohol at earlier times on weekends.  
• Successfully obtained a premises licence to show films and serve alcohol for independent arts cinema The Garden Cinema, located in Camden’s Cumulative Impact Policy area.  
• Assisted an adult mini golf chain to obtain a premises licence in one of Islington’s Cumulative Impact zones.   
• Obtained a new premises licence for a brewery, bar and restaurant complex in one of Hackney Council’s Special Policy Areas.    
• Obtained a new bar premises licence for an internationally recognised brand in the City of Westminster’s West End Stress Area outside of Core Hours.   

Our team are experienced at all levels of challenge to decisions made by licensing authorities. We provide guidance and advice in negotiating and discussing with the authority to reach an agreed position where possible. In addition to the traditional avenue of appeal to the Magistrates’ Court, our experts are in the best position to guide you through the complicated judicial review or case stated challenges to authority decisions. 

• Advised a nightclub owner in an appeal in Berwick which resulted in what is believed to be the largest costs order against a police force.  
• Having obtained a Premises Licence in Cambridge’s Cumulative Impact Area for a national supermarket chain, successfully resisted an appeal lodged by a local councillor.  
• Acting for the Indian, French and Russian governments in a major planning application in Kensington and Chelsea (now in the Court of Appeal).  
• Advised on numerous review applications in Westminster and each time found solutions that did not then require the licence to be revoked or an appeal to be made, thereby saving clients significant costs and ensuring business continuity.  
• Instructed to lodge a Crown Court Appeal in respect of a refusal to renew a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence.  
• Instructed to deal with an appeal against the refusal to renew and revocation of a Sexual Entertainment Venue licence for a premises in Whitechapel.   
• Appealed to the Crown Court against the refusal to renew a Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence.   
• Successfully appealed a review decision to preserve the trading hours and business of a large nightclub business in Woking.  

Our experienced licensing lawyers work with businesses wishing to expand their operations into an outside space, guiding them through the application process to obtain a pavement licence or street trading licence from the relevant local authority.  

• Advised street-trading groups regarding changes to street trading zoning and licensing in the vicinity of football stadia.  
• Secured a pavement licence for a boxing gym with café element.  
• Secured a variation to a premises licence to permit external drinking and later hours for a pub in Shoreditch.  

Our licensing experts advise clients on early morning restriction orders and late night levies, making representations and in ensuring their voice is heard by the committee concerned. 

• Instructed by a regional police force to apply for an Early Morning Restriction Order (EMRO) in Blackpool.  
• Worked to secure late-night licences in the heart of Westminster City Council’s “stress area” (e.g. the iconic 50 St James’s and the successful post-production house, Molinaire, of ‘The King’s Speech’ fame).  
• Advised and represented a leading Covent Garden hotel in obtaining policy-beating later hours.  

Our licensing professionals understand the problems that can arise in relation to licensed premises. We advise our clients to ensure that they remain compliant with the obligations dictated by authorities to ensure that their businesses are not left exposed to potential costly prosecution. We regularly provide preventative advice as well as guidance in dealing with any enforcement actions by authorities. 

• Advised and represented in court a police force opposing the grant of a licence to a new Premiership Football stadium days before the inaugural match.  
• Defence of regulatory prosecutions brought against leisure and hospitality operators.   
• Represented a leading holiday park operator at a summary review hearing following a death at a park. Successfully negotiated an agreed position with Sussex Police which allowed the premises to continue to provide entertainment for families visiting the park pending the full review hearing.  
• Successfully defended a review of the premises licence for a pub which was alleged to have persistently sold alcohol to underage children.  
• Advised a nightclub owner in an appeal in Berwick which resulted in what is believed to be the largest costs order against a police force.  

Our experienced team help clients to identify health and safety risks, develop the necessary risk assessments, and defend health and safety enforcement action for both public-sector and commercial endeavours. 

• Represented the manager of a store operated by a national supermarket chain, at their invitation, in an investigation relating to a fatal accident at the premises.   
• Defended several health and safety prosecutions brought against clients in East London.  
• Represented a well-known London premises at a meeting with the Metropolitan Police following an alleged firearms incident.  

Our licensing lawyers are experts in the legislation concerning both live and recorded music which is constantly changing and developing. We work with our clients to ensure that they are aware of any altering to the times, levels, or events at which music can be played, so that they avoid any pitfalls or unforeseen issues.  

• Acted for a longstanding live music venue in Manchester in relation to a noise abatement notice appeal.  
• Advised a number of football clubs about stadia licensing, including licensing for outdoor music events and festivals.  
• Obtained a premises licence for a one-off concert in Bristol by a globally recognised band.  
• Worked on all aspects (bars, restaurants, entertainment) of very large developments including South Bank Centre, Devonshire Square Club, Curtain Hotel, and outdoor concert festival.  
• Defended a review of a Loughborough nightclub’s premises licence to retain the licensed hours after Leicestershire Police sought to reduce the hours.  

Our licensing team understand that noise issues can be one of the most difficult problems that any licensed premises have to deal with. Noise issues can lead to a review of a premises licence, a reduction in hours, more onerous conditions, and even revocation, in addition to noise abatement notices being served by local authorities. We work with clients to address problems, challenge decisions, and limit reputational or financial damage. 

• Acted for a longstanding live music venue in Manchester in relation to a noise abatement notice appeal.  
• Successful in appealing the issue of a noise abatement notice for a bar in Tameside and persuading the Council to withdraw the notice.    
• Advised one of the largest clay pigeon shooting grounds in the UK in relation to noise complaints and a subsequent local authority investigation.  

Our licensing experts work with street and market traders to ensure that they acquire the necessary licences to operate as well as adhering to any guidelines. 

• Advised street-trading groups regarding changes to street trading zoning and licensing in the vicinity of football stadia.  
• Advised a national supermarket operator in over 350 hearings throughout the country.  
• Advising a national hotel operator with over 30 premises on all aspects of licensing law since the business began in 2013.   

Our team of experienced licensing lawyers work with clients to ensure that where possible they have the systems in place to help avoid a review or minimise the risk of reviews being brought. The team maintain strong links with the authorities to assist in negotiation and collaboration with them, and work with clients to develop an effective strategy for both the short and long term. 

• Acted in 2020 for Club Aquarium on the expedited review of its premises licence (one of the few remaining 24-hour nightclub licences).  
• Successfully defended a review of the premises licence for a flagship Camden pub (located within Camden’s Cumulative Impact Zone) to retain the 2am licence after the Metropolitan Police had sought to reduce the hours to 11:30pm. 
• Defended a review of the premises licence for a Hampshire pub which was initiated by local residents and sought to curtail the use of a newly refurbished beer garden. 
• Successfully defended a review of the premises licence for a pub which was alleged to have persistently sold alcohol to underage children. 
• Defended a review of a Loughborough nightclub’s premises licence to retain the licensed hours after Leicestershire Police sought to reduce the hours. 
• Worked to resolve a dispute between a client and a high-profile ‘celebrity’ friendly premises in Mayfair and residents surrounding the venue, protecting the valuable premises licence.  
• Varying twelve premises licences for a large brewery group to extend their hours.   
• Managing the premises licences for numerous Weatherspoon venues.  
• Defended an application for a review of the premises licence brought by the Metropolitan Police. The Police alleged that a number of incidents had taken place at the premises and that the hours for licensable activities should be reduced. 
• Advised on event conditions attached to a premises licence following attempts by the Council and local residents to prevent a charity event in aid of a local school from taking place. 

Our licensing lawyers are experts in acquiring the licences necessary to run venues offering sexual entertainment. We work closely with clients to help them interpret the licences and any particular imposed conditions correctly and to build working relationships with residents and amenity groups before, during, and after consultation. 

• Helped a sexual entertainment venue operator challenge a summary review of its premises licence.  
• Successfully applied for and obtained a new sexual entertainment venue licence against strong residential opposition. This is the newest SEV licence in the Westminster Stress Area and has allowed what was once a troubled venue that had its SEV licence revoked.  
• Coordinating and managing applications for Spearmint Rhino’s Sexual Entertainment Venue Licences and various other sexual entertainment venues.  
• Secured the renewal of a heavily contested sexual entertainment venue licence in Birmingham City Centre.  
• Secured the renewal of a sexual entertainment venue licence in Maidenhead which faced opposition from local residents.   
• Advised upon applications for new sexual entertainment venues in Cheltenham. 
• Instructed to lodge a Crown Court Appeal in respect of a refusal to renew a sexual entertainment venue licence.   
• Instructed to deal with an appeal against the refusal to renew and revocation of a sexual entertainment venue licence for a premises in Whitechapel.   
• Appealed to the Crown Court against the refusal to renew a sexual entertainment venue licence.   

Indoor sports, large events held at large sports arenas, and festivals can all give rise to complications in relation to safety, crime and disorder, or public nuisance. Our licensing lawyers have experience in dealing with events from 1,000 to 50,000 capacity and can guide clients through these complicated application processes, providing detailed, tailored, and bespoke advice to ensure that the particular licence required is obtained.  

• Secured licensing for the £30 million development of Warwickshire County Cricket Club at Edgbaston, including the stand arena, conference centre, bar and function facilities.   
• Advised the Royal Albert Hall on all of its licensing aspects including the re-introduction of boxing and wrestling at the venue following the incorrect application, and resolving local residents’ concern and apprehension.  
• Assisted an adult mini golf chain to obtain a premises licence in one of Islington’s Cumulative Impact zones.   
• Advised on a dispersal order issued by the police that would have prevented a festival for 500 people from going ahead. Recommended amendments to the festival’s operating policies and security provisions; liaised with the police and Licensing Authority; and facilitated discussions between the festival operators and the Police, resulting in permission for the event to proceed.  
• Advised a number of football clubs about stadia licensing, including licensing for outdoor music events and festivals.  
• Worked on all aspects (bars, restaurants, entertainment) of very large developments including South Bank Centre, Devonshire Square Club, Curtain Hotel and outdoor concert festival.  
• Increased the attendance capacity of Boomtown Festival to 50,000 through close partnership with the police, fire authority, health authority and other members of the Safety Advisory Group.   
• Advised on the licensing of large outdoor Festival No. 6 in Portmeirion, Wales, despite significant residential opposition.  

TENs can be extremely useful tools in assisting in a wider licensing strategy or because the venue is not licensed or because conditions need to be avoided. Our team of experts offer guidance to small- and large-scale event organisers on how to apply for a TEN, activities that may be covered, time limits, who can apply, and any restrictions. Our team can be creative and help maximise the potential despite the limitations. 

• Advised a large retail client in relation to volume TENS applications for Christmas extensions to sell alcohol.    
• Ensured several major UK festivals gained temporary event notices and responded to all responses in relation to the applications.