Hospitality Licensing Solicitors

We assist clients across a diverse range of businesses in the entertainment and hospitality. Sectors include hotels, bars, members clubs, restaurants, cafés, nightclubs, off-licences, supermarkets, sports clubs, performance venues, theatres, cinemas, art galleries and vessels.

Whether you’re a new or existing operator with a single site business or have several premises sites, we can offer practical advice, guidance and take control of any licensing applications. We can work with you to achieve your objectives. Our team has in-depth knowledge and understanding of the motivation that drives industry players and the dynamics affecting the sector. We’ll be with you each step of the way. Contact us whether it be to start or continue your hospitality journey.

While our team are experts in their field, they know legal jargon can be off-putting. That’s why we’ll always talk to you in plain English. We’ll also make sure we’re available to answer any questions and explain anything you might not understand.

For a chat about the licences you might need, call us or contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell?

Our team of experts have the know-how and experience to provide a complete legal service to licensed businesses operating in the leisure, retail, and hospitality sectors. We can assist you with all your licensing queries and applications and can provide regulatory advice, where required.

Delays in getting the appropriate licence can delay your event, delay trade, and have cost implications. By working with a specialist legal team, you can be sure your application is submitted correctly. You’ll also have the assurance that if the matter becomes contentious or a hearing is needed, you’ll be supported by a team of expert lawyers.

The process of obtaining the correct licence for your business can be onerous. Equally, being subject to a licence review or having your licence revoked can be devastating. Seeking help and advice from one of our expert alcohol and entertainment licensing lawyers can make the process much smoother, less stressful, and more efficient than attempting to navigate licensing law yourself.

We can offer support to investors and start-ups as follows:

Undertake due diligence on licensing and regulatory issues for investors wishing to acquire assets and/or companies.
Work alongside both corporate and property lawyers undertaking transactional work, to include providing support for pre-contract enquiries as well as providing guidance on appropriate wording for asset purchase/sale and purchase agreements, and agreements for lease.
Conduct audits on premises licences and approved licensing plans.
Arrange for appropriate licensing applications to be made on completion.
Provide expert advice to investors on licensing issues arising from insolvency or bankruptcy
Register a landlord’s interest in licensed premises
Obtain a shadow licence
Provide detailed pre-application advice to investors and start-ups to include and assessment of percentage chances of success in obtaining a satisfactory premises licence.

We’ve worked with various licensing authorities over the years and the benefit of our experience, enables us to anticipate the likely approach of these authorities and to prepare applications, as far as possible, to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

Things don’t always go to plan and if something does go wrong it is important to make sure you have a team well-equipped to fight your corner. We regularly help clients to successfully appeal a licensing committee decision and advise them when their licences are under review. We also have a strong background in successfully representing clients who have been subject to criminal proceedings for underage sales and/or breach of licence conditions.

We’ve offices around the UK, which means there’ll be an expert close by. We’ll be fully flexible to your needs.

For general enquiries

0370 1500 100

Or we can call you back at a time of your choice

Phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year

Freephone

0370 1500 100

Prefer not to call?

Use our form

Your name*

Your email*

Your phone number*

How can we help?*

This data will only be used by Irwin Mitchell for processing your query and for no other purpose.

Philip Somarakis National Head of Regulatory & Partner Meet the team

Hospitality Licensing - More Information

There are many different types of licences. The ones you’ll need will depend on your intentions for your business.

Here are some of the licences you’ll need to consider getting:

1. Food business licence

If you plan to serve hot food at your business, you’ll need to register with your local council as a food business.

You must register your food business at least 28 days before opening.

If you’re unsure which council oversees your area and you need help registering, we’re here for you. Contact us to get expert help.

2. Premises licence

If you want to sell alcohol you’ll need two licences: 1/ a personal licence; and 2/ a premises licence.

A premises licence is needed to sell or supply alcohol and/or provide regulated entertainment and/or provide late night refreshment (i.e.. If you want to serve hot food and drinks between the hours of 11pm and 5am).

When applying for your premises licence, you’ll need to demonstrate how you will uphold the licensing objectives:

The prevention of crime and disorder
Public safety
The prevention of public nuisance
The protection of children from harm

You’ll also need to provide a detailed plan of your premises. There are several requirements which the drawing must comply with including (but not limited to) that it must be drawn to a scale, a red line must be drawn around the area to be licensed and it must include fire safety features.

We can advise on and deal with the whole process and have connections with architects and personal licence course providers, to ensure a smooth and complete application process.

3. Personal licence

You will need a personal licence to authorise alcohol sales. Every premises with alcohol sales must have a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) named in its Premises Licence and to be a DPS, you must hold a personal licence

Not everyone in your business needs to have a personal licence. Usually, a premises will have one personal licence holder to oversee and authorise the sale of alcohol.

We’ve course provider contacts who we can refer you to, to start the process of obtaining your personal licence.

4. Music licence

You’ll need a licence to play any type of music. This includes:

Recorded music, such as Spotify, CD, radio, or TV music channel
Live music.

5. TV licence

If you have a TV in a communal area, or if you’re a hotel owner with a TV in multiple rooms, you’ll need a TV licence.

A single TV licence will cost £159 per year and will cover up to 15 rooms. If you’ve more than 15 rooms, there’s an additional fee to pay.

6. Pavement licence / Tables and Chairs Licences

Depending on the location of your business, you might need a pavement licence, if you wish to place tables and chairs outside your business on a public highway.

Find out more about pavement licences.

7. Marriage/Civil Ceremonies Licence

You'll need this licence to allow any marriage or civil partnership ceremonies to take place at your premises.

This is in addition to any other licence you might need for licensable activities such as the sale or supply of alcohol.

8. Special Treatment Licences

You will need this type of licence if you offer certain treatments to the public such as massages, tattooing, laser, manicures, acupuncture, cosmetic piercings, electrical treatments and other similar treatments. It also includes saunas, steam rooms and other baths.

Awards & Accreditation

We're always proud to be recognised for the work we do for our clients and have been named as a leading firm in the latest legal guides - which provide information and recommendations about lawyers and law firms in the UK