Hall Of Fame

Leading Individuals

Licensing in North

Mincoffs Solicitors LLP

Mincoffs Solicitors LLP licensing and gaming team, led by Newcastle-based Matt Foster, is frequently the first port of call for clients in the leisure and hospitality sector, seeking advice on premise license applications and guidance on reviewing premise licenses. Foster also handles contentious applications, enforcement actions and prosecutions. The firm is also sought out by operators for on-site and online training to staff.

Practice head(s):

Matt Foster


Testimonials

‘They lawyers are always available, or ring me back in a timely manner – I’ve never had to ring more than once. The key stand out with Matt Foster is that his main concern really is the client, not his fee.’

‘Matt Foster is an exceptionally good licensing solicitor, with a good relationship with the licensing committees at the local authorities in the region, often enabling him to achieve positive outcomes for his clients at an earlier stage than might normally be expected.’

‘Matt Foster is highly regarded for his technical knowledge, but also his approachable nature and commerciality. He responds promptly to enquirers and is happy to provide help to colleagues across the sector on an informal basis when required.’

Key clients

Barhound Ltd


Imran Hussain


Camerons Brewery


Little Twigs Limited


Leonardo 19 Limited


Sebastiano Liosi


Limencollo Limited


East Coast Concepts


Twenty Twenty Limited


Noble Corp


Middlesbrough Empire 2008 Limited


Monic Elvet Limited


One Collection Group


Cairn Group


Broadway Supermarket Limited


Marson Developments Limited


SPV Capitol Limited


Elite Skills Arena Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising SPV Capitol Limited on an application for a shadow premises licence for a hotel in Stokesley, North Yorkshire.
  • Advising Marson Developments Limited on new premises licence application in a seafront location in Roker.
  • Assisting Woodman Durham Limited with a review of the premises licence brought by Durham Parish Council in regard to public nuisance issues created by the use of an outside event space.

Sintons LLP

Clients in the leisure and retail sectors, including the food and beverages space, frequently seek out Sintons LLP’s licensing team for advice on obtaining a new premise license. Newcastle-based team head, Sarah Smith, leverages her connections with licensing authorities and responsible bodies, and also has expertise in the taxi licensing field. Drafting responses to public bodies on behalf of trade associations also forms part of the team’s mandates.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Smith


Testimonials

‘Excellent staff and approach to clients.’

‘We have been dealing with Sintons for over 20 years. The licensing team have dealt with adult gaming centre premises licence variations, applications as well as submitting an annual return to the gambling commission.’

‘Sarah Smith is the head of licensing and has a thorough knowledge of the Gambling Act as well as having developed personal contacts within local authority licensing officers. She is very efficient and well qualified to deal with licensing matters.’

Key clients

Danieli Holdings Ltd


Ladhar Group LLP


Malhotra Group Ltd


Apartment Group Ltd


Fenwick Ltd


Northumberland Estates Ltd


Newcastle United Football Co Ltd


Hibou Blanc Ltd


Pumphreys Blues Café Limited


The Auckland Project


Copenhagen 1801 Limited


Sayturk Group Limited


HRC Newcastle Ltd


Azalea Inns Limited


SDD Consultancy (North) Limited


Tokyo Industries (Ultimate) Limited


Dead Vibey Leisure Limited


Sir John Fitzgerald Limited


RSGD Limited


H T Spaces Limited


Braintrust Collective Limited


The London Cocktail Club Limited


Building Design Northern Developments Limited


Sunderland Business Improvement District Limited


Kem Guclu


Work highlights


  • Obtained a new premises licence for Anson House 8 Limited for a new entertainment and event space with a customer capacity of around 2000 people in a city centre.
  • Obtained an extension of hours on a premises licence for Pumphreys Blues Café Limited for a busy city centre location in a special stress area.
  • Redrafted and negotiated a resolution and grant of a premises licence to permitt late night refreshment in a special stress area for RSGD Limited, after their own application resulted in significant resistance from Responsible Bodies.

Ward Hadaway LLP

Ward Hadaway LLP’s licensing and regulatory team, led by Richard Arnot, advises clients across the retail and leisure sectors, including national supermarket chains, hotel groups, restaurants, pubs and sporting venues on a plethora of aspects of the Licensing Act 2003. The experienced Arnot provides such clients with enforcement, review, temporary event notices, variations, and licensing strategies, namely personal and premise licenses. The firm routinely advises clients on new premise applications for hotel development on a regional and national scale.

Practice head(s):

Richard Arnot


Key clients

Co-operative Food Group Ltd


Iceland Food Ltd


Thursdays Ltd – TGI Friday


City Hotels Ltd


Dominvs Group


Timec 1762 Ltd


Lane 7 Ltd


Tomahawk Steakhouses Ltd


Harbour Hotels Ltd


Inn Collection Group


Work highlights


  • Applied for a new Premises Licence for a national convenience store operator for a new store in a Cumulative Impact Zone.
  • Applied for new premise licence for a City Hotels Ltd in Whitechapel, London.
  • Acted on behalf of a Crowne Plaza branded hotel in their objection to the grant of a new licence for a box-park style premise adjacent to it.