Licensing in North West

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP

Based in Manchester, Kuit Steinart Levy LLP‘s licensing department is reputed for its depth of expertise in the leisure and hospitality sectors, acting for several casual dining brands, sports clubs, landlords and property developers, hotels, festivals and event spaces. The team is described as ‘the most effective licensing firm serving the North West’, with ‘very strong lawyers at all levels who provide an attentive and highly responsive service to their clients’. Head of the licensing team Felicity Tulloch has notable experience in the leisure sector and specific expertise in licensing large festivals and event spaces. The ‘outstanding’ Rebecca Lowe excels in new premise licenses in areas of cumulative impact, while Claire Morris regularly acts in a range of complex alcohol and entertainment license matters.

Practice head(s):

Felicity Tulloch


Other key lawyers:

Rebecca Lowe; Claire Morris


Testimonials

‘The most effective licensing firm serving the North West. Very strong lawyers at all levels who provide attentive and highly responsive service to their clients.’

‘Felicity Tulloch and Rebecca Lowe are stand-out practitioners. Excellent judgment, client care and knowledge.’

‘Rebecca Lowe is a very steady pair of hands, goes above and beyond in the preparation of her cases.’

‘The team here has helped me with a number of very complex licensing issues and a review. Working with them has always been easy and their response times are always very fast. They always provide a balanced view and their guidance is never overpowering. Each step is carefully explained and regardless of the complexity they have an ability to simplify everything in layman’s terms when required.’

‘Rebecca Lowe is outstanding. Our licensing issues have been very complex and Rebecca has guided us through all the processes with ease and ensuring the best end result.’

Key clients

The Alchemist Bar & Restaurant Limited


New World Trading Company (UK) Limited


Turtle Bay


BrewDog


Mission Mars


Pho Cafe


Allied London


Revolution Bars Group


Gino D’Acampo Hotels and Leisure


Factory International


VR Entertainment


Forbidden Forest Festival


The University of Salford


Work highlights


  • Assisted New World Trading Company with the contentious application in Brighton which falls within the cumulative impact zone.
  • Acted for Allied London on various development projects, including licensing the public realm space at the new St John’s development in Manchester.
  • Assisted with achieving a premises licence to permit Forbidden Forest Festival to operate on an annual basis at Belvoir Castle.

Brabners LLP

Specialising in firearms licensing issues and recommended as ‘most experienced firearms licensing team in the UK’ with ‘a huge reputation in this field’, Brabners LLP assists a variety of significant clients ranging from shooting clubs and firearms-related businesses to individual certificate holders in a broad array of issues, including firearm and shotgun appeals. Department leader Lachlan Nisbett ‘runs the show as far as firearms licensing is concerned’ and advises on licence appeals, criminal prosecutions and regulatory cases. Senior associate Charlotte McRae is adept at handling firearms licensing appeals as well as criminal matters.

Practice head(s):

Lachlan Nisbet


Other key lawyers:

Charlotte McRae


Testimonials

‘Most experienced firearms licensing team in the UK. A huge reputation in this field. This is a difficult and technical area. The lay clients are often experts and quickly detect those who are bluffing their way in this area. None of that with Brabners. Solid grounding. They know their stuff.’

‘Lachlan Nisbet runs the show as far as firearms licensing is concerned. Knowledgeable, affable and practical. Clients trust him. Realistic advice given.’

‘The Brabners team is highly qualified and very professional. It is one of the few in the country that knows the details of firearms licensing appeals and provides excellent impartial advice about such cases.

DAC Beachcroft LLP

Based in Manchester, DAC Beachcroft LLP‘s licensing department assists a range of clients across a variety of industries, including the real estate, retail, hospitality, sport, health, and public sectors. The group provides advice in respect of all licensable activities under the Licensing Act and the Gambling Act, and assists with marriage licences and other specialist licensing issues. Jan Levinson, who specialises in commercial dispute resolution, has vast experience in licensing matters, acting for retail and hospitality companies, as well as developers and investor clients; he spearheads the licensing team.

Practice head(s):

Jan Levinson


Key clients

Lendlease


Royal London UK Real Estate Fund


Brio Retirement Homes (Holdings) Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising Lendlease in respect of agreements for lease at its retail centres.
  • Advised Royal London in respect of the requisite licence applications ahead of the sale of properties at Lancashire Court in London.
  • Advising Brio Retirement Homes (Holdings) Limited in relation to a Premises Licence for the client’s premises at Stow-on-the-Wold on the Cotswolds.

Harrison Drury & Co

Demonstrating expertise in all aspects of alcohol and entertainment licensing, Harrison Drury & Co‘s licensing team acts for a diverse client base, including independent bars, regional breweries, as well as nationwide estates and pub companies. The team provides licensing advice on change overs, investments, new licenses and variations of licenses, and enforcement issues. The ‘exceptional’ Malcolm Ireland, who specialises in the leisure sector and has vast experience in dealing with a broad range of issues revolving around the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment, leads the practice. Samantha Faud specialises in licensing work in the leisure sector and issues relating to licensed properties.

Practice head(s):

Malcolm Ireland


Other key lawyers:

Samantha Faud


Testimonials

‘The overall team delivers a fast and efficient service.’

‘Malcolm Ireland will always present the best case based on commercial risk which is very different and refreshing.’

‘I found the team I worked with to be exemplary.’

‘My main point of contact is Malcolm Ireland. Thorough knowledge of the law, and exploring all angles to maximise the likelihood of a good result.’

‘Malcolm Ireland is personable, approachable, very well informed, and a skilled advocate. He has a persuasive and effective style of advocacy. He is not necessarily aggressive and maintains his focus on the goal which is to secure or preserve a licensing asset. He is very effective. he appreciates the tactical considerations that are engaged by licensing work.

‘Samantha Faud is contentious and well prepared. She understands that licensing sits within a network of legislation and concerns (some very wide) and takes a holistic approach.’

‘Experienced, well established and respected practice that are always willing to listen and work with you to resolve issues. Communication and response times are always excellent.’

‘Malcolm Ireland and Samantha Faud have been very approachable and keen to work with us to resolve any issues or concerns. They have a pragmatic approach whilst always being reasonable and proportionate in our discussions. The knowledge and experience the licensing team has is considerable and respected and I regard them as one of the national leads in the licensing law field.’

Key clients

Admiral Taverns Limited


Daniel Thwaites Plc


Inglenook Group


Timothy Taylor & Co Limited


Blind Tiger Inns Limited


Bowland Inns & Hotels Limited


E A Wallace Limited


85 Group Limited


Lancaster Brewery


AJP Pub Group


Wyre Villa Sports Club


Lancashire Management Limited


Eric and Amanda Dowson


TCHB Limited


Skiddle Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advising Daniel Thwaites Plc on a retained basis for all licensing and investment matters.
  • Advised E A Wallace Limited in relation to a new premises licence application for a 64 acre former equestrian centre near Preston, which was seeking to become a performance and event venue.
  • Advising Inglenook Group (including Inglenook Inns and Taverns) on a retained basis in relation to all licensing matters.

Napthens LLP

Based in Blackburn, Napthens LLP’s licensing department handles licensing work for clients across the leisure industries, ranging from single-site operators through to some of the largest brewers and pub companies in the North. The department is jointly led by Gill Sherratt and highly-experienced legal executive Suzanne Marchese. Sherratt’s practice covers all types of licensing applications with notable expertise in the leisure sector, while Marchese is the firm’s licensing executive and is frequently involved in issuing new licenses.

Practice head(s):

Gill Sherratt; Suzanne Marchese


Key clients

Frederic Robinson Ltd


Hydes Brewery


Hargreaves Enterprises Limited


SIBA


Un:Titled Events Ltd


SJ Bars Ltd


Work highlights


  • Acting for SJ Bars Ltd in a reversal of police action against a premises licence.
  • Assisting with an application for a new premises licence across a vast estate and for all types of licensable activities to take place in the open air.
  • Assisted Un:Titled Events with a very complicated premises licence application for a 1,000-capacity event space.