Poppleston Allen > Nottingham, England > Firm Profile

Poppleston Allen
PRICE HOUSE, 37 STONEY STREET
THE LACE MARKET
NOTTINGHAM
NG1 1LS
England

Crime, fraud and licensing > Licensing Tier 1

Praised as ‘without a doubt the leaders in licensing‘, Poppleston Allen continues to work with leading nightclubs, restaurants, retailers, landlords and developers on obtaining new premises and amending existing licences. The firm also routinely defends clients in licensing, food hygiene, and health and safety reviews. James Anderson and practice head Lisa Sharkey, Graeme Cushion and manging partner Jonathan Smith are the leading partners in Nottingham.

Practice head(s):

Lisa Sharkey

Other key lawyers:

James Anderson; Jonathan Smith; Graeme Cushion; Nick Arron; Suraj Desor; Sarah Taylor

Testimonials

‘Poppleston Allen are without a doubt the leaders in licensing. The are professional, knowledgeable, experienced and also personable. Their specialist knowledge always provides the confidence that their advice is right. They also provide us with a licensing database which allows us 24/7 access to essential information and has significantly improved our ways of working around licensing.’

‘We have always found their service to be very reliable, have not lost a license in all of that time and they are always available even if any issues arise in the dead of night, although thankfully, that is an extremely rare occurrence.’

‘Poppleston Allen provides a licensing service. They are friendly and approachable. They do enforcement work for us along with variations.’

‘Large number of very experienced solicitors with national reach.’

‘Nick Arron gives a great service to gambling industry clients.’

‘Suraj Desor, Sarah Taylor, Lisa Sharkey and Jonathan Smith are our key solicitor contacts and all provide an outstanding and trusted service. All are unique in their ways of working but still work to the same Poppleston Allen standards and ethic. Whoever we work with, consistency and excellence is guaranteed.’

‘They have a great understanding about business, have very good relationships with local police and council, and keep those relationships live on a regular basis.’

Key clients

Black and White Hospitality

Virgin Hotels. International hotel chain

Albert’s Schloss

Simmons Bar

Stonegate Group

Consolidated Developments

Fuller’s Pub

D&D Restaurant

Mitchells and Butlers

Admiral Taverns

REKOM UK

Five Guys

PizzaExpress

Azzuri Group

Rosa’s Thai

Young Pubs

Axed Global

Boparan Restaurant Group

Parkdean Resorts

Work highlights

  • Advised Axed Global on obtaining a new premises licence, with late trading hours until 2am, close 2:30am, for a new site in Nottingham’s landmark Cornerhouse development.
  • Advised Outernet London, an immersive entertainment complex in London, on obtaining various licences and on strategic licensing matters.
  • Represented Tenpin at its first licensing hearing for a premises licence.

Crime, fraud and licensing > Licensing Tier 1

According to one client, Poppleston Allen‘s ‘input is worth its weight in gold in what it brings to the transaction’, principally in alcohol-related licensing and gambling regulation. Practice head Lisa Inzani is well regarded for ‘superb‘ ability to ‘look after the interests of her clients’, which range from national restaurant and bar chains to retailers and festival organisers. She is also recognised for her expertise in complex premises licensing matters, particularly in relation to late night venues in Central London. David Inzani – noted for his knowledge of alcohol and entertainment licensing law – is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Lisa Inzani

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Lisa Inzani’s knowledge of the licensing profession is incredible. She helps across all aspects and nothing is too much trouble.’

‘A diverse group of dynamic, proactive, experienced and creative lawyers. Adept at achieving client objectives even when they are out of the ordinary.’

‘Very efficient, great communication skills, real willingness to engage with client and other professionals in a collaborative and commercial manner.’

‘I consider the team to be the best licensing consultants in the UK. They are commercially minded and have the ability to explain complex legals/licensing matters in a clear and concise manner.’

‘David Inzani is our main contact and we have always had great confidence in him being able to answer questions and deal with situations.’

‘I have experience only of dealing with the London team of licensing lawyers but the team’s expertise and local knowledge of the London market is superb. Lisa Inzani heads up the office and is very experienced with dealing with all manner of licensing issues and fights hard for her clients. We find the team very responsive and proactive when working alongside clients on licensed premises. Their input is worth its weight in gold in what it brings to the transaction.’

‘Lisa Inzani heads up an able team and is superb at looking after the interests of her clients. Lisa is focused and determined and knows the market inside out. Highly recommended.’

‘Poppleston Allen has been a nationally recognized specialist licensing firm for decades. It’s lawyers at all levels provide considerable strength and depth across all forms of licensing with a substantial client base comprising many of the major operators in the hospitality and gambling sectors.’

Key clients

Thunderbird Fried Chicken.

Rosa’s Thai.

The Wolseley Hospitality Group.

State of Play

Shaftesbury plc.

Point A Hotels

CHIK’N.

Wagamama Limited.

Cote.

Market Taverns.

The Park Tower Knightsbridge Hotel

Lovett Enterprises Ltd.

Urban Leisure Group.

Royal Horticultural Society.

Selfridges Retails.

Caprice Holdings / The Birley Group.

Work highlights

  • Obtained new premises licence for wagamama’s flagship restaurant in Marble Arch, which is in a Special Consideration Zone Policy.
  • Obtained a new premises licence for The Carpet Shop nightclub with a 6am closing in Peckham’s Cumulative Impact Zone.
  • Acting for the UK hotel arm of the Far East Consortium (FEC) on the premises licence application for a new Dao by Dorsett Hotel at the Hornsey Town Hall development.

Crime, fraud and licensing > Gaming and betting Tier 2

Known for its deep knowledge of the land-based bingo industry, Poppleston Allen assists the industry’s largest operators with their gambling applications, compliance matters and Bingo Premises Licences. The unit team is well regarded for for its work within the lottery industry. ‘Stand out partner’ Nick Aaron leads the team, advising a variety of clients ranging from large corporations to single site operators on issues such as the licensing regulatory aspects of acquisitions. Richard Bradley is noted for his expertise concerning the development of bespoke compliance regimes and the drafting of licensing clauses for asset purchase agreements.

Practice head(s):

Nick Arron

Other key lawyers:

Richard Bradley; Imogen Moss; David Inzani

Testimonials

‘The licensing team here are very commercially focused.’

‘We work closely with Nick Arron and David Inzani and their communication is first class.’

‘The team are exceptional. They are all knowledgeable, engaging and patient.’

‘Nick Arron is the stand out partner.’

‘ The support we receive is extremely professional, in time, precisely answered and very often pro-active.’

‘The team at Poppleston are all approachable and extremely knowledgeable in their relevant fields of expertise.’

‘The team all adopt a professional, helpful approach.’

Key clients

Buzz Group Limited

Gauselmann Group.

Shua Limited

Power Leisure Bookmakers Limited

Shua Limited

Merkur Slots Casino UK.

Namco UK Limited.

Bourne Leisure Limited.

Parkdean Resorts UK Limited.

Palatial Leisure Limited.

City Gaming Limited.

BACTA.

Butlins Skyline Limited

Blueprint Gaming Limited.

Blueprint Operations Limited.

Regal Amusement Machine Sales Limited.

National Bingo Game Association.

Bede Gaming Limited.

Leisure Electronics Limited

Wexel Gaming Limited.

Founded in 1994 and driven by vibrant, collaborative and dedicated people, we have grown into the largest firm of licensing solicitors in the UK.

We work exclusively in the alcohol, entertainment, gambling and retail sectors and help clients ranging from small, one off independents through to national multi-site operators.

But no matter what size of operator we are working with, big or small, our objective is the same: To use legal knowledge and hard work to get clients the results needed to run their business how they want to. General speaking, we give legal advice to:

  • Obtain, vary and protect the numerous licences needed on licensed and gambling premises
  • Defend licensing, gambling, food hygiene and health and safety reviews
  • Manage due-diligence on mergers and acquisitions

Many of our solicitors work with professional bodies such as UK Hospitality, British Beer and Pub Association, Institute of Licencing (IOL) and the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII). They also speak at industry events and write for the national trade press. In addition, we co-wrote the Live Music Act 2012, advising on its course through both Houses of Parliament. We advised the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. And we continue to be consulted by the Home Office and we were involved with the legal experts panel giving evidence for the 10 year review of the Licensing Act 2003. 

So, we do not see ourselves as just legal advisors to the licensed trade, but part of it.

Some of our licensing and gambling / gaming clients include: Bandai Namco, BBPA, Bill’s Restaurants, Blueprint Gaming, Bongo’s Bingo, Bourne Leisure, Brunning and Price, Buzz Bingo, Caprice Holdings, Cashino, Chelsea Flower Show, Cote Restaurants, Deliveroo, Dominio’s Pizza, Faces Nightclub, Fuller’s, Gauselmann Group, Honest Burgers, Ivy Collections, Laine’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Paddy Power, Parkdean Resorts, PizzaExpress, Praesepe, Selfridges, Shepherd Neame, Stonegate Pub Company, The Bingo Association, Thunderbird Fried Chicken, UK Hospitality, wagamama.

Other offices: London

Website: www.popall.co.uk

Department Name Email Telephone
Managing partner Lisa Sharkey l.sharkey@popall.co.uk 0115 953 8500
Licensing Jonathan Smith j.smith@popall.co.uk 0115 953 8500
Gambling Nick Arron n.arron@popall.co.uk 0115 953 8500
Licensing and festivals Andy Grimsey a.grimsey@popall.co.uk 0115 953 8500
Licensing and regulatory Graeme Cushion g.cushion@popall.co.uk 0115 953 8500
Licensing (London office) Lisa Inzani l.inzani@popall.co.uk 0203 859 7755
Licensing David Inzani d.inzani@popall.co.uk 0203 859 7753
Licensing James Anderson j.anderson@popall.co.uk 0115 953 8500
Photo Name Position Profile
James Anderson photo James Anderson Partner
Nick Arron photo Nick Arron Partner
Natasha Beck photo Natasha Beck Associate Solicitor
Richard Bradley photo Richard Bradley Partner
Graeme Cushion photo Graeme Cushion Partner
Suraj Desor photo Suraj Desor Associate Solicitor
Andy Grimsey photo Andy Grimsey Associate Solicitor
Joe  Harvey photo Joe Harvey Associate Solicitor
Lisa Sharkey photo Lisa Sharkey Managing Partner
Jonathan Smith photo Jonathan Smith Partner
Photo Name Position Profile
Imogen Moss photo Imogen Moss Associate Solicitor
Number of UK partners : 10
Number of other UK fee-earners : 23