Licensing and Gaming

Licensing and Gaming

Our licensing law team is one of the most experienced in the region: with over 60 years licensing experience between them, Ian Besant and Andrew Potts have licenced every type of premises imaginable. They deal with food, beverage and entertainment licences for established businesses, one-off licences to cover a specific occasion and licences required by venues wishing to host civil ceremonies. In addition, they have considerable betting and gaming law expertise.

 

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Examples of premises licensed by our licensing legal team include an entire street in Digbeth, Birmingham; a premier football club; the Royal Showground at Stoneleigh; and large hotels in Birmingham, Manchester and Brighton. They also deal with contested applications for reviews and handled the first emergency closure in the West Midlands in 2008.

As well as providing legal and commercial advice on all licensing matters, our licensing legal team makes substantive applications and appear on the following:
  • Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificate applications and variations
  • Temporary Event Notices
  • Personal Licence applications
  • Licensing appeals to the Magistrates’ Court
  • Appeals to the High Court by way of judicial review or case stated
  • Due diligence on property purchases and corporate transactions
  • Personal Premises and Operating Licences under the Gambling Act 2005 – in particular, acting for Bookmakers. 

They make a point of having early discussions with the police and other statutory bodies which helps to smooth the way with difficult applications and often avoids expensive contested hearings.

Andrew Potts and Suzanne Oatley both hold Personal Licences which can prove very useful in order to save the licence from lapsing in cases where premises are closed and or insolvency is threatened.

Working closely with the Commercial Property department they provide due diligence on property transactions including hotels, public houses and other business premises.

As well as acting for licencees, they regularly act for the Police and Local Authorities in respect of licensing matters, subsequent appeals, and a wide range of regulatory matters alongside planning and environmental experts Pritpal Singh Swarn and David Elliott.

arrow The Licensing Act 2003

The Licensing Act 2003 came into effect on 24 November 2005. Here we explain the changes that have taken place and what you need to know if you own a business that requires either an alcohol or a public entertainment licence.

What others say about us...
Chambers UK 2010

In Leamington Spa, Andrew Potts of Wright Hassall LLP handles the licences for stadiums, football clubs, hotels, nightclubs and pubs.

Legal 500 2009

At Wright Hassall LLP, Andrew Potts is a ‘very well-known practitioner‘, with recent work including applying for the licence for the new Bingley Hall in Birmingham. Ian Besant heads the team, which provides a ‘first-class service‘.
For more information or advice on licensing and gaming law, please contact Andrew Potts or Ian Besant.