Licensing Law

Our licensing experts are the only team in the North West ranked in the top tier of the Legal 500, we come highly recommended with “an unrivalled reputation for licensing work.”

Licensing lawyers for the hospitality, leisure and licensed trade sectors

Kuits’ specialist licensing law team advises businesses across England and Wales on all aspects of alcohol, entertainment and premises licensing. Whether you are opening your first venue, acquiring an existing licensed business, launching a large-scale hospitality development or dealing with a licensing review, our experienced licensing lawyers provide practical, commercial advice tailored to your objectives.

We work with businesses of every size, from independent restaurants, pubs and bars to national operators, hotel groups, developers and leisure businesses. Our licensing team handles hundreds of applications each year and is recognised for its expertise in obtaining licences in challenging locations, including cumulative impact areas and contested applications.

As the only licensing team in the North West ranked in the top tier of Legal 500, we are trusted to advise some of the UK’s most recognisable hospitality brands.


Licensing lawyers Manchester: supporting businesses across the UK

Based in Manchester city centre, our licensing experts regularly advise clients throughout Greater Manchester, the North West and across England and Wales. We act for businesses operating in some of the country’s most vibrant hospitality and leisure destinations, helping them secure permissions needed to launch, grow and protect their businesses.

Our clients include operators in:

  • Manchester city centre
  • Deansgate
  • Castlefield
  • Spinningfields
  • Northern Quarter
  • MediaCity
  • Liverpool
  • Leeds
  • Birmingham
  • Brighton
  • London
  • National multi-site portfolios

Wherever your business is located, we can provide strategic licensing advice and representation.


Our licensing services

Our specialist licensing lawyers advise on all aspects of alcohol and entertainment licensing, including:

Premises licence applications

Whether you are opening a new bar, restaurant, pub, hotel, event venue or leisure destination, we can manage the application process from start to finish, helping secure the permissions your business needs to operate successfully.

Licence variations

As businesses evolve, licences often need updating. We advice on variations relating to opening hours, layout changes, activities and operating schedules.

Transfers and DPS changes

We regularly deal with premises licence transfers, Designated Premises Supervisor appointments and other operational changes to ensure business continuity.

Personal licences

We advice individuals and operators on obtaining personal licences and understanding their legal responsibilities.

Licensing Committee Representation

Our team has extensive experience representing applicants before licensing committees and presenting complex applications where objections have been raised by responsible authorities or local residents.

Licence Reviews and Enforcement

We provide urgent advice where licences are at risk, helping operators respond to enforcement action, reviews and compliance issues.

Appeals

Where necessary, we advise on and conduct appeals following licensing decisions.

Cumulative Impact Applications

Our licensing lawyers are recognised for obtaining licences in cumulative impact areas throughout England and Wales.

Pavement licences

We lodge hundreds of applications for tables and chairs licenses on a yearly basis.


Licensing expertise for hospitality and leisure businesses

Our licensing lawyers are particularly well known within the leisure and hospitality sector. We advise:

Restaurants

Helping restaurant operators obtain licences, outdoor dining permissions and late-night trading permissions.

Pubs and Bars

Supporting operators with new licence applications, transfers, variations and licensing strategy.

Hotels

Providing licensing advice as part of wider hotel development, acquisition and operational projects.

Event and Festival Organisers

Advising on temporary event notices, alcohol licensing and event management requirements.

Developers and Landlords

Working alongside our commercial property team to secure licensing permissions for mixed-use developments, food halls, hospitality destinations and regeneration schemes.


Why choose us?

Tier 1 Legal 500

Kuits is the only licensing team in the North West ranked in the top tier of Legal 500. The directory notes the team’s “unrivalled reputation for licensing work”.

National Reach

We advise clients across England and Wales on some of the most complex and high-profile licensing matters.

Hospitality Sector Specialists

Our licensing lawyers are part of one of the largest leisure and hospitality legal teams in the North West, enabling us to provide joined-up advice on every aspect of running and growing a licensed business.


Need advice from specialist licensing lawyers?

Whether you are opening a new venue, acquiring licensed premises, applying for a variation or responding to a licence review, our experienced team can help.

Contact our team today to discuss your licensing requirements and receive practical, commercial advice tailored to your business.

Your Licensing Team


Appeals

We can assist in advising on drafting and lodging the Notice of Appeal....

Cumulative Impact

We have obtained licences for clients in Cumulative Impact areas across the country....

Provisional Statements and Provisional Premises Licences

We advise developers & landlords ...

Licence Reviews

We are experienced in negotiating with authorities....

Licensing Advice for Legal Professionals

We offer advice to other legal professionals on licensing aspects of matters. ...

Licensing Committee Representation

Confident, experienced advocates with a long history of representing applicants....

Personal Licences

We advise on the whole process of obtaining a personal licence. ...

premises licence applications

Premises Licence Applications

We lodge hundreds of licence applications annually....

Tables & Chairs or Street Cafe Licences

Helping clients maximise trading area. ...

Transfers, DPS Variations and Temporary Event Notices

We advice on transfers, DPS variations and temporary event notices. ...

Variations

Variations

Assistance with variations to licences. ...

leisure and hospitality lawyers

Leisure & Hospitality Solicitors

We advise on legal matters for clients in the leisure and hospitality sector. ...

Hotel Solicitors

Kuits hotel solicitors will advise you on the legal issues that arise when running a hotel. ...


“Exceptional industry knowledge”

Real quality and experience throughout the licensing team. Exceptional industry knowledge and relationships with local authorities, particularly in the North West.

Client quote | Legal 500
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