Ashfords Solicitors

The parties we represent include applicants, interested parties challenging applications and local authority licensing sub-committees.

Work handled includes:

Extensive experience under the Licensing Act 1964 and Betting Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 prior to the introduction of the new regimes
Dealing with conversion and variation applications for Premises Licences during the transitional periods
Applying for new Premises Licences, variations to existing Premises Licences, Provisional Statements, Club Premises
Certificates, Transfers, Personal Licences and Temporary Event Notices
Appearing before Local Authority Licensing Committees on contested applications
Appearing before the Magistrates Court on appeals against the decisions of Local Authorities
Advising clients subject to regulatory investigations and prosecutions by Trading Standards, Health & Safety and Environmental Health
Advising and representing parties in reviews of Premises Licences
Advising on Judicial Review proceedings
Acting for Licensing Authorities at hearings and appeals under the 2003 Act
Delivering seminars on the 2003 Act to various bodies
Advising clients on the Health Act 2006 (Prohibition of smoking in enclosed public spaces)

Recent work undertaken includes:

Obtaining new premises licences for restaurants, pubs, clubs, colleges, sports centres and shops
Representing interested parties in successfully opposing new premises licence applications
Applying for Premises Licences and Operating Licences for bookmakers
Appeals in the Crown and High Courts against refusals of hackney carriage licences and conditions for licence relating to private hire vehicles
Successful challenges of surveys into 'unmet demand' by local authorities seeking to 'cap' number of hackney carriage licences in their areas

Key Contacts