With experience covering the breadth of the Restaurant, Pub and Hotel business; Carter Lemon Camerons llp can confidently represent your businesses in the industry. Whether you are a new venture, or already established in the market; our solicitors can advise you on setting up the appropriate business entities, negotiating commercial leases and agreements, acquiring necessary licences, and dealing with any ancillary employment or business matters for you.

Recent Transactions include:

• Acquisition and management of a portfolio of pubs for a client.
• Acquisition of a restaurant premises.
• Pub and restaurant lease acquisitions for a tenant acquiring a business in London.
• Acted for a client with a restaurant chain in London for a lease renewal.
• Licensing for entertainment of a London blues club.
• Dealing with planning issues with regard to the entrance of a bar venue with live music situated on a residential street in Central London.
• Acted on a refinance for the owner of a portfolio of leisure properties in Kent.
• Legal proceedings against a defaulting restaurant tenant resulting in a negotiated settlement out of court.

Type of work:

Business Entity

We offer advice on the types of entities that may best suit your business structure, be it a sole trader, partnership or limited liability company, and the tax efficient schemes available. We ensure that your business is properly set up and in a position to trade within your desired timescale.

Acquisitions and disposals

Before acquiring the premises, an operator/owner may often need to overcome a number of problems such as planning and enabling works, negotiating the terms of a lease, or negotiating commercial agreements. Our solicitors have substantial experience in the restaurant, pub and hotel industry regarding these matters.

Licensing Requirements

Under the Licensing Act of 2003, all establishments selling alcohol, providing entertainment or serving hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am require a Premises Licence. We can make the applications to obtain the necessary licences, and also deal with the transfer and variation of licences following a change in the nature of the business.

Employing Staff

We understand that the hospitality trade relies heavily on staff, and it is vital that employment issues are dealt with efficiently. We are able to offer up-to-date advice on Employment Law, from reviewing employment contracts for your employees, to handling staff disciplinary issues.

Disputes

Our disputes solicitors are on hand to help tenants deal with issues of dilapidation, assignment, forfeiture, or advise commercial landlords on how best to deal with unauthorised alterations, sub lettings and failure to pay rent.