Licensing

Whether you operate a pub, restaurant, club, hotel, wedding venue, sports venue, concert venue, off licence, supermarket or want to hold a weekend festival, our team of licensing specialists are here to help you every step of the way.

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Key contact

Photo of Heath Thomas

Heath Thomas

From world-famous department stores to local festivals, having the correct licence and understanding its conditions can have a huge impact on what you’re trying to achieve. I help you to get the licences you need to operate, keep you compliant with the law, and provide support when a breach occurs.

Expert licensing advice

Our friendly team of experts will advise you on the licenses you need, getting you up and running quickly and efficiently.

We can help you apply for, and secure, licenses for new and existing premises, the transfer of premises licenses and personal licenses. The team can also help you with gaming machine permits, pavement licenses, temporary events notices, sexual entertainment venue licenses, wedding licenses and advising on Designated Premises Supervisors (DPS) changes.

In all our work, our standing in the wider licensing arena gives you additional support. We have strong relationships with licensing authorities and other agencies across the UK. If you or any of your team need to upskill in any area as part of your licensing requirements, we can advise on the training providers best placed to help.

Proactive support if things go wrong

If something does go wrong at your premises, we can help you get things back on track and represent you in any interviews, investigations, proceedings and hearings.

Our advice and support covers interim steps, licensing reviews, appeals, closure orders, interviews under caution and prosecution.

Our solicitors regularly appear before licensing sub-committees and the courts. If required, we’re also skilled in creating actions plans with you and the relevant authorities to correct any issues and prevent any further breaches.

We have a track record of success and finding the solutions needed to keep your premises trading.

Recognition of our work

Investors in People

Investors in People

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

Legal updates and thought leadership

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Hear what our clients say about us

Jonathan Edwards has tremendous experience as a personal injury litigator. He will always go the extra mile to support a client and his legal and tactical knowledge is unsurpassed. The support and assistance he provides in every case is second to none.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Leanne Conisbee is a truly outstanding solicitor. She has an astonishing capacity for hard work and always delivers an exceptional work product. She has brilliant judgement and clients admire her ability to achieve great results in the most difficult of cases. There is no-one I would rather have fighting my corner.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

I have every confidence in Jonathan Edwards and Leanne Conisbee when dealing with complex cases. They understand their cases and strategies well. They offer valid and well thought out opinions on matters and I trust and value their judgement. They also listen and collaborate well. We have had some great results together.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

The practice, all though it is a large practice, still maintains the feel of a family firm, and the support and engagement with the team is as such. The whole team have a great understanding of the business that we work in and understand the processes that we work to and with. The team are always there for use when we need them and if they can’t find the answer that is required they get back to use as soon as possible.

Client testimonial Legal 500 2026

Thank you for your personal guidance and professional support throughout the most difficult 12 months of my personal and professional life. I have no words that can describe how easy you are to talk to, and how you make the nerves disappear with your calming manner. Thank you for being in my corner and believing in me.

Client testimonial 2025

I would like to thank HCR Law for their extraordinary effort yesterday. I cannot thank Kate Oliver and the wider Insurance, Risk and Regulatory team enough. You made a very stressful situation much easier whilst achieving a positive outcome.

Client testimonial 2025

Kathryn Gilbertson is highly regarded for her work in the hospitality and retail sectors, as well as her advice to property developers, construction businesses, and facilities management companies.

Legal 500 2025 Health and Safety

Kathryn Gilbertson is the region’s standout partner. She is ‘very committed to client service and is extremely knowledgeable regarding the law in the health and safety and fire safety sectors‘.

Legal 500 2025 Health and Safety

Thank you for your advice, council and everything else

M Shepherd Client testimonial

As well as being incredibly professional and conscientious, Ruth was also incredibly kind and reassuring. This was a very difficult time for me, which had gone on for a long time.

Ruth reassured me with her knowledge of the law but was also a caring and empathetic person to be around. I honestly would not have got through it without her. Thank you so much Ruth.

Client An inquest and with insurance difficulties

As someone who practices at the Bar almost exclusively in the area of health and safety and regulatory law … I can say that Jonathan (Edwards) has a well-deserved reputation for being at the top of his professional tree.

He has a vast array of legal knowledge and also possesses considerable tactical and strategic acumen in relation to whether or not cases should be defended….

James Leonard, Barrister Outer Temple Chambers

I have worked with Jonathan Edwards as my ‘go-to’ legal specialist for over two decades. His strong technical skills backed up by an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the insurance market make him unique and he adds genuine value off the back of this. He has a calm and friendly nature, always taking time to understand us as a business and I am truly grateful for the invaluable support he has provided me over the years.

 

Jamie Lewis, Managing Director Jensten Group Ltd

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