Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure
Delivering straightforward answers to the legal questions facing operators in the hospitality industry.
About our drinks, hospitality & leisure expertise
Our dedicated hospitality team deliver straightforward, informed answers to legal questions faced by operators of pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, drinks and leisure businesses.
With over 30 years’ experience working with some of the biggest names in the sector we can offer hospitality businesses an in-depth understanding of the particular challenges the sector faces including changes driven by the economy, consumers, new business models and legislation. You can be confident that we understand how the law impacts your business, both at a strategic and operational level and the reassurance that we speak your language.
We can provide commercial solutions quickly and efficiently. We provide a bespoke, partner led service for each client in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Our team includes specialists who focus on:
- Assets of community value >
- Brewers >
- Cafe & bakery operators >
- Hotels >
- Late night operators >
- Leisure operators >
- Licensing >
- Pubs & pub operators >
- Restaurants >
Watch our short animation below to find out more about our expertise:
Key contacts
Leo Skinner
Partner, Head of Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure
Christopher Ainsworth
Partner
Get in touch with us today
Specialist legal advisers
Our hospitality team includes specialists across a broad range of practice areas including:
- Acquisitions and disposals
- Brand protection
- Competition and EU law
- Construction
- Customer and staff data
- Dispute resolution
- Energy, waste & sustainability
- Franchising
- Licensing
- Managing staff
- Planning
- Regulatory enforcement
- Restructuring and Insolvency – acquisition of businesses out of administration, corporate restructurings, securitisations
- Tax
- Tenanted and trade tie
Our hospitality sector team is led by Leo Skinner (restaurants, QSR, hotels) and includes Christopher Ainsworth (pubs and brewers), Heather Davies (hotels) and Mark Brown (litigation and ACVs).
“Freeths LLP have been our long term legal partner providing expertise and professionalism in handling both our everyday needs as well as supporting us on the many acquisitions we have undertaken in the hospitality sector. Their dedicated team's commitment to providing commercially focused advice both adds value and helps us to achieve favourable outcomes in the transactions that we undertake.”
Mark Grunnell
Co-founder and Chief Executive, Red Oak Taverns
“We have worked with Freeths for well over a decade for matters concerning our wine business and wine bars and restaurants, and are consistently impressed with their knowledge of our sector, attention to detail, and the additional commercial advice around transactions. Be that adding leases, divesting of leases, or general business matters requiring legal input.”
James Davy
Chairman, Davy's
Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of accreditations and rankings.
Testimonials
MA
“Leo and his team at Freeths act for The Big Table Group. I have had a longstanding relationship with Leo including my present role as Director of...
Matt Ainger, Property Director
Big Table Group
MG
“Freeths LLP have been our long term legal partner providing expertise and professionalism in handling both our everyday needs as well as supportin...
Mark Grunnell, Co-founder and Chief Executive
Red Oak Taverns
KA
“I have worked with Leo since April 2021 and he has provided me with inciteful and commercial support which can only come from someone who understa...
Kamran Aziz, Managing Director
RedCat Pub Company
HS
"Peach Pubs grew through acquiring freeholds and leaseholds (both private and pubco) over 20 years. Freeths became part of our success in the la...
Hamish Stoddart, Co-founder
Peach Pub Company
PD
“Leo and all of the team at Freeths are undoubted leisure sector specialists and are both commercial and pragmatic in their advice. They are able...
Phil Derbyshire, Group Property Director
The Restaurant Group Plc
RM
“Partnering with Freeths has provided us with invaluable support for our property activities. Their expert guidance and seamless service have prove...
Richard Maslin, Property Director
The Liberation Group
JD
“We have worked with Freeths for well over a decade for matters concerning our wine business and wine bars and restaurants, and are consistently im...
James Davy, Chairman
Davy’s
GB
"I have worked with Freeths for over two decades, firstly as an advisor alongside them when acting for a client, and more recently as the principal...
Graeme Bunn, Property & Acquisitions Director
Red Oak Taverns
TD
“Leo and his team at Freeths act for BKUK Group Limited and have done so since the inception of the business in its current form in 2017. I have ha...
Tim Doubleday, CFO
BKUK Group Limited
NB
“Freeths has provided unrivalled legal advice to our portfolio businesses in the pubs sector for many years. Their team regularly goes above and be...
Noah Bulkin, Managing Partner
May Capital
JL
“I have used Freeths for many years now, both on property and transactional matters. There are many reasons that I have used them so much, but top...
John Leslie, Non-Executive Director
Oakman Inns and Restaurants
PM
"The Late-Night sector has had some particularly difficult trading conditions over the last year, which meant unfortunately we had to take on board...
Peter Marks, Chairman
UK – REKOM
Related news & insights
Explore our latest drinks, hospitality & leisure news and insightful articles.
Key contact
Leo Skinner
Partner, Head of Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure
Meet our team
Lisa Gilligan
Leicester Office Managing Partner
Christopher Ainsworth
Partner
Leo Skinner
Partner, Head of Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure
Sam Salter-Galbraith
Senior Associate
Contact us today
Whatever your legal needs, our wide ranging expertise is here to support you and your business, so let’s start your legal journey today and get you in touch with the right lawyer to get you started.
Get in touch
For general enquiries, please complete this form and we will direct your message to the most appropriate person.