Specialisms

Areas of Expertise

Gareth is utilising on behalf of clients of the Licensing Experts Ltd his vast experience and knowledge of alcohol and entertainment licensing and planning in this area built up over 30 years as a lawyer. Whilst he is acting as a consultant and not a lawyer he will conduct legal services if so required through Keystone Law.

Gareth is widely recognised as a leading expert in this field and has for many years spoken at conferences around the country on licensing and planning. He has been ranked consistently when acting as a lawyer for his clients as one of the top 10 in London.

He has advised both start-up businesses and very established and experienced operators ranging from small to the very large companies in the licensing trade

Licensing

The main area of our activity – applying for premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003 for bars, cafes, restaurants, night clubs, outdoor dance festivals, private members clubs, sexual entertainment venues, theatres, concert halls, galleries, cinemas and sports venues. We also deal with hundreds of temporary events notices and application for personal licences for individuals and assisting clients in responding to review of their premises licences by police or council officers. We further act for residents groups in opposing the grant of licences and have a very good track record in this respect. We have further advised and acted for local authorities in all of the above.

Planning

This primarily relates to our licensing clients but we do other work in this field too. Applications for A1/A3/A4/A5 uses – retail, restaurants, bars/pubs and takeaway establishments and opposing enforcement notices for alleged wrongful use. Certificates of lawful user. Appeals to the planning inspectorate.

Gambling

Acting in betting shop applications and on operators licences before the Gambling Commission

Film Classification

Applications by film companies to show a film in a specific local authority area where it has not received a classification form the BBFC.

Street Trading

This includes application for street trading and market licences and defending prosecutions in this respect

Sexual Entertainment Venues

30 years’ experience in applying for sexual entertainment venue licences in very difficult local authority areas and appeals as well as defending prosecutions.

Political

Great knowledge of the workings of local and central government, having been an elected councillor and having run for Parliament in 2010