0203 442 8479 Book a consultation

HOSPITALITY, LEISURE AND TOURISM SOLICITORS

Legal support for the businesses that look after everyone else

We act for restaurants, bars, hotels, venues, travel and tour businesses across the UK, keeping your licences, your staff and your booking terms in order so that the operation runs as smoothly as the front of house. A fixed monthly fee, with no hourly billing.

Assess your legal risk
SRA-regulated solicitors icon SRA-regulated solicitors Hospitality sector expertise icon Hospitality sector expertise Fast, responsive support icon Fast, responsive support
  • ComplyCube
  • Giles
  • Virgin
  • Kaikaku
  • City Contractors
  • Osmo
  • Global Tech
  • Additional
  • Bathlettings
  • Bio
  • Pantheon Properties
  • Agentric AI
COMMON PROBLEMS IN HOSPITALITY

The problems that bring hospitality businesses to us

Hospitality carries three sets of obligations at once: the premises, the people and the customer. Most of what we are asked about sits where two of them meet. These are the six situations we see most, and what each one turns on.

Almost every hospitality question has a licence, a lease and a rota inside it. Answering only the legal part of it is not much use to an operator who has a site to open on Friday.

Dr Jackie Nagtegaal

Co-founder and Director, Lawyerly

Portrait photo

Dr Jackie Nagtegaal

Co-founder and Director, Lawyerly

The premises licence is at risk or needs varying Conditions, the licensing objectives, review applications and representations from responsible authorities under the Licensing Act 2003. A designated premises supervisor has to be in place for any sale of alcohol.
Tips are being distributed the wrong way Since October 2024 all qualifying tips must be passed to workers in full and allocated fairly, with a written policy where tips are more than occasional, records kept for three years, and a statutory code of practice that tribunals must take into account.
An allergen question has become a complaint Food prepacked for direct sale must carry the name of the food and a full ingredients list with the fourteen allergens emphasised. For loose food the information can be given by other means, provided it is accurate and properly signposted.
Staffing is seasonal and the contracts are not Hours, holiday accrual, and the guaranteed hours provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025, which are expected during 2027 and are not yet in force. Contracts written now are the ones that will have to absorb them.
The lease does not fit the operation Permitted use, alterations for kitchen or extraction, trading hours, and whether the term is protected under Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
A booking, event or supplier arrangement fails Deposits and cancellation terms, what the force majeure wording actually covers, and whether your terms were incorporated before the booking was taken.
OUR LEGAL EXPERTISE

We understand the business behind the guest experience

A restaurant group, an independent hotel and a tour operator face different legal questions. We act across hospitality, leisure and tourism and shape our advice to the way you take bookings, staff the operation and are paid.

  • Restaurants, cafes and bars

    Independent restaurants, groups, cafes, pubs, bars and late-night venues, licensed and unlicensed.

  • Hotels and accommodation

    Boutique and independent hotels, serviced apartments, holiday lets and hospitality groups.

  • Travel and tour operators

    Tour operators, travel agents, activity and experience providers and businesses selling packages.

  • Leisure and attractions

    Attractions, leisure centres, entertainment venues and membership-based leisure businesses.

  • Catering and hospitality suppliers

    Contract caterers, event caterers, food and drink suppliers and the service businesses that support operators.

LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES

Take care of the legal side of the operation

From day-to-day contract work to the questions particular to hospitality and tourism, our solicitors work alongside you so that the business is licensed, staffed and contracted properly, and free to concentrate on its guests.

  • Licensing and regulatory compliance

    Premises and personal licences, designated premises supervisors, licence variations and reviews, food hygiene, allergen and fire safety documentation.

  • Booking terms and consumer law

    Booking and cancellation terms, deposits and no-show charges, gift vouchers, package travel obligations and complaints handling.

  • Employment and HR

    Contracts for permanent, casual and seasonal staff, tipping policies under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, right to work, working time and disciplinary matters.

  • Data protection and marketing

    Guest data, booking and loyalty systems, CCTV, PECR marketing consent, privacy notices and processor terms with platforms.

  • Premises and leases

    Restaurant, hotel and venue leases, licences to occupy, rent reviews, break clauses, fit-out and alienation provisions.

  • Supplier and franchise agreements

    Food and drink supply agreements, brewery and tie arrangements, equipment hire, franchise and management agreements.

  • Brand and IP protection

    Trade marks for venue names and concepts, menus and content, imagery and licensing of the brand to partners.

  • Disputes and debt recovery

    Guest and supplier disputes, unpaid corporate accounts and disagreements with landlords and staff, resolved directly with the other party rather than through the courts.

Legal risk check

Is your hospitality business legally protected?

Our solicitors built this check around what a solid legal setup looks like for a hospitality business: the foundations they put in place and the gaps they fix. Answer honestly and you will see where yours stands and where it needs strengthening.

About 3 minutes · Confidential

Your result

Where you are exposed

    The full report shows your score in each area, every gap with why it matters, and what to fix first.

    Your full report

    Unlock your full report

    A few details about the business and the report opens here, with every area scored and what to fix first.

    Preparing your full report

    Your full report

    Breakdown by area

    Next step

    Ready to act on this?

    A focused conversation with one of our founders about your priority gaps, a remediation plan you can act on, and fixed fees agreed up front.

    Where to focus first

    From your answers, these are the highest-impact gaps to address. Items tagged critical are the ones most likely to turn into a claim, a penalty or a lost customer.

      Section by section

      Your answers, your score, and why each area matters. Items with a marker are gaps worth attention.

      Now that you have the full picture, the next step is a short call to agree what to fix first.

      This report is generated from your self-reported answers and provides general information only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. The regulatory landscape in this area is evolving rapidly. For advice specific to your circumstances, please speak with a qualified solicitor. © Lawyerly Ltd.

      CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

      What our clients say about working with us

      4.8 on Google

      Robust contracts, explained in plain English.

      Professional, prompt, and kind in every interaction. The contracts felt robust and truly protective, with every clause explained in plain English. I left each review feeling confident to move forward.

      Luoana Negut Head of Marketing, LadyCPR
      CONTACT US

      Talk to us about your hospitality business

      Book a complimentary consultation with our team. We will take the time to understand how you trade, staff and take bookings, and explain how we can support you.

      Willem van der Merwe

      Co-Founder

      Read profile