Business Details
31 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Specialist Licensing Solicitors in London
John Gaunt & Partners is a specialist licensing law firm with over 25 years of experience in alcohol, gambling, and regulatory law. Established in 1995, we operate nationwide across England, Scotland, and Wales, providing expert legal advice to businesses in the hospitality, retail, and entertainment sectors. Our team of dedicated solicitors and legal professionals offer tailored solutions for licensing applications, appeals, and compliance matters. We maintain a 24-hour helpline to accommodate clients' operational needs outside standard office hours. Our track record demonstrates consistent success in securing premises licences, challenging enforcement actions, and navigating complex regulatory frameworks.We prioritise practical, commercially focused advice while maintaining strong relationships with local authorities and regulatory bodies. Our expertise extends to training programmes for licensing professionals, delivered by qualified solicitors rather than generic trainers. We serve a diverse client base including major hospitality groups, independent venue operators, and national retail chains. Our commitment to excellence has earned recognition from industry leaders and long-standing partnerships with prominent organisations. We combine deep sector knowledge with proactive client support to deliver sustainable licensing solutions.
Services
Alcohol Licensing
Gambling Law
Premises Licences
Regulatory Compliance
Licensing Appeals
Training Courses
Planning Permissions
Taxi Licensing
Tobacco Licensing
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We operate a 24-hour helpline for urgent licensing matters
- Our team specialises exclusively in licensing, gambling, and regulatory law
- We've secured premises licences for iconic London establishments
- We provide solicitor-led training with high pass rates
- Our track record includes successful appeals against enforcement actions
Associations and certifications
- Solicitors Regulation Authority
What people say
Excellent track record
Exceptionally approachable
Smooth process
Consistent support
Commercial approach
Services
Alcohol Licensing
We specialise in securing and maintaining alcohol licences for pubs, clubs, restaurants, and retail outlets. Our services include premises licence applications, personal licence training, and variation requests. We advise on compliance with licensing laws across England, Scotland, and Wales, ensuring businesses operate within legal frameworks while maximising trading hours and permissions.
Gambling Law
Our gambling law specialists assist with operating licences, premises approvals, and regulatory compliance for casinos, betting shops, and gaming venues. We navigate complex regulations from the Gambling Commission and local authorities, ensuring legal operation for slot machines, betting terminals, and gaming activities across the UK.
Licensing Appeals
We represent clients in licensing appeals and enforcement actions, challenging unfair decisions by local authorities. Our team has successfully overturned restrictive licence conditions and defended premises facing closure orders, combining legal expertise with strategic advocacy to protect business interests.
Training Courses
We deliver accredited training courses for licensing professionals, including personal licence qualifications and regulatory compliance certifications. Our solicitor-led programmes ensure high pass rates and practical knowledge, covering alcohol law, food safety, and responsible service practices for hospitality industry professionals.
Premises Licences
We handle complete premises licence applications for hospitality venues, entertainment establishments, and retail outlets. Our services include policy impact assessments, objection management, and condition negotiations with local authorities, ensuring venues obtain optimal licensing terms for commercial success.
People
Tim Shield
Partner
With over 20 years in licensing law, Tim Shield leads our strategic legal approach. He specialises in complex licensing cases and regulatory compliance, maintaining strong relationships with local authorities while delivering practical commercial solutions for hospitality clients.
Michelle Hazlewood
Partner
Michelle Hazlewood heads our licensing transactions team, managing large-scale pub disposals and new build developments. Her expertise in licensing due diligence has supported major hospitality brands during multi-million-pound property transactions across the UK.
John Gaunt
Founder
Established the firm in 1995, John Gaunt built our reputation as licensing specialists. His legacy continues through our dedicated focus on regulatory law, maintaining industry leadership through innovation and client-focused legal services.
Questions
What licensing services do you specialise in?
We specialise in alcohol licensing, gambling law, premises licences, regulatory compliance, and associated training programmes for hospitality and retail businesses.
Do you operate nationwide?
Yes, we provide licensing legal services across England, Scotland, and Wales with offices in Sheffield, Portsmouth, and London.
Can you help with licensing appeals?
Yes, we have extensive experience challenging enforcement actions and appealing unfavourable licensing decisions.
Do you offer training courses?
We provide accredited licensing training courses led by solicitors, including personal licence holder qualifications with high pass rates.
What makes you different from other law firms?
We're one of the few UK law firms specialising exclusively in licensing, gambling, and regulatory law with 24/7 client support.
Reviews (1)
Saeed Ebrahimi
Oct 07, 2021
Report
Great service from Chris Grunert, very professional, they will get it all done. Highly recommend. Thanks for you're help and good work.
