Inner Hero banner Image

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:

Watch our short animation below to find out more about our expertise:

Specialist legal advisers 

Our hospitality team includes specialists across a broad range of practice areas including:

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).

Key contacts

Leo Skinner's Profile

Leo Skinner

Partner, Head of Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure

Get in touch with us today

“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.

Subscribe to receive our updates here
1 of 1
  • Article

    CCTV use in Pubs and Leisure Premises

  • Article

    Fixtures and fittings – what are they and do they belong to the landlord or the tenant?

  • Article

    Tackling Drink Spiking – new guidance introduced

  • Article

    Free tap water – obligations for pubs and restaurants

  • Article

    Pavement Licenses

  • Article

    Tips – the new law and code of practice

  • Article

    Don’t fall foul of minimum wage with unpaid trial shifts in the hospitality industry

  • Article

    Keep your licence and staff safe from intoxicated customers

  • Article

    Poker in pubs – rules on private gaming

  • Article

    Beverage industry off-track to meet net-zero targets

Key contact

Leo Skinner's Profile

Leo Skinner

Partner, Head of Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure

Meet our team

Lisa Gilligan's Profile

Lisa Gilligan

Leicester Office Managing Partner

Leo Skinner's Profile

Leo Skinner

Partner, Head of Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure

Get in touch

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.

Telephone

Get in touch

For general enquiries, please complete this form and we will direct your message to the most appropriate person.