How we work with hospitality businesses

We start with a short initial conversation to understand what you are trying to achieve, what is driving the timing, and what could affect trading if it is not dealt with quickly. In hospitality, that might be an opening date, a key service period, a landlord deadline, or a licensing timetable.

We then set out a clear plan in writing. You will know what we recommend doing first, what can follow later, and what information or documents we need from you to keep things moving. Where there are linked workstreams, for example property and licensing, or a transaction alongside staffing and supplier contracts, we pull them into one coordinated sequence so you are not managing separate threads.

As the matter progresses, we keep communication straightforward and paced around your operational reality. We agree sensible update points, flag decisions early, and help you prepare for pinch points such as negotiations, application dates or completion timetables. If something changes, we adjust the plan so you stay in control without losing momentum.

For multi-site operators, we can also help you standardise and repeat what works. That might mean using consistent templates, building an agreed approach to recurring lease points, or creating a process for rolling out customer terms and supplier arrangements across venues.

Our hospitality legal services

Hospitality businesses tend to feel the impact of legal issues quickly. We bring the right specialists together so the advice is practical, joined-up and easy to implement.

Sites, leases and estate strategy

We support hospitality businesses with the full property life cycle, from taking new sites to renewals and exits. We focus on the clauses that affect trading in practice, including permitted use, alterations, flexibility for change, and end-of-lease exposure. We also help you avoid operational pinch points around outdoor space, servicing, signage, and extraction or ventilation.

Licensing, regulation and staying open for trade

We support you with alcohol licensing and regulated entertainment where relevant, including variations and changes in management arrangements. If concerns are raised by responsible authorities, we guide you through the process, the evidence needed and a proportionate response. We also support with compliance and incident planning so you can protect trading and reputation.

Data, bookings and customer relationships

We help you set clear customer terms around deposits, cancellations, no-shows and private hire, so expectations are managed and cash flow is protected. We also advise on privacy documentation and third-party contracts for booking systems, marketing platforms and CCTV, keeping responsibilities clear and manageable.

Workforce support for a high-intensity sector

We advise on hospitality employment arrangements that reflect shift-based working and seasonal demand. That includes contracts, policies and support on day-to-day management issues. Where tips and service charges are part of your model, we can help you put transparent arrangements in place, and advise on TUPE where staff are affected by business changes.

Brand protection and growth

Our team advises on trade marks and brand protection, and on the commercial agreements that support growth, including supplier terms, partnerships and franchising or licensing where appropriate. If brand misuse becomes an issue, we help you take sensible steps based on the evidence.

The team are also proud members of the below associations.

Why choose Harrison Drury?

Hospitality is fast-moving and high-stakes. When you are dealing with a lease deadline, a licensing issue, a supplier problem or a customer dispute that is starting to escalate, you need advice that keeps pace and helps you protect trading, reputation and value.

We work with businesses in a way that fits how the sector actually operates.

We understand what affects trading in practice

In hospitality, the legal detail often shows up on the floor. Lease terms can restrict opening hours, outside areas, deliveries or extraction. Licensing decisions can affect revenue overnight. Customer terms can make the difference between a manageable complaint and a wider issue. We focus on what will matter operationally, not just what looks good on paper.

A joined-up team, without you coordinating it

A new site or change to a venue can involve property, licensing, employment and commercial contracts at the same time. We bring the right specialists together so the advice is consistent, decisions are easier, and you are not repeating the same information to different people.

Clear ownership and steady communication

You will have a main point of contact who takes responsibility for progress and keeps you updated. We are responsive when timing matters, and we keep the next steps clear so you can make decisions quickly and move forward with control.

Practical commercial advice when it matters

We help you weigh up risk in a practical way, whether you are negotiating a lease, responding to a regulator, handling an incident or resolving a dispute. The aim is to protect your position and keep disruption to a minimum, while supporting relationships where that is the right outcome.

Transparent pricing

Budgets are often planned around service periods, staffing, and key trading dates. When legal work is needed, it helps if the cost and the process are just as clear as the advice. We will start by scoping what you need, what is time-critical, and what can wait, so you can make decisions with confidence and avoid work being done “just in case”.

Where the work is clearly defined, we can use fixed fees or staged pricing, for example for a lease review, a set of customer terms, or a specific step in a transaction. If the situation is more fluid, we will explain how charges are calculated, keep you updated as things develop, and speak to you early if the scope is changing so you stay in control.

Projects can also bring third-party costs that are easy to miss at the planning stage. That might include licence applications, searches and Land Registry fees on a property matter, or specialist input where it is genuinely needed. We will flag likely extras early, explain what is required, and help you judge what is proportionate for the site, the timeline and the commercial return.

If you operate multiple venues or have recurring needs, we can also discuss a pricing approach that supports continuity, reduces admin, and gives you choice, flexibility, control and transparency as your business evolves.