Venue Licensing Solicitors in the Thames Valley & London

With offices in Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Wokingham and London, we are recognised as one of the most established and experienced teams of Venue Licensing solicitors in the country. We can also advise you remotely and you can expect the same legal advice and client care on which our leading reputation is based, however you decide to work with us.

Looking for expert legal advice?

Leading Venue Licensing Solicitors in the Thames Valley & London

We enjoy a national reputation for our expertise in advising on high profile venue licensing projects across the country and are one of very few firms of solicitors in the UK with significant experience in this specialist area.

Given an increasingly restrictive and more complex regulatory environment, successful licensing projects require strategic thinking, a carefully considered but responsive approach and an expert and experienced team.

Providing an end to end service, our specialist team adopt a hands-on approach, including regularly preparing and lodging applications for new premises licences and, where necessary, representing our clients before licensing committees at contested hearings. We are also instructed to provide bespoke legal advice to board level directors on specialist areas of law, for example, relating to safety at sports grounds, and alcohol at sporting events.

Working With our Leading Team of Venue Licensing Solicitors

Working closely with stadium directors, finance and operations directors, in-house legal counsel, external lawyers and other advisers, we have been advising on high profile venue licensing matters for several decades.

Our clients include some of the UK’s best known sports stadia and entertainment arenas, internationally-renowned events, London theatre operators, large commercial caterers, hotels, bars and restaurants. We are also instructed by City lawyers without the necessary specialist expertise on behalf of their clients.

Our wealth of experience and established relationships with relevant responsible authorities and professional experts (in aspects ranging from noise management to crowd modelling) can help to significantly reduce the likelihood and impact of unexpected and potentially costly issues and delays.

A large proportion of our work comes through personal recommendations from longstanding clients, the majority of whom we have worked with for many years.

Trusted Expertise & Experience in Venue Licensing

We continue to be recommended in The Legal 500, whilst our successful approach is further reflected in the excellent client feedback we continue to receive. For many years Sue Dowling, partner and head of Licensing, has also been recognised as one of the leading lawyers in the country advising on major venue licensing projects. She is recommended in Chambers UK Guide and has been named as a 'leading individual' for 'Licensing' in The Legal 500.

You can read about our latest major Licensing project, advising in relation to Co-op Live, in Manchester, now the UK's largest live entertainment arena with a capacity of 23,500, here. The venue is located opposite Manchester City’s stadium, on the Etihad Campus, and is a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group.

Our Venue Licensing Solicitors

For expert legal advice call our Venue Licensing team
Reading 0118 951 6800 or Henley-on-Thames 01491 572 323 Wokingham 0118 951 6888 London 020 3031 6605

Sue Dowling

Partner, Employment Law & Venue Licensing

Download vCard Email 0118 951 6822

Read Bio

Why Choose Us?
LEADING REPUTATION

We are widely acknowledged as one of the leading firms of solicitors in the UK with specialist expertise and significant experience in venue licensing, with offices in London, Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham.
APPROACHABLE SERVICE

Listening carefully to our clients’ needs and aims, we are committed to providing clear, practical, commercially focused and effective legal advice, a responsive and highly personal service and, crucially, value for money.
HIGHLY EXPERIENCED

You can trust in more than 30 years’ experience of advising on venue licensing projects, acting for many of the UK’s best known venue and event operators.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ADVISERS

Our established relationships and experience in working with responsible authorities and other lawyers and advisers can help to minimise the likelihood and impact of any unforeseen issues or costly delays.
A JOINED UP APPROACH

You can rely on our specialist expertise in areas other than Venue Licensing, ranging from Commercial Property to Planning & Environmental Law, if needed.

Who We Work With

“The Licensing team is most notable for its work with large-scale sports and entertainment venues.”

The Legal 500

“Sue is excellent in all aspects and is a pleasure to work with.”

Chambers UK Guide

“Sue Dowling is a stand-out individual. She works well with and interacts well with the in-house legal time as well as catering and publican colleagues. She also is able to work her way through local authority procedures with charm and ease.”

The Legal 500

“Experienced group that enjoys a fine track record for its work in the sports sector and excels in obtaining premises licences for sizeable stadium events. Also noted for its advice in relation to restaurant, nightclub and theatre licensing matters.”

Chambers UK Guide

“Sue Dowling is an excellent lawyer and an expert in the area of premises licences. She has strong relationships across councils, and a great understanding of the mindset and the requirements to secure a successful outcome.”

The Legal 500

“Sue Dowling is our sole and primary counsel for all licencing matters. Diligent, thoughtful and robust, she is always available to support our projects whenever required.”

The Legal 500

“Blandy & Blandy have been instrumental in helping us to secure our Premises Licence, supporting our application from the outset with speed, clarity, experience and professionalism. Our appreciation goes out to Sue Dowling and team for their dedication across the preparation, planning and hearing process. We are delighted to continue to move Co-op Live forward, and to open a venue set to sit among the world’s greats.”

Senior Vice President – Legal & Business Affairs, Oak View Group International

“Having worked with Blandy & Blandy for 12 years, licensing both The O2 and The SSE Arena, Wembley, they are as competent and professional as any other City law firm we have worked with.”

Legal Director, AEG Europe

“Their advice whilst I was acting Director for the London Olympic Stadium was invaluable.”

Director, Thomson Consultancy

“Sue’s advice and support was instrumental amidst a complicated backdrop of challenges. Her knowledge of the licensing landscape and relationships with key stakeholders gave MCC great confidence that it was in great hands, and no doubt contributed to the success of the project.”

Assistant Secretary (Legal), Lord’s Marylebone Cricket Club