Poppleston Allen

Alcohol licensing

Associate Solicitor

Andy has practiced both as a Barrister and Solicitor in the Midlands, and was a recognised specialist in Personal Injury claims. Andy joined Poppleston Allen in 2004 to head up our team of 20 legal graduates and support staff for the Licensing Reform process in 2005.

Since developing a “taste” for liquor licensing, Andy has gained a wide experience of the legal issues that face the licensed trade. He has represented clients at contested hearings, including many Reviews and Summary Reviews at over 80 different licensing authorities. He has also successfully appeared in several Appeal hearings in the Magistrates’ Court.

Andy acts for major breweries, late night operators, restaurant chains, developers and large independents, including festivals.

He has written and presented training papers on the Licensing Act and associated legislation for Central Law Training, the Institute of Licensing and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and has trained Licensing Authorities, Trading Standards, Environmental Health and the Police, including at New Scotland Yard.

Andy co-drafted the Live Music Act, attending and providing advice to Lord Clement-Jones in debates in the House of Lords, and subsequently assisting the Bill’s passage through the Commons. He was a member of the Government’s Live Music Special Guidance and Entertainment Licensing Reform Technical Groups and was heavily involved in re-drafting the Regulated Entertainment chapter of the Statutory Guidance. He has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s “You & Yours” programme, discussing changes in licensing law.

Andy wrote the chapter on Premises Licences in Philip Kolvin QC’s Licensed Premises: Law, Practice and Policy (Second Edition), is mentioned in Paterson’s Licensing Acts 2013 and is cited in Manchester on Alcohol & Entertainment Licensing Law (Third Edition). He writes for the Journal of Licensing and contributes regularly to the legal section of the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

“I just would like to thank Andy and Angie for their support, help and the confidence they gave me just to actually go for the licence on the day. They were fantastic, professional and strong and we got the right result.”