The ‘substantial and well respected licensing team’ at Wollens receives instruction from a wide range of major developers and hospitality companies. Chris Hart takes the lead on non-contentious issues, advising on the gamut of day-to-day and niche matters affecting football and other sports grounds, conference centres, music festival sites, distilleries, hotel complexes, nightclub premises, caravan parks, historic manor houses and country estates, business and leisure parks, vessels, amusement arcades, alcohol home delivery operations, and vineyards. Jon Dunkley oversees the contentious side, undertaking full advocacy services for licensing applications before both local authorities and courts.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Wollens has a strong emphasis on delivering a bespoke service which suits the very different needs of individual businesses in relation to licensing.'

  • ‘Chris Hart was able to offer us the exact professional advice required for our specific needs, advising not only on what we required but what wasn't necessary also.’

  • ‘Wollens has a substantial and well respected licensing team and are the leading presence in licensing law in the area.'

  • ‘Chris Hart communicates really well with the local authority and responsible authorities for the Licensing Act 2003.'

  • 'Wollens take the time to understand your business before recommending a direction. Chris Hart not only took an interest but ensured everything was concluded within our timeline and discussed options if timelines couldn’t be reached. We couldn’t be happier.'

Key clients

  • Rockfish (Salcombe) Ltd
  • Salcombe Brewery Ltd
  • Sidney Pratt Builders Ltd
  • The Seahorse
  • That Group – Hilton Hotel
  • Coastal Distilling Co
  • Burrington Estates Winslade Park Ltd
  • Baranova Ltd
  • Woolacombe Bay Holiday Village Ltd
  • Dunchideock Ltd
  • Aaron Cousins
  • Fiona Cope
  • Maria Da Silva
  • Brian Whitty
  • Tina Pearce
  • Dennis Griffith
  • Rockfish (Plymouth) Ltd
  • Rockfish (Brixham) Ltd

Work highlights

  • Assisting the Rockfish restaurant chain with the conversion, change of use and licensing of a new restaurant in the coastal town of Salcombe.
  • Representing Sidney Pratt Builders Limited in its objection, on grounds of public nuisance and public safety, to a licensing application by a significant sports club which wished to use its stadium for live music events.
  • Representing a joint campaign by The Seahorse restaurant and the Rockfish chain to be permitted (along with other neighbouring restaurants) to occupy and place structures on The Embankment waterfront in Dartmouth to extend their restaurant premises for use during the spring, summer and autumn months.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Chris Hart

Other key lawyers

Jon Dunkley