Hospitality & leisure

At Hugh James, we bring deep sector knowledge and commercial insight to hospitality and leisure businesses across the UK. Whether you’re running a hotel group, pub chain, restaurant, brewery or leisure facility, we understand the pressures and opportunities facing the industry – and we’re here to help you make the most of both.

Our dedicated team advises on the full range of legal issues affecting the sector. From acquisitions and disposals to licensing, regulation, employment and litigation, we provide pragmatic, tailored advice that reflects the fast-moving nature of the industry.

We have particular expertise in:

• Property and business transactions – regularly advising on the sale and purchase of hospitality and leisure sites, including complex site-specific issues unique to the sector.
• Licensing and regulation – advising on licensing applications, compliance with health and safety legislation, data protection obligations, and broader regulatory challenges.
• Employment and HR support – providing practical, on-the-spot guidance on workforce management, including disciplinary matters, redundancy, TUPE and restructuring.
• Commercial contracts – negotiating a wide range of supplier, logistics, IT and software agreements, including food and drink supply, contract brewing, and bespoke service contracts.
• Banking and finance – acting for both borrowers and lenders on hospitality-focused lending, including development finance for hotels, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities.

We act as a trusted partner to our clients – helping them to grow, manage risk, and respond quickly to market demands. Whether you’re a start-up or an established operator, our team is on hand to support you.

We are also proud members of UKHospitality.