Bio

Gareth is a skilled barrister who acts for an impressive portfolio of clients in the hospitality and entertainment sectors on both licensing and planning matters. He regularly acts as an advocate on behalf of clients before licensing committees all over the country and on appeal to the Magistrates’ Court, having dealt with cases right up to the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords on major points of law. With over 25 years’ experience acting for many of the leading companies and individuals in the hospitality sector he has built up a significant network of relationships with elected councillors, council officers and police as well as residents groups particularly in the City of Westminster. Leading clients include: the South Bank Centre (largest performance and arts centre in western Europe with 29 million visitors a year); Devonshire Square Club (large-scale private members hotel and club); The Curtain Hotel (Gansevoort Hotel group New York); Pho Restaurants, Beaufort House, Kings Road; Grange Hotels; Chinawhite; Kitts Nightclub; Cipriani; Mark Hix Restaurants; Guards Polo Club; Ministry of Sound; The Arts Club, ETM Group (including The Botanist, Sloane Square, Canada Square; The Gun) Barts Club, Chelsea; and Royal National Theatre. He also acts for landlords seeking to protect their interests when there are difficulties with operators. Notably, Gareth has recently acted on behalf of the French government in a major planning application in Kensington and Chelsea. Gareth also has experience acting for local authorities, the police and residents. As well as being a regular speaker at conferences around the UK, Gareth is an active Fellow of and Member of Board of Management – Institute of Licensing. He is also a member of the Society for the Study of Gambling, the British Institute of Innkeeping, and Business in Sport and Leisure.