Leisure and hospitality solicitors

Working in partnership with our clients, we identify challenges, maximise opportunities and minimise risk through developing bespoke strategies and utilising in-house capabilities.

Helping leisure and hospitality businesses make informed employment decisions with confidence.

Our hospitality and leisure lawyers are experts in advising hospitality and leisure businesses, providing tailored legal advice and solutions, with particular expertise in employment law, commercial contracts and leases and disputes.

We have vast experience in working with many well-known and iconic brands of all types of leisure and hospitality businesses, from pubs, hotels, and restaurants to theatres, music venues and sports associations. We also have significant international reach, advising many exciting start-ups and some of the largest multinationals.

We build long-term relationships with our clients, providing clear, proactive advice that helps prevent issues, resolve challenges efficiently and support confident decision-making.
Trusted by hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and leisure operators across the UK and Europe.

Award-winning employment law firm, recognised for its practical and proactive advice.
By drawing on expertise from across the firm, we provide coordinated advice that considers the wider legal, commercial and personal matters.

Our leisure and hospitality services

Supporting leisure and hospitality businesses with practical legal solutions at every stage.

Building a strong brand and customer loyalty

Our experts help businesses with essential legal considerations and forward-thinking strategies enabling them to build strong brands that encourage customer retention and ensure long-term success. We help clients by:

Intellectual property: Helping to protect brand identity through securing trademarks and copyrights and patents, to help safeguard one business’s most valuable assets.
Brand compliance and regulatory guidance: Providing advice on advertising laws, consumer protection regulations and compliance within a highly regulated sector helping businesses maintain a positive brand reputation.
Managing disputes and debt collection: Offering mediation and arbitration services as well as collection of debts, helping to minimise disruptions and losses.
Mergers and acquisitions: Assisting with mergers, acquisitions, and franchising, ensuring that brand integrity is maintained across different markets.
Data protection: Navigating data protection laws (GDPR), ensuring customer data is handled responsibly to foster trust and loyalty.

Attracting and managing employees

People are the foundation of every business, making it essential to not only attract top talent but also retain them for lasting success. We help clients with:

Business immigration solutions: Working within immigration laws to bring new talent onboard smoothly.
Employee retention & management: Providing strategies and resources to help keep their teams engaged.
Developing clear policies: Establishing clear policies and contracts dealing with remuneration, workplace behaviour, leave and family leave entitlements, and the work environment for balanced, positive employee experiences.
Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion: Implementing ED&I strategies to foster an inclusive workplace culture.
Leadership training & coaching: Empowering managers and senior leaders with our tailored training programs.
Legal frameworks & tribunal support: Developing strong internal procedures, providing legal frameworks, and providing tribunal support when issues arise.
Becoming an employer of choice: Helping clients to build a reputation that attracts top talent in a competitive market.

Expansion and diversifying of services

Our experts also play a vital role in supporting expansion and diversification of services that are offered by leisure and hospitality businesses, this includes:

Real estate and leasing: Assisting with property acquisitions, leasing agreements and negotiations, helping to secure locations suitable for growth and the businesses long term plans.
Franchising and partnerships: Helping businesses with franchise agreements, joint ventures and other commercial partnerships.
Regulatory compliance: In a highly regulated field, we help to ensure licensing, insurances and health and safety regulations are met throughout expansion.
Intellectual property protection: Supporting the protection of IP and proprietary concepts, which is especially crucial when launching new services or expanding into new markets.
Contract drafting and negotiation: Preparing and reviewing contracts with suppliers, vendors, and third party providers, helping to establish solid commercial relationships.

Leisure and hospitality FAQs

Why are detailed policies important for employers and employees?

Detailed employment policies provide clarity, consistency, and protection for both employers and employees. For employers, well-drafted policies help reduce the risk of legal disputes, regulatory breaches, and employment tribunal claims, while ensuring that managers apply rules fairly and consistently across the business. For employees, clear policies set out expectations, rights, and responsibilities, helping them understand how the workplace operates and what support is available.

Comprehensive policies also promote a positive working environment, support compliance with employment law, and make it easier to manage workplace issues proactively. In short, good policies protect the business, support employees, and create a fair, transparent workplace.

What employment policies should a leisure and hospitality business have?

Every business should have a core set of employment policies to provide clarity, set expectations, and reduce the risk of legal disputes, regulatory breaches, and employment tribunal claims. Key policies typically include:

Contracts, pay, and benefits

Contracts & terms of employment – clearly setting out roles, responsibilities, pay, benefits, and notice periods.
Pay, benefits & leave policies – including holiday entitlement, sick pay, maternity/paternity leave, and bonus schemes.
Flexible & remote working policies – covering hybrid arrangements, home working expectations, and flexible hours.

Workplace conduct and employee relations

Disciplinary & grievance procedures – clear processes for raising concerns and addressing misconduct.
Harassment & bullying policies – guidance on preventing and addressing unacceptable behaviour, including sexual harassment.
Equality, diversity & inclusion – ensuring fairness, preventing discrimination, and supporting an inclusive, accessible workplace.

Health, safety, and wellbeing

Health & safety policies – covering workplace safety, risk assessments, and incident reporting procedures.
Employee wellbeing policies – including mental health support and occupational health guidance.

Compliance, confidentiality, and technology

Data protection & confidentiality – handling personal and sensitive information in line with GDPR.
Whistleblowing policies – providing a safe way for employees to report wrongdoing and how claims are handled.
IT & social media policies – rules on acceptable use of company systems and online behaviour.

Operational policies

Expense & business travel policies – procedures for claiming expenses and travel arrangements.

Well-drafted policies protect your business, promote consistent management, and give employees clear guidance on their rights and responsibilities. While startups may not need every policy from day one, established businesses should ensure they have comprehensive policies in place.

How should poor performance or misconduct be managed at a leisure and hospitality business?

Poor performance or misconduct should be managed fairly, consistently, and transparently. Employers should clearly explain the issues, set expectations for improvement, and provide appropriate support. For serious matters, a formal disciplinary process may be followed, giving employees the opportunity to respond and appeal decisions.

From an employee perspective, understanding your rights and the correct procedures is essential to ensure you are treated fairly. Employment solicitors can advise employees on how to navigate these processes, prepare responses, and challenge any unfair treatment.

From an employer perspective, solicitors can provide guidance on designing and following disciplinary procedures, ensuring compliance with employment law, and applying policies consistently. This helps protect the business, manage risk, and maintain a positive, professional workplace.

How should grievance and disciplinary procedures be handled at a leisure and hospitality business?

Grievance and disciplinary procedures should be managed in a fair, consistent, and transparent way. Grievances are typically raised in writing, investigated promptly, and resolved with a clear outcome. Disciplinary matters involve clearly communicating concerns, allowing the employee to respond, and deciding on an appropriate outcome, from warnings to dismissal if necessary.

Employment solicitors can provide guidance and support throughout these processes, helping employees understand their rights, prepare for meetings, and ensure procedures are handled correctly to reduce the risk of disputes or claims.

How can proactive legal advice prevent disputes before they arise?

Proactive legal advice helps employers and employees spot potential issues early, clarify rights and responsibilities, and ensure workplace policies and contracts comply with employment law. By addressing concerns before they escalate, disputes over pay, contracts, grievances, or dismissals can often be avoided.

Our employment solicitors have extensive experience across a wide range of sectors and organisations. We can review policies and procedures, conduct audits, and put the right processes in place to prevent misunderstandings and reduce the risk of future claims. Drawing on our experience with a variety of workplace disputes, we provide practical advice tailored to your business or individual situation.

How do leisure and hospitality businesses handle hiring employees from overseas?

Hiring employees from overseas requires careful attention to immigration rules and compliance obligations. Businesses need to ensure that employees have the correct visa or work permit, meet sponsorship requirements, and that all documentation is kept up to date.

Employment solicitors can advise businesses on visas, sponsorship licences, and immigration compliance, as well as help prepare contracts and policies that reflect legal requirements.

Find out more about immigration.

Contact us

If you have any questions or would like advice on a related matter, please complete the form and one of our experts will be in touch as soon as possible.

Rather give us a call:

0118 959 7711

Why use our leisure and hospitality solicitors?

Award-winning employment law firm

Boyes Turner was named Employment Law Firm of the Year 2025 by Personnel Today, recognising our innovative, practical approach to supporting employers in managing workplace risk and compliance.

Comprehensive, strategic & proactive support

Our leisure and hospitality solicitors advise across the full spectrum of employment law, working with leisure and hospitality businesses of all types, including hotels, restaurants, retail shops and pubs. Our advice is clear, proportionate, and grounded in real-world experience, helping clients make informed decisions that balance legal compliance with commercial priorities.

We are a leading law firm

Boyes Turner is recognised as a leading UK law firm by legal directories, Chambers UK and The Legal 500. These rankings are based on independent research and client feedback, reflecting our proven expertise, outstanding results, and trusted reputation. As a full-service firm, we coordinate employment advice with other guidance from our specialist teams such as corporate, commercial, and dispute resolution, providing seamless support across all legal needs.