Hotels and leisure
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Hotels and leisure

A significant player in the hotels and leisure sector, we are regularly involved in high profile transactions in the UK and elsewhere. We act for a number of the leading hotel operators, for expanding restaurant chains and a number of leading banks in this sector.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

Our personal approach has earned us a host of valued clients including:

  • hotel managers
  • Investors
  • owners and operators of health clubs
  • nightclubs
  • restaurants
  • casinos
  • online betting and travel companies

We therefore have wide ranging experience in the hospitality and leisure industries. In addition, we act for a number of leading banks providing finance to the sector.

As your legal partner, we provide a specialist team that has the in-depth knowledge of your market and issues you face. This means that right from the beginning, you will enjoy a close partnership in the knowledge that we will always have your commercial interests in mind. Whatever your niche in the hotels and leisure sector, we will work alongside you to achieve your objectives.

Our team offers extensive experience and a broad range of specialist skills combined with a practical, commercial approach.

We can help you with

  • property development including planning and environmental advice
  • property leasing and management
  • joint ventures
  • management contracts
  • franchise agreements
  • licensing and regulatory issues
  • investments
  • asset acquisitions and disposals
  • M&A
  • structured and debt finance
  • introductions to other sector participants
  • commercial agreements
  • tax and technology issues
  • management buy-outs
  • sale and lease / manage back

"They have been very quick to respond with clear advice"
Chambers UK 2018

InterContinental Hotels, £300 million sale and manage back

We advised on the refurbishment, real estate and construction aspects of the sale and manage back of the InterContinental London Park Lane – the largest single hotel disposal of 2013 - and previously on the sale of the Mayfair InterContinental and the Crowne Plaza Birmingham. 

AccorHotels Group

For this longstanding client we advised on the development of Novotel Hotels at Paddington Central, in a central Liverpool regeneration scheme, and the Great West Quarter, Brentford.

easyHotel

Our London team advised on the AIM IPO and simultaneous £30 million placing for easyHotel plc, the developer and operator of 'super budget' branded hotels. We also advised on its two secondary fundraisings, securing £38 million and £50 million to fund expansion across the UK and Europe.

Macdonald Hotels and Resorts

We advised on the £235 million acquisition of the Heritage Hotels chain from Compass Group and subsequent refurbishments and disposals.

De Vere Hotels

We advised De Vere on the sale of the iconic Grand Hotel in Brighton.

ETM Group, London

We have acted for ETM on the acquisition of many prestigious public houses/restaurants including The Botanist, Sloane Square; The Cadogan Arms, Kings Road, The Chiswell Street Dining Rooms and Jugged Hare, the Ealing Park Tavern and One Canada Square.

Vinoteca

We acted for Vinoteca on the expansion of their wine bar/restaurant group including the new flagship site at Bloomberg Arcade in the City of London and previous outlets including King's Cross and Chiswick as well as a group refinancing.

AccorHotels and AccorInvest

We advised on the acquisition of the Ibis Styles London Southwark Rose Hotel next to other Accor group hotels in Central London and the Novotel Liverpool, and on the sale and franchise back of Novotel hotels in Stevenage and Nottingham and Ibis hotels in York, Gloucester and Bradford.

4C Hotels Group, developments

We acted for 4C Group companies on construction aspects of the redevelopment of several Central London properties into 4 and 5 star branded hotels.

£100 million Marriott Renaissance Hotel financing, St Pancras

We advised Manhattan Loft Corporation on financing the £100 million conversion of the Grade I listed Midland Grand Hotel, St Pancras into the 245 Marriott Renaissance hotel and 67 apartments.

Pho Group

We have advised on all of their site acquisitions including One New Change in the City of London, Balham and Chiswick, Covent Garden, Liverpool, Bristol and Oxford.

Lawyer

Catriona Berman Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2568
M:  Email Catriona | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Melissa Forbes-Miranda Partner

T:  +971 4 407 3904
M:  +971 54 306 6543 Email Melissa | Vcard Office:  Dubai

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.