This work covers securing and operating restaurant premises, including negotiating and drafting commercial leases for cafes and dining venues, buying or selling restaurant sites, and handling licences and compliance tied to the property. A solicitor in this area drafts or reviews leases, rent reviews, service charges, guarantees, and assignments, and negotiates repairs and dilapidations, while coordinating with landlords, lenders, and planning or licensing authorities to keep the business compliant and able to operate.
What a solicitor handles in these matters
Leases for restaurant premises involve negotiating fixtures, service charges, rent reviews, break options, and assignment provisions. The solicitor handles dilapidations, repairing covenants, licences to operate (food, alcohol, entertainment where relevant), planning constraints, and regulatory filings, ensuring the client’s tenancy or purchase aligns with business goals while managing risk from landmark clauses and lender requirements.
