Andy and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. It was fabulous to see so many faces yesterday at the ALMR lunch at Old Billingsgate Market. The feeling was pretty buoyant from the trade with hopes of a strong year next year. Let’s hope so…it is always so much more enjoyable preparing for, and delivering, a new application than dealing with enforcement issues when things go wrong.
2015 has been our busiest year to date as we have had an unprecedented level of contested matters to deal with across all aspects of alcohol and entertainment licensing. We have had some resounding successes, making applications against cumulative impact policies, dealt with some pretty heavy reviews and summary reviews and have just won the Fabric appeal which has topped the year off in style.
Our representation of the London Borough of Newham in licensing matters has been fruitful this year. We have undertaken a large number of appeals and were successful in the High Court for them in the challenge to a summary review decision. Working in the East End with some fabulously committed licensing officers is some of the most enjoyable work we do.
The gambling sector has been equally busy across all channels, Andy has had significant successes with casino licensing in London and the online sector has also produced some interesting worldwide projects this year. I would have liked to have visited some of the countries we had to deal with remotely…I couldn’t persuade the client that visits were essential to the project.
We are excited about next year when Woods Whur will celebrate it’s 5th Birthday as we continue to grow. 2016 looks like it is going to start as busy as 2015 is finishing. Already in the pipeline are some really interesting gambling projects, the licensing of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and a landmark development of Bretton Hall into a 5 star resort, spa and conference centre.
We are also very excited about our hook-up with Innpacked. We are going to be offering some innovative training and consultancy packages in the New Year.
From the whole team at Woods Whur, thank you for your comments on our newsletter articles, please keep them coming in. Have a great Christmas and all the best for 2016.
Paddy and Andy