Holohan Lane LLP has an established track record in this specialised area of law. We act for a wide variety of businesses, offering advice on all aspects of licensing law.
In 1991, our Senior Partner, Bill Holohan took a case to the High Court for one of Ireland’s premier entertainment venues (The Point Depot, now Three Arena) arguing that a public entertainment venue is entitled to a licence to serve intoxicating liquor. It had been accepted for a hundred years that it could not, but Bill Holohan‘s legal argument was accepted by the High Court, culminating in the creation of what is known as a Theatre Licence.
In 1998, Bill Holohan appeared (alone without barristers) before three judges of the Supreme Court on behalf of the Tivoli Theatre arguing a case as to what constituted public entertainment for the purposes of a Theatre Licence, and again he was successful. In this case, the Supreme Court was also persuaded by Bill Holohan that, for the purposes of the law, in a theatre/licensed place of public entertainment, a seat does not simply mean something to sit on, but includes the airspace occupied by the patron while in the premises.
We have obtained licences for the largest entertainment venues and theatres throughout the country, as well as securing occasional licenses for festivals and special events.
We are well known in the Licensing Courts and have developed good working relationships with the Gardaí and Fire Officers, when advising and assisting licensed business premises.
This area of law also includes new licences, transfers of existing licences, renewals, sale and purchase of licensed premises as well as:
- Public House
- Ad interim applications.
- Special Exemptions for late servings.
- Off Licences.
- Restaurants
- Special Restaurants Licences
- Restaurant Certificates.
- Registered Clubs
- Entertainment Venues
- Theatre Licences.
- Public Music and Singing Licences.
- Public Dance Licences.
- Gaming/ Lottery Licences.
- Bingo Licences.
