ENGLAND & WALES
PANEL MEMBERS
MATTHEW KEARSEY
Matt is the Managing Director for Hall & Woodhouse Ltd, who were winners of Tenanted Pub Company of the Year 2022 at the Publican Awards. Prior to becoming Managing Director, Matt held the positions of Director of Tenancies and has been with Hall & Woodhouse since 2009.
Prior to this he was Operations Director at Greene King 2006-2009 and Scottish & Newcastle from 1998-2006.
TOBY BRETT
Managing Director of Banwell House Pub Company Ltd, operating a small number of freehold licensed properties in the south west.
Toby commenced his involvement in the licensed property industry as manager of the Fullers’ Old Bank of England pub. He moved on to Wadworth and Co in 2004 as a Tenanted Trade Manager and then National Account Manager before joining Greene King as a Regional Manager in 2007.
RUSSELL STONE
Russell has over 30 years’ experience in the Pub & Restaurant industry. He has had a successful career from Chef to Manager to Director of established brands and restaurant companies. He has worked for independent companies as well as PepsiCo, Whitbread, Scottish & Newcastle and The Restaurant Group – winning awards at single & multi site operations. In 2012 Russell become a pub and restaurant consultant to the Licensed Trade.
PHIL STRONG
Phil, until June 2016 was running Chameleon bar and Dining ltd for nearly 15 years which has a number of tied leases and tenancies from companies like Enterprise, Marstons, Greene King and Punch. Prior to that he was an area manager and Director with Allied Domecq and Punch Taverns with responsibility for managed, leased and tenanted pubs on behalf of the Landlord. He brings a wealth of experience from both a landlord and tenant perspective and is now a consultant and mentor to the industry.
PETER RAYNSFORD
Has worked in the licensed industry for over 30 years working on the operations side of the business for Brewers and Pub Co’s in the managed, tenancy and leased sectors.
In 1991 was appointed a Magistrate for Hertfordshire.
A Fellow of the British Institute of Innkeeping and in April 2014 was appointed a Trustee of the Licensed Trade Charity.
PAUL WIGHAM
Paul, as Chief Executive of All our Bars, is a multiple tenant who commenced his career in the accountancy sector but moved on to become over the years Director of several Pub and Inn groups. He has a law degree and is an Associate of The Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Paul has been a Trustee of the Licensed Trade Charity and is a board member of UK Hospitality.
LYNNE GRIFFIN
Lynne has many years of experience in HR and is currently working for Askham Bryan College and is an Executive Director for People & OD. Previously she had been a licensed property tenant of a tied Pub Co outlet.
Lynne has an MA in International Human Resource Management and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She has worked within a FTSE 100 Company at both Senior and Operational Director Level and her experience has covered a wide spectrum of strategic and operational HR activity.
LISA SHARKEY
Lisa is a Partner of Poppleston Allen Solicitors. She has experience in all aspects of the leisure industry from pubs, bars and restaurants to the more complex matters surrounding late night licensing. Lisa splits her time between Poppleston Allen’s offices in Nottingham and London, but acts for clients throughout England and Wales.
Lisa is former Director of Legal and Ethnics for the Security Institute and is now Honorary Fellow of the Institute, providing pro-bona legal advice and support.
ELAINE BROWN
Elaine is an experienced RICS qualified Estate Manager, currently working with Marstons since 2014. Prior to that she was an award winning Business Relationship Manager with experience of working within the Licensed Trade since 1995. Elaine’s background has seen her working both independently as a consultant for both Landlords and Tenants and in house initially for Punch and latterly Marstons.
DUNCAN CRAIG
Duncan is a barrister with Saint Philips Chambers who he joined in 2023. He was called to the Bar in 2012 subsequent to his attaining legal work experience and undertaking a graduate diploma in Law. Prior to that he operated as managing director of a company operating 6 licensed outlets in Nottingham having been an area manager at Eldridge Pope; a Regional Sales Manager, an Account Manager and a Development Team Salesman all at Whitbread’s. His experience in licensed trade matters extends back to 1990.
DAVID JONES
David was the first Qualified Accountant to specialise in the Licensed Trade back in 1979. For much of the time since, David has been able to help newcomers to the Trade who have attended the Finance days of courses run by Brewers and Pub Companies. He has acted as Expert Witness in cases of dispute between Pub Companies and their tenants. David is currently Chairman of the Association of Licensed Trade Accountants (ALTA).
MICHELLE HAZLEWOOD
Michelle is a Partner at John Gaunt & Partners having joined the company in 2000. She is a specialist Licensing Solicitor, focusing on the Licensing Act 2003. Michelle has a wealth of experience in relation to all aspects of the leisure industry, especially the licensing of brown and greenfield sites. She has provided advise and represented many clients at difficult reviews during her time at John Gaunt.
MARK ROBSON
Mark was the founder and owner of Red Mist Leisure until its sale in 2022, and is now Managing Director of the independent pub company New Dawn Pubs. Mark has a wealth of experience in the licensed trade and continues to champion and promote the licensed industry.
Mark has been the Chair of the BII since 2018.
