The latest in our series of Member Spotlight business networking lunches took place at the The Courthouse Hotel in Knutsford. With this iconic building being the former Crown Court for Cheshire, the topic of Corporate & Financial Law couldn’t have been more apt.

Our hosts for the lunch were Chris Bentley, Tax & Forensic Director at Harts Ltd Chartered Accountants and Paul Tyrer, Corporate Partner at SAS Daniels LLP. We were also joined by Stuart Mitchell from Flat Cap Hotels, owners of The Courthouse and more recently The Bridge in Prestbury, who spoke about the history of the hotel and its ambitious plans for the future.

Chris and Paul led roundtable discussions on their areas of expertise. Chris offered guidance on personal and business tax responsibilities and provided insights into the steps businesses can take to benefit from reliefs and incentives whilst reducing the risk of unnecessary penalties. Paul focussed on how businesses can effectively plan for the future sale of their business, whilst providing an overview of the sale process and guidance as to the practical steps that can be taken to ensure business owners receive maximum value and avoid due diligence pitfalls.

All guests enjoyed a fabulous 2-course lunch of lamb tagine and lemon delice in the stunning surroundings of the lovingly restored venue, which has been refurbished to emulate the building’s grandeur and retaining many of its historical features. Guests were treated to a tour of the former Crown Court with Stuart regaling many stories of those that have been trialled there, including Alan Turing, and the 7 hangings that took place outside the building.

The Courthouse is now home to Barristers Restaurant & Rooftop Gardens and The Court Room, a magnificent wedding and events space.