As I recall, the top table (in the mid 60s) was occupied by Johnny Handle, Christine Hendry (now 'Mrs Handle'), Colin Ross, Laurie Charlton. Ray Fisher, John Brennan and Louis Killen.
It was formal in the sense that floor singers were invited to the table to do their thing.... I think there was a rule about material being from your own country or something -understandable in those early days maybe, but it was never po-faced....

I visited regularly then, but was more involved with the Marsden Inn in South Shields- started in 1963/4- ten miles downriver, and we shared many of the guest singers at he 'Bridge'.