Like you all I have been going to Whitby Folk Week for yonks and have loved the sessions in The Plough. But many-slates-short-of-a-roof-Humphrey (chairman of sam smiths brewery)has destroyed that joy and shot himself in the foot big time by banning all singing/playing.
It's not for the likes of me to try to make sense of such a crazy decision but I very much feel for the landlords/landladys who are left in an impossible position. How can they possibly police "Humphreys' Law" without causing ill feeling and hostility?
I have been told that the landlord at the Plough is fast approaching retirement and must be living in fear of this years festival because if one of Humphreys "spies", or even Humphrey himself, paid a visit and heard just a smidging of playing/singing he could be evicted within 24 hours!! I can't verify this exactly but if it's true it is a very sober reason to act rationally. Just vote with your feet and let this years massive loss of takings speak volumes. Peace brothers!