Now following the logic of what Roger is suggesting here - we should have told the local licensing people that they were wrong in allowing this to happen, and that since they had allowed it, all other pubs in England and Wales should be allowed to do the same.

Probably best not to refer to logic in licensing matters. *Smiles*

There is a difference in what some people are lucky enough to get away with locally by de-fault and at the tail-end of legislation and preparing the ground for the way things are going to be under the new.   

I fear there will be tears anyway if you try to start off under the new legislation with an illegal fudge. It is time that this issue was finally settled.

The new legislation either enables these kind of events or it prevents them. If it really does prevent such things - then the words of this new law need to be changed and quickly. However, if a way can be found to enable them legally - then this will need to apply wherever the law does.

I see nothing unique in this fine event as all the elements appear to some extent elswhere in the country. The history and fact that the carols may be 'traditional' makes it little different from a cockney knees-up around a pub piano.

But that is not really the point - is it? Everyone everywhere should have the right to sing or make music in a pub for their own enjoyment. In fact they do have this right of freedom of expression - but we may need to fight together against those who would wish to take it away. Not with each other.