What makes this particular event unique are the circumstances of a traditional event happening in a place where the brewery is stopping the landlord "ticking the box". If he were allowed to do this there would be no problem.

But he did and he has.

At the eleventh hour - he has now presented the 'problem' to your local licensing authority and because of the publicity already generated - many eyes are carefully studying their actions.

The way I see things the local authority are damned if they allow it and damned if they prevent it. But they do seem rather more keen on not being seen as the ones who prevent it. But this is the problem and these remain the facts.