Marje: "It's also important to understand the boundaries (if any) between the session players and the people who have come in for a meal - sometimes they put the musicians in the restaurant area without keeping tables aside for them, which can cause problems for musicians and unsuspecting diners alike."

Exactly what happened at a monthly session I went to last might! The session area has tables where people can eat. The music was clearly advertised on the blackboard as starting at 8pm. But the pub allowed meals to be served so that when about 12-15 musicians turned up to play, there was nowhere to hold the session. Eventually some of the tables cleared and we managed to clear s cramped pace in which to play. Luckily, the eaters still there liked what was being played and stayed on to listen. But, not good management - and I'm aware that many pubs make most of their profits from food and not from drink these days.