In Ireland most of the singers clubs that I have been booked at are held in seperate club rooms, all the people that attend go there specifically to listen to songs, in my opinion this is the best setting for singing.
most instrumental sessions in pubs are treated by audience as places to go and chat and half listen,this is not so soul destroying for the performers[most instrumental sessions are groups of six or more] as it is for the booked song bands playing with amplification in pubs, where it is treated as background music.
I have no great desire to play in pubs in england or ireland, as a song performer where the folk club is not in a seperate room,NEW YEARS EVE IS IN MY EXPERIENCE A DEFINITE NO NON, there are of course a few exceptions.
in my opinion the best place for singers clubs is in a seperate room.
The best one i know where i have been booked regularly,is in The Spailpin Fanach in Cork City.
I live in Ireland, I have no wish to play in badly run events held in pubs where people are making a lot of noise, if that makes me arrogant, so be it, that is my choice i choose to play where i like and with people whom i like, that is why i enjoy doing it.
if i had to play in crap venues with crap people, I wouldnt bother, doing that is imo the way   to lose a love of the music, the music means more to me than that, its good music that should be treated with love ,not ignored or ridiculed or used as a background for a drunken brawl.
In the not too distant future I will be playing at one of my favourite folk clubs run by The Wilson Family in Billingham, I would rather play there with excellent singers and people with a good knowledge of the music.
I choose where I want to sing, I dont need to sing in any old badly run joint.