I don't know the details of the visit - but sadly the damage would appear to be terminal - just the officials spouting the incorrect information seemingly enough to frighten the licensee off and prevent yet another perfectly safe and beneficial musical activity.

I can't help but wonder if the enforcers visiting and seeing customers having a sing-song gathered around a piano would have considered all these people to be performers in a public entertainment? I suspect that under these circumstances they may at least have been prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt.

However, if they should see people playing instruments - they do not seem to be able to grasp the concept of customers bringing these in order to play them or their right to express themselves musically. When they are informed of the facts by licensees and customers - this information is dismissed and only appears to convince the official brain that something unlawful must be going on.

It is very sad that so many people tend to suffer simply from this ignorance and lack of imagination and that we just seem to accept it when it appears.