Current update. Dave (the landlord) is on holiday till end of May so no sesh till June at least. However have sent the following e-mail to John Mothersole (Chief Adminny Person Sheffield City Council) + Jan Wilson (Leader of Council) and the three Walkley Ward Councillors (who include the Lord Mayor Dianne Leek) + Helen Jackson MP for Hillsborough. Have also spoke to Paul License at Sheffield Star and Mark Gibbons from South Riding Folk Network/EFDSS. The memo was writ as follows:-

Dear Sir,
I am writing to you for advice regarding the enforcement of Public Entertainment Licences on licensed premises (namely Public Houses) and in particular the manner in which officers of the council informed a licensee.

Officers from the legal Department visited the licensee David Harrison of the Palm Tree Public House, Palm Street, Walkley, Sheffield onThursday 6th May at around 8.00p.m. to instruct the landlord that the Folk Music Session night which takes place on Thursday evenings, required a Public Entertainment Licence costing some £900 and that they would be return to enforce this order any breach could result in a fine of £6000.

I am the lead musician and singer who has organised this session. We have held these sessions every Thursday for three years and in that time there has never been an incident to cause offence to the public in any way whatsoever. The night has encouraged musicians of all ages and talents to perform and is in the main a celebration of the music of this country, traditional arts which should be fostered. There is no payment to the musicians or me it is simply a joining of people of like interests.

The Public Entertainment Licence scheme as you know has been a subject of much debate and the Musicians Union, The English Folk Dance and Song Society have been instrumental (if you pardon the pun) in advising the relevant department on the new Act and aspects which affect the traditional arts. A number of these recommendations have caused significant changes in the original proposals This act becomes operational in October.

This leads me to my main point. Why are Sheffield City Council in the shape of their officers actively pursuing the enforcement of PELs on acoustic or traditional music sessions ? and why are these officers forceful in their interpretation of these regulations ?

To enforce an old regulation which will only be operative for six months seem churlish and smacks of revenue raising. I can see no benefit whatsoever to the musicians the landlord or the regulars of the pub, in fact the reverse the public have been denied there regular Thursday night entertainment.

With a new act coming on stream surely it would be more prudent to leave enforcement of PEL's (unless for establishments using electrical or PA equipment or for larger public houses)
until the new act is operational then by all means enforce the act in a manner which is fair to all.


I await your answer to this question .

Feel free anyone to contact MP's and councillors use the above if you want. The fight begins now !!!