This posted by Terry Redmond on uk.music.folk. See also his site:

www.does4you.co.uk

"Your two e-mails regarding customers making their own music have been referred to me. I quite agree that it is a confused area, spontaneity would seem to be clear, but beyond that it is a grey area. I think that all I can say at the moment is that each case will be treated on its merits."

This was the reply I got from my Environmental Health Officer (the
Local Authority department responsible for licensing under the 2003
Licensing Act) when I asked which events, if any, would be exempt from
Licensing regulations.

When the same department is to make the rules AND enforce them the
least one could expect is that the Department would understand the
rules well enough to answer questions. Otherwise Herr Jobsworth is
going to have a field day every time they come across a music session
they don't like.

Time to ask YOUR local authority if they can explain which sessions
are exempt from licensing?

And what IS a 'spontaneous' session?
If you take an instrument are you 'going equipped'?

Terry