Nick

You seem to earlier suggest that not many were licensed for live music which if true would probably mean that there were only these that were able to provide live music. Have we established if your your pub has a PEL?

With the new Licensing Act set to come into force in February 2005, it may be a good idea to find out if your pub and others in this chain are going to apply for entertainment permission. If they do not intend to do this - the future of any live music in these pubs is very uncertain.

If they are thinking not to apply - due as you possibly indicate to concerns about PRS charges - it will be interesting to know. If it were the case - it would be important to inform your MP and get them to inform the DCMS's Live Music Forum, which is set up to study the effects of the new Act on live music.

I don't want to start a rumour either but one of the feared effects is that for the first time under the Act - PRS and similar bodies will have a (Council supplied) list of all premises where live music takes place - unlike now where their inspectors have to visit - as it will not be able to take place in any pub without this permission. It could be that a chain like this one - may see that having to pay for PRS fees in all its pubs - is the straw that breaks the camels back.

Of course all this is pure speculation - without some firm evidence.

Perhaps a letter to them would be best and a reply may serve to put your mind at rest - or not? But at least you would have some firm evidence one way or the other.