It might be better to keep our heads down and hope that they (the management)don't notice that we are there.

The management ARE aware - at least definitely in our case. It's quite difficult to hide on your sales figures too I would guess (ie AREA MANAGER: "Your takings are very good every ???day, what are you doing to attract the business?" PUB MANAGER: "Just a coincidence..." Hmmm!!!)

My interest in writing to them is so that I know before and can make other arrangements rather than have it happen one day and be faced with doing things in a hurry. Potential venues in this part of the world for hosting folk get togethers are limited without having to travel lots and it is not necessarily something to reorganise in seconds.

Sams responded to my previous contacts promptly and politely and I see no reason why they shouldn't do so vis a vis live music.

If it turns out that I was wrong and Sams promptly ban all live music then at least you'll know who is to blame.

I dare say that as a reasonably large pub chain (and with their interests in working mans clubs etc) that they MAY have got the whiff that something is in the offing about PEL and that it won't come as a total surprise. I would guess this is closer to the position than a group of total naifs running Sams.