The right to do anything (on their premises) is subject to the rights of others. If a licensee does not wish you to express yourself in music or in any other way that is of course their right and will be respected.

But when the licensee is agreeable - should it really be a matter of them having to pay to obtain third party licensing permission for you to exercise your right to express yourself in music making?

If your local pubs do not choose to pay and apply in advance to obtain the required licensing permission - your event cannot legally proceed. No matter how unique you claim they are or no matter how your argument then makes every other similar social music making event Regulated Entertainment and increases the threat to them.

There is of course no certainty that these charges will stay at there current levels and as a result your events will always be under threat. Indeed it was the proposed increase in the PRS/PPL licence fees a Sam Smith's refusal to pay them that has lead to the current threat to the premises you keep saying you are not going to talk about.