Try another pub might be a good idea...

I know what you mean though, I have been in sessions like this - and not that I am adversed to it. I find myself sometimes hardly saying a word all night to people I am playing so much music.

Or try another night - but what it sounds like is that the same people start up the tunes every time. Not just the one, but there are ringleaders...

What we try to do in our sessions (it's an unspoken decision) is to make sure everyone starts up a tune set and it goes round the room. So in that way everyone is not waiting for the ring leader to finish chatting, come back from the loo - whatever.

Good luck!

Ella