Despite its pretty aspect, The Swan and Three Cygnets is very much a local pub for local people, and Durham locals remain (at best) generally indifferent to the antics of Students and Bearded Hippy Weirdos - in which latter category Morris Dancers are reckoned to be quite near the top. So this is a case of a responsible barmaid protecting the interests of her Saturday regulars from any unnecessary flamboyance and potential fol de rol - and good for her. I was in Durham pub once peacably watching the racing when a Morris Side invaded the bar and proceeded to ruin the ambience by insisting on singing Folk Songs - a Time and a Place Gentlemen surely, as they were reminded when the land lord proceeded with the eviction. In any case these self-styled Morris Dancers found welcome at the Half Moon - not a five yard caper around former Greetings Corner, and one of any number of city centre pubs where no one would have batted an eyelid at their increasingly rediculous attire, bells or no. In truth, there is any amount of city centre pubs they could have gone to rapturous welcome - and maybe two or three where they would have been refused on sight - or worse, man-handled into the street, which really would have been newsworthy!

I think it's time these random Folkies and self-styled Morris Men (& Women) started to respect the local people, folklore and Traditions of the towns and pubs they descend upon, researching well in advance those hostelries where they are likely to receive a welcome and - more importantly - those in which they are not.