Roger. The Royal is a country pub in a remote part of the country (despite its proximity to Sheffield). In fact it is the only pub in Dungworth and for several miles around. If you knew the location you would realise that the opportunities for other sell out activities are virtually non-existent.

The carol sessions in the Royal, and in other pubs in the area, are not commercial undertakings. They are opportunities for the local community, plus a few of us who journey from the far ends of the country, to get together and celebrate Christmas in a way that is practically unique.   

It is true that the pub does a lot of business during the run up to Christmas, but from what I gather it struggles the rest of the year. In any event,I doubt the profits from those six weeks would justify the expenditure of having extra fire doors fitted. The logic is therefore that those of us who have enjoyed the carols in the past, to say nothing of the Royal's hospitality, and wish to see this wonderful tradition continue, will have to contribute towards the cost of the doors.

On the score of safety, I have wondered before now, if a fire ever broke out in there, how many people would get out alive. So fitting extra firedoors sounds like a very wise move.

So one way and another, this is one cause I will definitely be contributing to.