I did consider politely asking the landlord and his little corner of regulars to keep the noise down a bit, but I reckon that would just put their backs up. And it isn't my singaround or my local any road up.

It is a small pub, and a natural barrier does happen between most of the bar and the singers, but I reckon that makes it worse. The chatterers tend to forget we're there, then.

The best singers club I ran was the old Steamer in St Albans. It was in a large side-room, and you left it to get to the bar, so we had few interruptions and no unintended audience.

The club I'm starting in York this Sunday is a similar layout, though the room is open to the rest of the pub, but I already have the manager's promise that she will keep the bar noise down for us. Sunday's are quiet anyway.

If some of the uni students turn up, I might have to explain the acoustic etiquette to them, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Tone