I'm not sure that the punters would be there regardless holds true in every case though! At our Friday night session we start around 9:45PM downstairs in the pub where people choose to dine with many knowing that the session will be starting. Those who have no interest or specifically don't want to hear music can opt for a table upstairs. Some people stay on long after their meals specifically because of the session and we have quite a few regular listeners who only arrive about 10pm. They come specifically because the music is on! We know that because they tell us. We have regulars who come once a year from down south. We have listening folk who travel more frequently from Sunderland and Glasgow just to come for a night out and it is because they discovered the session. Many of these folks are now regarded as friends.

Saying that it is still a pub for the public in general and the sessions differ. Sometimes virtually everyone in the room is into it and listening etc- other times there may be much less interest. Just depends. So we don't act like prima donnas if a big table is competing with the volume etc - but we do appreciate the evening more if the punters are interested.