The only problem that there might have been with pub sessions before the mid 20th century, was that in many areas of England, pubs tended to be men-only establishments. There's plenty of evidence that women frequented many town taverns, but in many rural and northern areas women would not have been served. Even as late as the 1960s a girlfriend of mine was refused a pint in a Yorkshire pub (there was only the one public bar) - I was allowed to buy her a half pint - but she had to drink it outside.

In Bob Copper's "A Song for Every Season" the various singing occasions in the pub (Black Ram Night etc.) seem to have been primarily male.