But the small print will be that the licensing authority will be allowed to insist on all kinds of extra conditions which will be likely to price it out of reach of the publican. The actual cost of the licence is only the start of it.

In order to be able to allow a few people to make music in a situation where "money changes hands" - ie the person organises it gets expenses for ringing round reminding people to come etc, or there are a few drinks for musicians, let alone a payment for a guest - there are likely to be an insistence that extra facilities are installed, such as additional toilets which would only make sense if a najor concert was planned.

But at the same time, if the pub is packed to the rafters with football fans watching a match on a big TV screen, and pouring out into the streets tanked up and excited afterwards, that's covered by the ordinary drinks licence, with no question of an entertainment element being required, or any additional facilities.