The monthly acoustic session at the Blue Bell (John Clare's old pub) in Helpston village got hit last night Wed 25.9.02 by Peterborough City Council. pete.shaw@(nospam)peteshaw.co.uk

I asked for some details that could be circulated and Pete Shaw has kindly supplied the following.

It looks like the pub was warned in Apr and promised to carry out PEL works but, due to the illness of the licencee, did not. The monthly acoustic music session does not run in the summer anyway. Two Council mini-Hitlers turned up for the Sept session and closed it down, telling the Blue Bell (the pub next door to John Clare (1793-1864), where he worked and probably played his fiddle) that they may now be prosecuted.

The situation there appears to be delicate one and it is important not to risk anything that may make matters even worse for the licensees.