The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #54406 Message #843162
Posted By: The Shambles
07-Dec-02 - 03:12 PM
Thread Name: MSG: x Pete Mclelland Hobgoblin Music
Subject: RE: MSG: x Pete Mclelland Hobgoblin Music
George was questioning Pete's 'happy birthday' incident, on the Usenet News Groups.
I would like to see some evidence of this case. Could you supply names, places, details? I honestly can't believe it would happen without some other aggravated events compounding the "offence". George
Yes but speaking from personal experience, the agravating event can just be that a council officer takes a dislike to a particular licensee or is acting on malicious complaint from a rival licensee (usually one who has paid for a PEL).
The following is the information requested-
Happy birthday to you... you're nicked!
Some years ago, Mr Powell decided that a PEL might be a good idea after Hackney successfully prosecuted him for allowing 7 members of the public to sing Happy Birthday. This was more than the maximum two 'performers' allowed without a PEL. The maximum penalty is a £20,000 fine and six months in prison. Mr Powell got off lightly - he was fined £500 and ordered to pay over £1500 costs.
The offending occasion was indeed the birthday of one member of a (legal) singer/guitarist duo then performing at The Globe. Friends had come along to celebrate. Sadly a Council Enforcement Officer was in the audience.