Licensing - Folk club falls foul.
Roger Gall
Pub's folk club falls foul of Licensing Act
21 December, 2009
By Roy Beers
Business lost to church because of administrative oversight
A Scottish pub has been forced to "bar" a thriving local folk group from its
premises because of an oversight in its application under the new Licensing
Act.
Under the new rules pubs have to list in minute detail every activity they
plan to host - from funeral breakfasts to country dancing - an approach
licensing lawyers regularly complained would lead to confusion and loss of
revenue.
The operating plan also has to specify when activities will be staged, and
when and where under-18's will be allowed.
Now the Punch Taverns-owned Cross Keys pub in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, has
fallen victim to the bureaucracy, because its finalised plan doesn't include
a folk club with under-18's also present.
The club's chairman, Billy Stewart, said: "We were gutted at the news, and
we really had to consider calling it a day - even although the club is so
well-established, and even although its young musicians have been so
successful.
"We don't meet until 8pm, and that's when the younger members would no
longer be permitted - so we had to leave the Cross Keys after eight
brilliant years or split up the group, which we just couldn't do."
Cross Keys lessee Sandra Hilling said: "We are bitterly disappointed, and it
is exasperating to say the least. I'm glad we're still seeing folk group
members come in for a drink or food, but we have been so pleased to have the
musicians here all these years - and now they're gone, and there's nothing
we can do about it."
The bar could seek an amendment to its plan at a cost of around �800, on top
of already hefty costs.
"We can't do that because of the major expense of the legislation we've
already had to meet," said Sandra.
"The pub is doing fine, but our budget has been stretched by the cost of
bringing in the regulations."
Meanwhile a local church has come to the musicians' rescue by giving them a
hall to meet in, and adult members will even be able to bring in wine and
beer.
ENDS