Protesters: PELs "killing off live music in pubs

Protesters gathered outside a pub yesterday (July 19) to campaign for Public Entertainment Licences (PELs) to be scrapped because music lovers say the law is "killing off live music in pubs."

Members of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, the Musicians' Union and the Campaign for Live Music (CALM) joined licensee Raoul de Vaux and a representative from Punch Retail to highlight their argument at the Red Lion in Parliament Street, London.

Mr de Vaux threw Lord Redesdale of the English Folk Dance and Song Society and a group of musicians out of his pub because more than two were playing music and current law states that this is not allowed.

Pubs must have a PEL if more than two performers are playing or if live music is combined with recorded sound.

Because these licences can cost anything up to £20,000 it is estimated that only five per cent of pubs have a PEL and campaigners say that live entertainment in pubs is dying as a result.

Mr de Vaux, a former musician and present licensee of the Red Lion branded the law as ludicrous and said that it was killing live music and traditional pub life.

He told thepublican.com that he understood why local authorities needed to enforce a system to ensure that health and safety was not compromised at larger venues but added: "Restricting smaller pubs from holding live events is simply ludicrous."

Lord Redesdale of the English Folk Dance and Song Society also expressed his discontent with the current law. He said that the Government had promised to include reforms to allow more pubs to stage live music in the Queen's speech.

"Now it will be years down the line before we see reform," he said. "We want every pub to be allowed to have live music as long as health and safety isn't compromised."

Councils have come under attack in recent months for using PELs as a means of boosting revenue. Hamish Birchall, co-founder for the Campaign for Live Music (CALM), who was also at the event, told thepublican.com that the law was outdated and unfair on licensees, musicians and customers.

Related stories:

Licensees must have PEL for karaoke says court (20 July 2001)

Local councils under attack for exploiting PELs (10 July 2001)

Trade campaigns to update PEL system (21 June 2001)