Biggles of 266
1st Level Red Feather
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2001
- Messages
- 1,126
- Points
- 36
Pubs fined for patrons dancing
November 23 2002
It's bad enough that you can't get a drink after 11pm in a British pub.
Now a popular pub chain has been fined STG5,000 ($A14,080) after undercover inspectors caught a handful of patrons dancing at two Pitcher and Piano bars in central London.
Under British law, dancing is only allowed in pubs which have public entertainment licences.
So Westminster City Council inspectors were shocked to spot four, and then five, people dancing to background music in one pub, while in the second, 11 drinkers were flagrantly breaking the no-dancing laws.
Pub owner Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries pleaded guilty yesterday and was fined STG2,500 for each offence, plus costs of STG1,600 ($A4,505.14).
Westminster Council has also served two written warnings to another pub in Wardour Street, London, about people found "swaying", trade newspaper The Publican says.
But the definition of dancing remains hazy - and drinkers moving in time to a tune only they can hear could still earn their bartender a fine.
"Dancing could be described as the rhythmic moving of the legs, arms and body usually changing positions within the floor space available and whether or not accompanied by musical support," Westminster Council's community protection department director Bob Currie told The Publican.
Wolverhampton and Dudley spokesman Derek Andrews said there was little pubs could do to stop people having a good time.
"We have spent ages trying to stop people dancing. We have signs up everywhere, managers instruct customers, we turn the music down, rearrange the furniture and so on," Andrews said.
"On a personal note, I would like to say that to the best of my knowledge spontaneous dancing is not in the top 10 list of great social ills of our time."
November 23 2002
It's bad enough that you can't get a drink after 11pm in a British pub.
Now a popular pub chain has been fined STG5,000 ($A14,080) after undercover inspectors caught a handful of patrons dancing at two Pitcher and Piano bars in central London.
Under British law, dancing is only allowed in pubs which have public entertainment licences.
So Westminster City Council inspectors were shocked to spot four, and then five, people dancing to background music in one pub, while in the second, 11 drinkers were flagrantly breaking the no-dancing laws.
Pub owner Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries pleaded guilty yesterday and was fined STG2,500 for each offence, plus costs of STG1,600 ($A4,505.14).
Westminster Council has also served two written warnings to another pub in Wardour Street, London, about people found "swaying", trade newspaper The Publican says.
But the definition of dancing remains hazy - and drinkers moving in time to a tune only they can hear could still earn their bartender a fine.
"Dancing could be described as the rhythmic moving of the legs, arms and body usually changing positions within the floor space available and whether or not accompanied by musical support," Westminster Council's community protection department director Bob Currie told The Publican.
Wolverhampton and Dudley spokesman Derek Andrews said there was little pubs could do to stop people having a good time.
"We have spent ages trying to stop people dancing. We have signs up everywhere, managers instruct customers, we turn the music down, rearrange the furniture and so on," Andrews said.
"On a personal note, I would like to say that to the best of my knowledge spontaneous dancing is not in the top 10 list of great social ills of our time."
