The Stage

Rejoicing as Bill is passed

Published Thursday 2 February 2012 at 17:15

I still can’t quite believe it, but very soon it will no longer be a criminal offence to entertain a roomful of people without having to obtain a licence from the authorities. The Live Music Bill, which passed its third reading in the House of Commons on January 20, will soon put an end to the most spiteful piece of killjoy law since Cromwell abolished Christmas.

The Licensing Act of 2003 was an act of folly which created unnecessary bureaucracy, making it complicated and expensive for pubs, clubs and other small venues to host live gigs. Entertainers and musicians watched their work opportunities dwindle as venues closed at a rate of knots.

There was great rejoicing in Westminster on the afternoon of January 20, where I joined fellow campaigners and supporters of the Live Music Bill in a celebration, hosted by UK Music and Don Foster MP. We are all very grateful to Don Foster for sponsoring the Bill in the Commons, and Lord Clement-Jones, who first introduced it a few years ago, deserves our special thanks for his determined perseverance and support.

And a great big note of thanks is due to Hamish Birchall, the musician who relentlessly made it his business to follow every twist and turn of the campaign and keep us all up to date with what was going on.

The success of the Live Music Bill will give a tremendous boost to the entertainment industry, particularly in this Olympic year, when we are all in the world’s spotlight.

But one question occurs to me: Will there be any pubs left to play in?

Annie Bright

Equity Councillor - Variety, Light Entertainment and Circus

Poplar Walk

London SE24