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New licensing bill - Latest (16/07/2003) The Licensing Act received Royal Assent on Thursday 10 July but the two in a bar rule will continue until the new law takes full effect - probably in about 18 months time. The good news for pubs and venues is that high annual entertainment licence fees will be abolished. 'Incidental' live music, amplified or unamplified, will be exempt from licence requirements but whether this exemption goes further than purely background performance is not yet clear. The Musicans Union points out that unamplified live music will be exempt if integral to a performance of Morris dancing, say, or dancing of a similar nature. But take away the dancers and the event would be illegal unless licensed. Performances will be exempt in places of public religious worship. Featured (or for profit) live music in pubs and bars will be need a licence, even by if it's only one performer without amplification. For the few venues with less than a capacity of 200, it may be possible to suspend the licence conditions, but this will probably depend upon the local authority. Thanks to the Musicians Union, The Publican and everyone else who contributed
to this article.
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