The first is a surprising one. Not sure why billiards was singled out for particular attention.
Billiards.--The holder of a full licence may keep on his licensed premises, without any further licence in that behalf, a public billiard table, bagatelle board, or instrument used in any game of the like kind. But he must not allow any person whatsoever to play upon it at any time when such premises are not by law allowed to be open for the sale of intoxicating liquor, or before eight o'clock in the morning, or at any time on Sunday, Christmas Day, or Good Friday. No other person may keep on his premises a public billiard table, bagatelle board, or instrument used in any game of the like kind, unless he is the holder of a billiard licence. Billiard licences are granted by licensing justices at Brewster Sessions in the same way as justices' liquor licences or certificates. The holder of a billiard licence is subject to the same restrictions with regard to the use of the table as the holder of a full licence who keeps a public billiard table, except that if he holds no liquor licence the hour at which play must stop is fixed at 1 a.m.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 308.
Not totally forbidden, then, billiards. Just restrictions on when you could play. Even in places where no alcohol was served.
In London, music and dancing needed a licence.
Music.—A licence holder whose premises are situate within the County of London, or within twenty miles of the Cities of London or Westminster, or within the jurisdiction of any urban sanitary authority which has adopted Part IV of the Public Health Act, 1890, may not permit his licensed premises to be used for public dancing, music, or other entertainment of the like kind, unless he is the holder of a music and dancing licence, or, as the case may be, a music licence in respect of such premises.
Outside the areas above specified music and dancing licences are not required.
Music and dancing licences are granted in the County of London by the London County Council in October; outside the County of London, but within the administrative county of Middlesex, by the Middlesex County Council, at any meeting convened with fourteen days’ previous notice or to any adjournment thereof; elsewhere outside the County of London, but within twenty miles of London or Westminster, by the Quarter Sessions at Michaelmas; in other places, by the licensing justices at Brewster Sessions or at any adjournment thereof, or at any Special Session convened with fourteen days’ previous notice.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 308 - 309.
It's unclear as to how music and dancing could be legal outside London. Because . . music was forbidden without a licence.
Public Music.—As to music, the thing which is forbidden is the using of the house for public music without a licence. The use contemplated is an habitual or periodical use, not the mere permission of public music on a solitary occasion. The kind of music forbidden is public music which means a musical performance which members of the general public are admitted to hear, whether upon payment at the doors or on production of tickets purchased elsewhere or gratis. The mere keeping of a piano which customers are permitted to use is not keeping a room for public music.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 309.
As was music in a private room, if you didn't let the public in.
Private Music.—But if the music is private — that is to say, if members of the general public are not admitted to hear it, as, for instance, if persons who have hired or have been permitted the exclusive use of a room on the licensed premises provide or execute music there for their own entertainment — such music is not unlawful, though the occupier of the premises has no music licence.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 309.
What punishment did the publican risk?
Penalties.—Any person who keeps or uses any premises for public music or dancing or other entertainment of the like kind without being duly licensed in that behalf is liable to a penalty if the premises are within twenty miles of London or Westminster, but not within the administrative county of Middlesex, of £100, and if the premises are situate within the administrative county of Middlesex or in any other place where music licences are required, of £5 for every day on which such premises are so kept and used. In addition, such premises will be deemed to be a disorderly house.
Brewers' Almanack 1915, page 309.
Massive fines again. £100 was a massive sum back then. It's an amount even a wealthy publican might struggle to pay. And being labelled a disorderly house could lose you your licecnce.
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4 comments:
The last pub I know of locally which had a full size snooker table on which you could play billiards was the Lamb in Eccles: https://camra.org.uk/pubs/lamb-hotel-eccles-170906
I even played on it myself once or twice, very badly, before giving way to the far more skilful regulars.
Reminds me of more recent struggles over licensing for musical performances in pubs, which at one point looked as if they were going to impose a licence requirement for any kind of organised musical performance at all, including a folk session or singaround (where people get together to sing and/or play without any audience except one another). The English Folk Dance and Song Society argued that sessions and singarounds should be exempt, on the grounds that whatever they were, they certainly weren't *entertainment*. You can say that again.
Plenty of clubs had or have full size snooker tables - I guess the warehouse nature of those premises (big room for bingo and acts, lounge for the ladies, snooker room for the gents) accommodated suchlike better than pubs.
Needs must. If it was to prevent needing a licence than that is understandable.
Oscar
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