Concert in Witney music shop celebrates licensing law reform (From Oxford Mail)
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Concert in Witney music shop celebrates licensing law reform
2:20pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News
By Amanda Williams
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The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band play at Rapture
A WITNEY record shop celebrated a change in live music licensing laws in the best way it knew how – by staging a concert.
Venues in England and Wales with a capacity of under 200 people no longer need a licence for live music.
Rapture, in the Woolgate Centre, staged a lunchtime gig by US group The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band last Friday to celebrate.
Shop owner Gary Smith said he welcomed the change in law, and added: “We have had to refuse bands in the past, because it’s been too short notice to get a licence, but now we’re free to be able to do more.
“The laws that had been previously brought in were a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Pubs can just put on live music whenever they want now, which means that we can as well.”
