Drinkers at a south Devon bar will be enjoying a quiet pint after it was banned from playing recorded music until it gets a licence. Proprietor Straightforward Inns Ltd faces a �10,000 fine if Torquay bar Koko breaks a ban by the High Court.
The pay-up or shut-up order was imposed after the firm was caught playing music when it did not hold a Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) licence.
Straightforward Inns was unavailable for comment.
Warning letters
The court in London heard that PPL inspectors had visited the club in February this year and heard tracks being played, including American English by Idlewild and American Idiot by Green Day, even though no licence was in force.
PPL sent three letters warning the club it had to get a licence, but received no replies.
The ban applies to all forms of mechanically recorded music such as records, tapes and CDs in PPL's repertoire, which covers 97% of all music.
Music licences can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds, depending on the size of the venue and the audiences involved.
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