A PUB has been silenced after a High Court judge banned the landlord from playing music.

Geoffrey Lyons, landlord of the Bay Horse Inn at Hade Edge, was punished for playing music without a valid licence.

Lyons, who was not in court and was not represented, faces a heavy fine or even prison if he disobeys the order.

Mr Justice Proudman also ordered him to pay £1,506 in legal costs, which must be paid within two weeks.

The court heard Lyons was caught playing music at the Penistone Road pub without a licence from music royalty collectors Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL).

Jonathan Hill, counsel for PPL, said songs including Wet Wet Wet’s Love is All Around and Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis were playing when an inspector visited the pub (pictured) on August 22 last year.

Solicitors sent letters to Lyons informing him that he was infringing copyright and inviting him to get a licence. After he failed to buy one, PPL’s solicitors served notice of the claim against him.

A PPL spokesman said: “Whenever you play a sound recording in public, there are two separate licence fees to be paid.

“PPL distributes its licence fees to record companies, recording artists and musicians and the Performing Arts Society collects a separate licence fee which they distribute to composers and music publishers.”

The ban applies to all recorded music, including records, tapes and CDs.

The Examiner was unable to contact Lyons for a comment.