First edition
The Guide to
Busking and Street
Performance
in Bath
Setting The Scene
Busking and street entertainment has long been part of the Bath
experience, creating a vibrant and pleasant atmosphere for those who visit
Bath. We welcome buskers and street entertainment that enlivens our
city’s streets. However, on occasion some performances can be intrusive
and disruptive to those who live and work in the city.
These guidelines have been written and agreed by representatives of the
busking community, Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) officers,
the Bath Business Improvement District (Bath BID) and Bath Abbey to ensure
that there is mutual respect, consideration and cooperation in resolving any
issues.
It is in everyone’s interest to have a positive relationship with all users of
public spaces and these guidelines aim to support this objective.
Our thanks go to the Buskers and Street Entertainers in Bath, Bath Abbey,
Bath BID, Equity and the Musicians Union, Keep Streets Live Campaign
and B&NES Council in producing this Official Guide to Busking and Street
Performance in Bath.
02 Setting The Scene
03 Map Of Popular Performance Areas
04-05 Buskers And Street Performers’ Guideline
06 Bath Abbey
07 Specific Performance Issues
08 Selling CDs
BG01. 02/16
02
The
BA R
A V O N
Circus
TL E T
G
E T TA ST R E E T
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Map Of Popular RPerformance Areas
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AL
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R I V E R
There are no specific pitches where street entertainers can perform
S TR
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however, please be especially mindful of the guidance when performing
EE T
in the three red shaded areas.
T EE
St Michael’s
EN Milsom
QUE Place
550
T N ST
RE E GR E E
T ST ES
QUIE YL
D ST AR
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WOO Podium
ARE
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NE
SQU W B O N ST
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T
BOR
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ST
UP RLND PL
ST
N’HUMB
UNION
Ustinov
UNION
M
PA R S O
Guildhall
N M Studio Theatre
O RIDOR
PA S S A G
24 THE COR and Market
Royal
SAW C
B R ID E
O
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U
EE T
STREE
TH
E
WELL
ST
LO SE
ST R
L ANE
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ET P ST ORANGE
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LANE
CHEA GROVE
ATE ST Bath
WESTG Abbe
Abbey
Komedia ABBEY HYARD
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Pump
P Para
W E S T G AT
KINGSMEAD
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P IE R REP O NT S T
JA SQUARE ST Baths
M B AT H
ES ST
BATH ST
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E BL
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Bath Spa
L ST
W ABBEY
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T B E AU S T
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AVO N STR E ET
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W AL L RY S
S N
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KINGSTON RD
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A
W
MA NVE RS ST
S O U T H G AT E ST
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Riverside Coach E
D
COR ST Po
and Lorry Park
E
N ST
R EE T St
SouthGate Bath
661
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OL D Q 876
Buskers/Street Performers Guideline
Below are the guidelines for busking/street performing in Bath. Street
Performers and Buskers are expected to adhere to these guiding
principles. Where busking or street performances create a problem,
please see page 7.
a) Street performance and busking is normally for a maximum of one
hour at a pitch. Performers should be prepared to move after this time
period. There is a culture of swapping pitches and moving around the
city. One pitch should not be dominated by one performance artist
b) Noise from instruments or performance should not be above street
ambient noise. Excessive noise and loud inconsiderate amplification is
not welcome
c) Before setting up your performance anticipate the
impact that your act will have on others in the area
you choose
d) Entertainers should not set up in front
of shop windows, doorways and
fire exits. If you are unsure,
ask the business or building
owner’s permission first
e) Where fire and chemicals
are used as part of your
performance please clean the
space when you have finished
f) Performers should be mindful
of street traders and others
who use the public space under
licence to perform their day to
day living
g) When performing around the
Abbey, please adhere to the
traffic light system that is shown
on page 6
04
h) Performance times in Bath City Centre are 10:00 - 20:00 hrs
i) Entertainers should not ask for money but can accept donations
j) Selling of CDs or products relating to the performance requires street
trading consent obtainable from the local authority (see page 8)
k) If you are approached by a member of the public, please be courteous.
Similarly we ask members of the public to wait for a gap in the
performance before approaching a performer to discuss any issue
l) Conflict issues should be dealt with in a professional and courteous
manner. Please see page 7 in supporting conflict resolution
m) Performers are asked not to repeat the same material. Repeating a
limited number of songs/performance pieces causes complaints
n) SouthGate and Milsom Place are private shopping areas. Performing in
these areas requires permission from the management.
05
Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey Precincts are a place of great
significance to Bath and the hundreds of
thousands that visit this holy site.
Bath Abbey offers an oasis of peace and calm in
this bustling city. This is an essential part of Bath
Abbey’s role and it is always being used for prayer
and meditation even when it appears there isn’t an
event happening.
We ask that street musicians are very sensitive to
the needs of people in the Abbey. They will be there for many reasons including
ill-health, bereavement or anxiety as well as expressing joy and happiness.
This means that the volume of any performance (with or without amplification)
should reflect the presence of the Abbey at all times.
There are daily services in the Abbey, choir practices and many other events in
the year. To help Street Musicians, the Abbey publishes a traffic-light system on
two public noticeboards. (On the board facing the Roman Baths, and the board on
the railings on the side facing Kingston Parade.) Green means it is ok to proceed
with care; the red means please do not busk.
South West door Choir gates
Please honour this traffic light system. It is there to help you.
If approached by a member of the Abbey staff for any reason, please respect
their request.
06
Specific Performance Issues
Most local buskers and street performers are aware of these guidelines and
will adhere to them. Should you feel that a performer is not complying with
these guidelines, here are some suggested methods of resolving conflict.
Please note that these suggestions relate to the specific busker at the specific
time in question and are not intended to apply to buskers more generally. These
suggestions do not deal with the busker’s style or quality.
a) During a gap in the performance ask the busker if he or she is aware of
these guidelines, if not present a copy. If they are aware and you don’t feel the
performance is complying to the guidelines, kindly ask the performer to re-evaluate
their performance in light of your observations
b) If this intervention does not result in a positive outcome, please call the B&NES
Council on 01225 477551. Where possible, an officer will attend to assess the
performance. If the officer’s opinion is that the performance is not unreasonable,
then no action will be taken.
c) If the officer feels that the performance is unreasonable,
and also affecting the quality of life of those in the area,
normally a verbal warning will be given to the performer.
d) If however either a previous verbal warning has been
given or the officer determines that it is necessary, a
written warning may be served on the performer.
e) If the performer fails to adhere the conditions
of this, or a previous written warning, subject
to there being sufficient evidence the council
will serve a Community Protection Notice
under the provisions of the Antisocial
Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act
2014. Failure to abide with the
formal notice will result in legal
action under the above Act.
07
Selling CDs
Under Schedule 4 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 all streets
within Bath and North East Somerset have been designated consent streets which
basically means that you need permission to trade from any street or highway
within the authority.
Details of these provisions and an online application form can be found on the
council’s website at www.bathnes.gov.uk/street-trading.
Daily consents are available from the Bath Visitor
Information Centre.
Any query please email licensing@bathnes.gov.uk.
Useful Contact Details
Bath and North East Somerset Council
Environmental Protection Team –
Telephone 01225 477551 (Office hours)
01225 477477 (Emergency out of hours)
Web site for guidelines
www.bathbid.co.uk/busking
www.bathbuskers.co.uk
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