WHAT wonderful news! A whole new chain of habitable pubs to join J D Wetherspoon's, York Brewery's, and those isolated oases listed in The Quiet Pint (a guide to pubs with no piped music).

Thank you Sam Smith. You have made my Christmas.

I hasten to spread the glad tidings to Pipedown, The Campaign for Freedom from Piped Music (PO Box 1722, Salisbury, Wilts SP4 7US).

Robert Stevens,

Bootham Crescent,

York.

Updated: 10:08 Thursday, December 09, 2004