Queen's Bench Division (England)

Muir v Keay

(1875) LR 10 QB 59418751 min read
The case in brief30-second read
Facts
A statute required a licence for houses kept open at night for 'public refreshment, resort and entertainment'. Keay kept a cafe open late and argued he provided no entertainment.
Issue
What 'entertainment' meant in that context.
Held
Read with its associated words, 'entertainment' meant reception and accommodation of the public, not only music or shows, so the cafe needed a licence.
Principle
Noscitur a sociis: a word takes its meaning from the words around it.
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Facts

  • A statute required a licence for houses kept open at night for 'public refreshment, resort and entertainment'. Keay kept a cafe open late and argued he provided no entertainment.

Issue

  1. What 'entertainment' meant in that context.

Held

  • Read with its associated words, 'entertainment' meant reception and accommodation of the public, not only music or shows, so the cafe needed a licence.

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Citation

Muir v Keay (1875) LR 10 QB 594

Reported: https://getrevising.co.uk/revision-cards/statutory_interpretation_2 (English case; not on IK or SCI). This is an educational summary, not the judgment itself. Cite the reported version in professional or academic work.