A popular nightclub was slapped with a music ban and a legal bill of more than £1,600 by a High Court judge.

Blake’s in Queen Street, Gravesend, was told it had be a music-free zone after it played copyrighted tracks without a licence.

Blake Burrha, who runs the club, was taken to the High Court by Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL), an organisation that ensures artists are paid fairly for their musical work.

Mr Burrha was not present for the hearing on Friday morning but judge Mr Justice Morgan said that no music should be played at the venue until his licence was up to date.

Mr Burrha was also ordered to pay £1,649 in legal costs to PPL.

The firm’s solicitors had sent letters to Mr Burrha informing him of its clients’ repertoire and detailed the rules he was breaking.

If Blake's had continued to play music without a licence, it would be regarded as contempt of court and Mr Burrha could have been fined up to £10,000 and face up to six months in prison.

The tracks heard by a PPL inspector in the club were ‘Imagine’ by Shola Ama and ‘Imagination’ by Gorgon City and Katy Menditta, during a visit on June 26.

KentOnline was informed that PPL had received the money for Mr Burrha's licence fee on Monday.

It is believed the club was open for business on Friday and Saturday.

Christine Geissmar from PPL said: “There is an intrinsic value that recorded music adds to businesses, and this judgement acknowledges that the performers of the music and record companies should be fairly rewarded.

“Businesses that choose to play recorded music without a licence may face legal action and financial and other consequences as a result.

"Legal action is only ever sought as a last resort where a business continues to play music following repeated attempts from PPL to get the correct licensing in place.”