Restaurant Chain To Ban Mobile Phones

[emmie]

but for one week only as an experiment, and you get a child's meal free, would it work for longer. I must admit i find it off putting when people are on their mobiles throughout a meal, its rude unless it's an emergency then that would be different.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46369736

[Mamyalynne]

A few places have done similar experiments, like putting your phone in a locked box on the table to get a reduced bill.

Certainly wouldn't bother me, I usually forget to take mine out anyway.

[emmie]

especially where children are concerned, means mum and dad are ignoring the youngsters, which in turn can cause a rumpus.

[emmie]

i take mine out but then i don't use it when having a meal, to me that smacks of rudeness to the other diners.
a friend who no longer is one, once sat round my dinner table and proceeded to chat with her sons on her mobile phone, i was not best pleased.

[Patsy33]

Depends on the company...Generally a good idea.

[Mamyalynne]

Adults in our party only take important work calls, nothing else.

[retrocop]

Great idea. How did any one go out with their family and enjoy a meal without one? A meal is about social intercourse as well as fulfilling a requirement of nature without the interference of phones ringing everywhere and gobby self opinionated vegans spoiling the ambience.

[hereIam]

Very good idea.

[emmie]

it is apparently voluntary, but diners are asked politely to stow their phones for the duration, and you get a child's meal free, what is not to like..

[kvalidir]

I can see the beauty of not playing games or taking calls but so many people use their phone to take photos of the event, selfies for memories etc, not sure how popular that would be in terms of not having a phone at all. x

[ichkeria]

I had to laugh when I read about parents on their devices ignoring their children. In my experience it’s the reverse :-)

[emmie]

its both ichkeria, i see parents and children on mobiles, not right at all when having a family meal..

[ichkeria]

I sympathise, but I don’t think it’s the business of a restaurant to ban phones for that reason: fair enough if they are a nuisance to others.

[ichkeria]

And when people are staring at their phones they are being QUIET!!
Still, if it’s voluntary there isn’t really an issue.

[emmie]

and if the children are too young to have a phone, then what are the parents doing staring at a screen, after all going out for a meal for most is a rare event, so the more sociable one can be the better one would hope the children behave.

[Baldric]

A very misleading title imo.

[ummmm]

Rarely use my phone but I have to keep it on me. Most know I don't answer but I have a very large family and people keep dying. they want to inform me before I find out on FB

[woofgang]

If the people aren't in my party then I don't think its my business what they are doing provided that their children aren't annoying me and they aren't yelling swearing or abusing the kids

[maggiebee]

Not a restaurant chain that I frequent, but I'd go there. Can't stand folk on their mobiles during a meal - intrusive and very rude.

[david small]

I do not have a mobile phone, never have, and don’t want one for free.

[fender62]

i leave mine at home, having a meal and socialising is just that
meeting new people and old friends, and when with family, it speaks for itself..iv seen couples out, and one or the other will be chatting on the phone, with the other half looking at the wall.