Too often these days, a meal out isn’t just about the food, it’s about creating (or consuming) content.
You might be trying to enjoy a romantic dinner date, but the person opposite is having a full-on photoshoot, with a glaring ring light ruining the ambiance.
It’s a sad sight but the truth is even sadder – these days many restaurants rely on social media reviews with photos and videos to survive.
However, there are a few places in London that have taken the bold decision to crack down on this, banning phones and from their premises and implementing strict policies about photos.
St.John is one example, Dans Le Noir is another, there’s The Spy Bar at The OWO and of course The Clink at HMP Brixton.
And while there are some obvious benefits to spending a few hours doing a digital detox, it seems there’s been one unexpected upside to the phone ban.
‘I’ve seen people start flirting again in bars,’ says Sotirios Konomi, bar manager at Spy Bar.
‘They’re striking up conversation with strangers and connecting in ways that feel wonderfully nostalgic,’ he continues.
‘Seeing this happen daily is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do and proof that the concept works. People genuinely seem to love it,’ he continues.
At The Spy Bar, there are rules about phones, but it’s all to do with the camera.
Metro’s senior lifestyle reporter Courtney Pochin visited the speakeasy bar and was surprised when staff covered up the lens on her phone at the door.
A sticker reading ‘for your eyes only’ was placed on the phone as a way to ‘honour the space’. (It was previously a high-security vault filled with top secret MI5 and MI6 documents, hence the name.)
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And while Sotirios notes that the stickers they use could be easily removed, he claims they work on a ‘psychological level’ and guests end up forgetting about their phones because of it.
‘Our entire concept is built on mystery, discretion and truly living in the moment – qualities that can’t be captured through a phone screen,’ explains Spy Bar Manager, Sotirios Konomi.
‘We give guests an authentic bar experience, with the focus on great vibes, music and exceptional cocktails. Phone cameras only distract from that. Getting rid of them allows guests to relax, immerse themselves and take a break from everyday chaos.’
This is also the case at The Clink, but here things work a little differently –phones aren’t just prohibitied, it’s actually illegal to bring one in due to the restaurant being located inside a prison.
Mobiles aren’t allowed in prisons for several reasons, including crime prevention, victim protection, contraband control and maintaining order and if you did somehow manage to smuggle one in, you could face up to two years’ in jail.
As such, all phones are locked away in a cabin outside, meaning diners are forced to spend a couple of hours firmly off-grid, eating food prepared by people in prison, who are working towards gaining an NVQ in Food and Beverage Service.
Like at The Spy Bar, this encourages diners talking to strangers and start having more meaninful conversations.
‘We always encourage guests to chat to our students and ask them questions, while respecting their boundaries,’ Simon Reeves, head of communications and marketing for The Clink, tells Metro.
‘Diners comment on how their experience at The Clink serves as a personal wellbeing exercise, as they cut themselves off from their digital selves for a couple of hours, while making a genuine social impact and learning about a side of life that was previously totally unknown.’
‘It creates a buzzing environment,’ he adds. ‘Although there is plenty of frequent pocket-checking as people want to scan social media, which for most of us is a kind of muscle memory.’
Will restaurant phone bans become more of a trend?
Sotirios is hopeful that more establishments will follow The Spy Bar’s lead and introduce similar policies.
This is because he’s seen first-hand how an evening out can be ruined by the desire to get the ‘perfect’ shot for Instagram.
‘In my previous experiences in other bars and restaurants, guests spend 10 minutes rearranging the table instead of taking that first sip or clinking glasses with friends.
‘I’ve watched drinks go warm and ice melt and one time someone even asked to borrow a bar stool to stand on for a better angle. I realised, in that moment, the drinks were no longer the star of the night and I knew something had to change.’
And he’s not the only one seeking change, PizzaExpress has just launched a new campaign that urges customers to put away their phones while they eat.
Pizza O’Clock is a new bottomless pizza offering from the chain, where customers can get unlimited pizza for 90 minutes between 2pm and 5pm for £17.50 per person.
During this time, guests are encouraged to put down their phones and enjoy a good time while they tuck into slices of Margherita, American and Padana pizzas.
In a post on social media, PizzaExpress wrote: ‘Phones will be banned in all pizzerias from Monday 11th August (sort of).’
It comes as a study by YouGov revealed that over a third of the nation spend more time on their phone each week than with their family or friends, and 57% spend less than 90 minutes of quality time with loved ones each day.
There are also several restaurants across Europe that have banned phones, with one in Verona even offering free bottles of wine for those who surrender their devices.
Despite this, Simon doesn’t think we’ll be seeing a wider trend hitting the UK. At least, not until things start to look brigher for restaurants on the whole.
‘The hospitality industry is having a particularly tough time, so persuading restaurants that a no screens policy might boost bookings could be a tricky sell.’
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