Wetherspoons bans customers playing music from phones in pubs

Wetherspoons has banned its customers from playing music out loud or taking calls on speaker, saying the noise from phones and tablets was an increasing problem driving people "nuts".

The company – which runs 792 pubs and bars across the UK – said that following complaints it has asked customers to switch their devices to silent or to use earphones.

Polling in recent years by various organisations suggests people are largely opposed to others playing music or taking calls on speaker in public spaces.

Wetherspoons told the BBC that staff would be asked to use "common sense" when enforcing the ban.

"We are not looking to ask anyone to leave a pub if they go against the ruling, but it is an option for managers if they refuse to do so," the company said.

The British Beer and Pub Association, which represents Wetherspoons and several other pub companies in the UK, said that "having a clear policy helps staff enforce rules and customers know what they can and can't do".

The group added: "We're yet to hear of anyone who relishes having a pint against the backdrop of a speakerphone call or someone loudly playing a video, so we expect this move will be greatly welcomed."

Studies suggest the majority of Britons are annoyed by hearing people take calls on speakerphone or playing videos or music on their phones without headphones.

A Transport for London survey of 1,000 people last year found 70% of respondents found loud music and phone calls without headphones a nuisance.

However, the evidence also suggests there is a clear generational gap. In an Ofcom survey of 1,010 people in August 2022, of the 13-to-17-year-olds questioned, 69% said it was acceptable to make video calls, 73% to listen to music and 83% to watch videos without headphones.

The decision by Wetherspoons follows a stricter, longstanding policy from rival pub chain Sam Smiths, which has a ban against phone or tech use of any kind, in addition to a ban on swearing.

Mark Evans manages the Black Horse Inn, a Sam Smiths pub in Bradford, and tells the BBC says it offers a "digital detox" because of the ban.

"Even strangers in for the first time, within 10 or 15 minutes, they're joining in a conversation with other people," he says.

"You do get occasional negative reaction where they'll just turn around and walk out, which is fair enough."

"We do have an element of hypocrisy though, because people are allowed to pay by their phones."

Like Sam Smiths pubs, Wetherspoons pubs do not play music, with chief executive Sir Tim Martin describing them as "an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation... in a world dominated by other people's music and amplified sound".

Wetherspoons does play music in the evening at its 44 Lloyds' bars. It confirmed the ban on customers playing music and taking calls on speaker would also apply to those venues.

"In order to avoid customers being driven chicken jalfrezi by a cacophony of sound, we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down," Sir Tim added.

The number of Wetherspoons pubs has steadily fallen over the last decade from a peak of 955 in late 2015.

The firm has faced a financial challenges during those 10 years from the Covid pandemic and inflation.

Last month, it told investors that profit for the year would be lower than expected because of higher costs for food, labour, repairs, energy and business rates.

Additional reporting by Sarah Rogers