Wetherspoons bans customers from playing music from their phones in pubs

Wetherspoons has banned its customers from playing music loudly or taking calls over the loudspeaker, claiming that the noise from phones and tablets It was a growing problem that drove people “crazy.”

The company, which operates 792 pubs and bars across the UK, said it had asked customers to change their devices following complaints. Keep quiet or use headphones.

Surveys conducted in recent years by various organizations suggest that people are largely opposed to others playing music or taking calls from speakers in public spaces.

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

“We do not intend to ask anyone to leave a pub if it goes 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 businesses in the UK, said: “Having a clear policy helps staff enforce the rules and customers know what they can and cannot do.”

The group added: “We’ve yet to hear of anyone who likes to have a beer against the backdrop of a loudspeaker call or someone playing a video out loud, so we hope this move will be very well received.”

Studies suggest that most Brits are bothered by hearing people take calls on speakerphone or play videos or music on their phones without headphones.

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

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