Patrons at two central London Wetherspoons pubs have expressed support for the chain's new ban on playing music or taking calls on speaker, a move announced by owner Tim Martin on Tuesday. The policy applies to all 792 Wetherspoons locations across the UK, following what the company described as an “increasing problem in recent years” with smartphone and tablet noise.
Customers at Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road voice approval
At the Moon Under Water in Leicester Square, brothers Gary and Mark, who were catching up over pints, both believed that anyone playing loud sounds in a pub should be barred. “There is no way anyone should be allowed to be obnoxious enough to have their phone on loud. Why should people choose to play music that I don’t like and that other people around them don’t like?” asked Mark. He added that he listens to music with headphones on, “in a private way.”
Gary noted a contrast, saying, “First they didn’t used to allow televisions in Wetherspoons but now they have TVs with the sound on. External noise is becoming part of the pub.”
Abdslam Elidrisi, 65, who was smoking a cigar and drinking white wine while people-watching, also welcomed the move. “I come here because I am a member of a film club nearby and they don’t let me smoke my cigar, so I visit here to smoke it and watch the world go by,” he said. “Music is a personal thing, so I agree with Mr Martin. You can’t impose it on other people. Loud phone calls are the same thing. I don’t want to hear about your personal life – unless you are having a conversation with me about it!”
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Students Lily, 21, and Avril, 22, agreed that it was antisocial and inconsiderate to play video and phone calls out loud in the pub, but said they weren’t regularly troubled by it when visiting Wetherspoons for chicken burgers and spritzes. “I’ve seen it on the train,” Avril said.
Trev and John, who work laying cables for telecoms, were enjoying a quiet after-work pint. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Trev. “People have loud speakerphone conversations right next to you and you can’t enjoy your pint. In a pub, you don’t want that. I take my phone calls outside.”
Not everyone has got the memo, but staff support the policy
Over at the Montagu Pyke near Tottenham Court Road, not everyone had got the memo. “Someone was doing it just now, taking a loud call on speakerphone; it annoys me and it is inconsiderate,” said Mel Burton, 41, who works in the packaging industry and had just finished a late pub lunch.
Her colleague Sam Reid, 48, was supportive of the ban. “It does piss me off when people play music out of their phones,” he said. “I don’t want to hear someone else’s music.”
The manager of the Montagu Pyke said she had had to tell people to turn off the sound on their phones on a number of occasions. “It annoys me, it annoys other customers. I have to ask them to stop,” she said. “If it’s been banned by the whole company, it means it must be an issue across the different Wetherspoons. Some people understand when we ask them to turn off the noise – others are looking for a fight.”
Holly and Eleanor, both 18, were enjoying a meal after a day of shopping in central London, having come down from Darlington on the train. “We actually saw this happening on the train this morning, someone was on their phone playing music out loud,” said Holly. “I agree with banning it in pubs, it’s loud and annoying, it should be banned on the train as well,” Eleanor added.
The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, started a campaign last year encouraging people to use headphones when playing music on the city’s transport network. The ban at Wetherspoons reflects a broader societal push towards quieter public spaces, and the company’s move is likely to influence other hospitality venues to adopt similar policies.
