Wetherspoons introduces ban on loud phone music and speaker calls in its pubs

Wetherspoons, the UK-wide pub operator with 792 locations, has instituted a policy requiring diners to mute phones or use earphones, ending the practice of playing personal music or using speakerphone calls inside its establishments. The decision comes after a rise in complaints that such noises were disrupting the atmosphere, which the company describes as a calm and contemplative setting. Employees will be asked to enforce the rule sensibly, and managers retain the discretion to ask non-compliant guests to leave.

This policy mirrors the stricter, long-standing rules of competitor Sam Smiths, which bans all device usage and profanity. While Wetherspoons typically does not provide background music, its 44 Lloyds' bars do play music in the evenings, and the new restriction will cover those venues as well. The chain has seen a gradual reduction in its number of pubs since a 2015 peak and recently warned investors that profits would fall short of expectations due to higher costs.