London 'digital detox' spots where phones are banned including traditional pub and prison restaurant

There are a number of spots in the capital where phones are banned. Despite us living in an age where we have 24/7 access to the internet, some venues are pushing back against the digital revolution.

It comes as recent research from Barratt London has found that excessive smartphone use in adults can lead to poor sleep, strain on the eyes, and mental health deterioration. Among the spots that have banned phones are pubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Barratt London has compiled a list of all the places in London where smartphones are banned. They're scattered all across central London, and include a completely technology-free pub.

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Pubs and bars

The Bricklayers Arms in Fitzrovia is the first spot where phones - among other electrical devices - are banned. In fact, it’s completely technology-free and has no piped music, no television screens and no gaming machines.

There are also signs expressing that phones, tablets and laptops are banned. A no-phones rule also exists at Glasshouse Stores in Soho, part of the same chain as The Bricklayers Arms.

Soho pub The French House has also declared war on phones and has dubbed its premises a ‘haven for conversationalists’. As a result, it’s popular with celebrities.

The Nags Head in Covent Garden is another spot where it’s a no-no to phones. In fact you can’t even use Apple Pay, so it’s essential you bring your card or cash.

To take it one step further, Bermondsey Arts Club doesn’t even have WiFi. Phones aren’t officially banned, but visitors are encouraged to take calls outside.

Restaurants

Phones are banned at The Clink, the restaurant at HMP Brixton which serves to reintegrate prisoners through cooking. You'll be able to lock away your phone before your visit, space permitting, as the restaurant is set inside an operating prison.

Founder of sustainable restaurant chain St John, which has venues in Farringdon, Marylebone, and Spitalfield - Fergus Henderson - has said publicly that phones have no place at the table.

Dans Le Noir in Farringdon is a sensory experience where diners eat a mystery menu in pitch black, served by visually impaired staff. As a result, phones are a no-no.

Entertainment venues

Nightcrawlers at hugely famous nightclub Fabric have been given phone camera-covering stickers since 2021, to help preserve freedom, self-expression and enjoyment of the music. LGBTQIA-friendly venue FOLD in Canning Town is a space for partygoers to explore their sexualities comfortably, so phones are banned.

The groundbreaking ABBA Voyage experience also bans phones. You were initially allowed to take 30-second clips back in 2022, but this rule has since changed.

World-renowned jazz music venue, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho demands phones are turned off when inside. The famous London Cabaret Club in the West End has also banned mobiles.

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