THE introduction of the smoking ban saw an end to restaurants being split into smoking and non-smoking areas but this Sunday, Beefeater are introducing a new kind of dining segregation – a ‘No Phone Zone’.

Launched to coincide with Mother’s Day, Britain’s best-known steak restaurant has taken the bold step to create ‘phone free’ areas in response to research that outlines behaviour that can ruin family outings.

Top of the table on the list of family outing-ruiners was ‘constantly checking phones at the table’, which 54% listed as the single most likely occurrence to cause an argument. The second and third most likely argument starters were a family member being underdressed or scruffy for the occasion (28%) and family members having earphones constantly plugged in (18%).

Conversely, ‘family conversation’ is rated as the single most beneficial aspect of a good day out, with nearly two-thirds of respondents suggesting that just having a nice chat is the best bit of a family outing.

Beefeater guests will be able to book a ‘No Phone Zone’ table for Sunday 6th March and those in the zone will have to hand their mobile phones to staff ‘as a deposit’ when they arrive. Hawk-eyed Beefeater staff will patrol the ‘No Phone Zone’ for mobiles and have the right to move guests who do not comply with the new rule.

The ‘No Phone Zone’ will be trialled across sites this weekend, with a view to make the areas permanent if well received by diners.

Sarah Tinsley, Head of Marketing for Beefeater said; “There’s no denying the huge benefits our smartphones provide us, but there is a time and a place for their use and, especially on Mother’s Day, we think we can do without them for an hour or two. Mums don’t ask much of us and rarely even let us spend any money on them – so the least we can do is give Mums our undivided attention.

“We hope this small adjustment to our setup enables a few more families to add some seasoned conversation to their meal.”