The terrace of the Moon Under Water Wetherspoons pub in Leicester Square was full of people enjoying the warm weather and chatting between tables \u2013 without a TikTok video or speakerphone call in earshot.<\/p>\n
At Wetherspoons, the convivial atmosphere can no longer be punctuated by rude customers taking phone calls on blast, or playing videos without headphones after Tim Martin, the owner of the pub chain, banned both on his premises<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gary and Mark, brothers who were catching up over pints, both thought anyone playing loud sounds in the pub should be barred.<\/p>\n Gary: \u2018External noise is becoming part of the pub.\u2019 Photograph: Sarah Lee\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cThere 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\u2019t like and that other people around them don\u2019t like?\u201d asked Mark. \u201cI listen to music with headphones on, in a private way.\u201d<\/p>\n But Gary pointed out: \u201cFirst they didn\u2019t used to allow televisions in Wetherspoons but now they have TVs with the sound on. External noise is becoming part of the pub.\u201d<\/p>\n Abdslam Elidrisi, 65, who was puffing on a cigar with a glass of white wine while people-watching, also welcomed the move.<\/p>\n Abdslam Elidrisi. Photograph: Sarah Lee\/The Guardian<\/p>\n \u201cI come here because I am a member of a film club nearby and they don\u2019t let me smoke my cigar, so I visit here to smoke it and watch the world go by,\u201d he said, \u201cMusic is a personal thing, so I agree with Mr Martin. You can\u2019t impose it on other people. Loud phone calls are the same thing. I don\u2019t want to hear about your personal life \u2013 unless you are having a conversation with me about it!\u201d<\/p>\n The company announced on Tuesday it had introduced the ban across its 792 pubs, saying sound from smartphones and tablets had become an \u201cincreasing problem in recent years\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a world dominated by other people\u2019s music and amplified sound, Wetherspoons pubs are an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation,\u201d Martin said. \u201cWe are kindly asking phone users to pipe down.\u201d<\/p>\n