Restaurant’s ‘no phone zone’ deal for families

Free children’s meals on offer if parents hand over mobile phones

A restaurant chain is trialling the offer of free meals for children on the condition that their parents hand over mobile phones for the duration of the visit.

Frankie & Benny’s has introduced no-phone zones in its 250 UK restaurants, including in Dundee, Perth and Fife.

Diners are urged to place their devices in a box on arrival and free children’s meals are offered as an incentive.

The chain said its research suggested 72% of British children wanted their parents to spend less time on their phone and more time talking to them.

Some 77% of parents said they felt guilty about the amount of time they spend on the phone and 67% said their device had come between them and their family.

More than a quarter (26%) checked their phones during family mealtimes, 23% checked while their child was talking about their day and 7% admitted to checking while driving their children around, the poll indicates.

A spokesman for Frankie & Benny’s said: “We want family to come first when you step into a Frankie & Benny’s, and even more so around Christmas.

“We looked at various ways we could encourage people to engage more at the dinner table, and we’ve found giving families the chance to part with their devices for a mere couple of hours is a great way to bring them closer and embrace family time.”

Parenting expert Susan Atkins said: “We live in a busy, fast-paced 24/7 digitally connected world, unless we consciously plan not to be.”

The campaign runs until December 7.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Ashleigh Fergus and daughter, Rosie McPherson, 4, enjoy a phone-free dinner at Frankie & Benny’s, Overgate Shopping Centre, Dundee.