Restaurant offers phonefree discount

A RESTAURANT has offered to cut the bills of customers if they surrender their mobile phones while they dine.

Customers at Grand Central, in Chelmsford, Essex, will receive 10 per cent off their bill if they surrender their phones on arrival as part of “phone-free Friday”.

Chelsea Day, who manages the American-themed restaurant, said owners Steve, 52, and Jo Haslam, 46, brought in the rule after realising diners just sat and stared at their phones.

“As soon as you ask someone if they want 10 per cent off their bill, they’re like, ‘How?’, she said. “And it means they talk more with the staff too.”

The restaurant is part of family-run pub chain TLC Inns, all of which are running phone-free Fridays as a permanent fixture.