Frankie and Benny’s to introduce ban on using mobile phones

The Italian-American restaurant wants to bring families together.

Frankie and Benny’s is to become one of the first restaurant chains in the UK to ban using mobile phones at the table. After research revealed that 72 per cent of children wish their parents would spend less time on their phones, diners will now be asked to deposit their phones in a designated “no phone zone” box at the table. Research commissioned by the restaurant ahead of the move found that eight per cent of kids have tried to hide a parent's phone in order to get some attention and 15 per cent believe their mum or dad are 'addicted' to the technology. The initiative will be trialled for a week from - 29 November to 7 December - across all 250 stores, before it being decided whether it will become a permanent fixture at the restaurant. Parents who opt-in to going without a handset will be eligible for a free meal for a child up to the age of 14 from the kid's menu. A spokesperson for Frankie and Benny’s said: "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."