Stories

Tue, 18 Aug 2026

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 Wetherspoons bans customers playing music from phones in pubs

The pub chain says the decision follows complaints about "other people's videos and amplified phone conversations".
Customers will be asked to switch devices to silent mode or use earphones. The decision follows polling showing that people are largely opposed to others playing music or taking calls on speaker in public spaces. Wetherspoons staff have been told to use "common sense" when enforcing the ban. The British Beer and Pub Association has welcomed the move, saying it will help customers know what is allowed and disallowed. Studies suggest a generational gap in attitudes towards noise in pubs, with younger people more accepting of loud music or calls on speaker. Wetherspoons does not play music in its pubs, describing them as "oases of tranquillity".