A bar on the south coast of England has taken the unusual step of blocking all mobile phone signal inside its venue in order to keep customers off their smartphones.
The Gin Tub, located in Brighton and Hove, is using a technique first discovered in the 19th century by physicist Michael Faraday.
The outlet's proprietor Steve Tyler told Sky News that by using a Faraday cage, which prevents signals from coming in, he is enabling people to enjoy a night out without being interrupted by their phones.
Tyler remarked: "Mobile phones have killed pubs. When you go out socially, you don't need social media."
The bar opened in July 2016 and has so far gained international media coverage for its approach to keeping customers social.
Elaborating on the system, he said it was not difficult to install.
"It's silver foil in the walls and it's copper mesh. And it's not the perfect system, it's not military grade," he revealed, and added that customers either receive poor signal or no signal, so they have to go outside if they want to use their phone.
"That's what I want them to do. I want them to talk to the people they're with, not the people they're not with," he commented.
Another old-fashioned touch that the proprietor has added is rotary phones placed on every tables. These can be used to dial patrons at neighbouring tables and to order more drinks at the bar.
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Legally in the UK, there are no clear stipulations on blocking phones.
The Wireless Telegraph Act 2006 states that "the use of any apparatus, whether or not wireless telegraphy apparatus, for the purpose of interfering with any wireless telegraphy, is an offence".
This includes electronic jamming devices, which the Gin Tub isn't using, since those interfere with communications over a wide area, and could disrupt emergency services.
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