Whitbread may widen its mobile phone ban

Whitbread is considering a plan to ban mobile telephones in its restaurants after one of its Wayside Inn managers introduced the rule.

Lesley Brown introduced the ban at the Blathwayt Arms at Lansdown, Bath, after complaints from diners about loud telephone conversations spoiling their meals.

Brown said: "At one point, three people on adjoining tables were on their mobiles - one selling a mortgage, one recruiting and one having a row with his wife - and their voices were getting louder and louder."

As Caterer went to press Whitbread regional manager John Dobson was unavailable - his mobile phone was diverting calls to voicemail.