Play centre trials parents' phone ban

A children's indoor play centre chain has announced a mobile phone ban for parents during the upcoming February half-term.

Total Ninja in Trafford Park, in Greater Manchester, is one of 20 Adventure Leisure venues to launch an "official no phone zone" policy from 16 -22 February.

Total Ninja have said team members will be on "Phone Patrol" for the week -encouraging families to "switch phones to airplane mode" and "concentrate on time together".

Company operations chief Stephen Brown said: "Normally while children play adults are checking their emails or clicking through Instagram... that's part of what seems to be normal life. But we're encouraging people for one visit to keep the phone away."

Brown, a dad-of-four himself, said he knows the idea is "bold", but that he was "sure people, will enter into the spirit of it beautifully".

"The point is to concentrate on each other and enjoy making memories and spending that quality time," he said.

Brown said the decision to "dip a first toe in the water" with a phone-free space had come after feedback which said digital devices were "distracting" for guests.

"We believe this is a good move - we are responding to what our guests have already been telling us.

"I'm absolutely certain there will be different points of view on it, but it is all in the context of enjoyment and enjoying leisure time together.

"For the sake of a couple of hours visit... there are worse things to do than just actually enjoy each other's company."

While a "Phone Patrol" will be in operation at the Trafford venue, Brown said the staff would not be "ruling with an iron fist".

"We don't want to take it too far," Brown said. "Phones will absolutely not be confiscated.

"There may be very valid reasons. They might be medical. They might be carers. They might have people relying on them outside of our venue.

"If they need to keep their phone for that, of course, we're never going to stand in the way of that."

But for the most part, guests with no reason to be on their phones will be instructed to put them away.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.