A warning issued by Catherine, Princess of Wales, has resulted in a leisure company banning mobile phones across two sites.
Adventure Leisure has announced it will prohibit mobile phone use at its Mulligans venues throughout the February half-term holiday.
It has become the first leisure operator in the country to establish an official 'no phone zone'.
The company's decision follows recent comments from the Princess of Wales, who cautioned that excessive screen time contributes significantly to what she described as an "epidemic of disconnection" affecting society.
A warning issued by Catherine, Princess of Wales, has resulted in a leisure company banning mobile phones across two sites.
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The royal also highlighted how device use prevents people from offering others their full attention, something she termed the "most precious gift" one can give.
Visitors arriving at the venues will be required to switch their devices to airplane mode, with dedicated staff members patrolling the premises to ensure compliance with the policy.
One Stevenage resident, speaking exclusively to GB News, welcomed the initiative: "The phone ban is a great idea.
“With half-term, it's the perfect period for families to enjoy their time together.
Visitors arriving at the venues will be required to switch their devices to airplane mode, with dedicated staff members patrolling the premises to ensure compliance with the policy.
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“Phones are great but they do distract from the things that really matter sometimes, especially with so many social media apps to choose from."
However, the local resident acknowledged potential difficulties with implementation, adding: "I feel sorry for the staff, though. That's going to be quite a hard thing to police."
Another Stevenage resident hit out at those who are occupied by the phone during a game of mini golf.
They said: It’s ridiculous! You need both hands to hold the club. Going around the course, you have to hold your ball and a club. There is no time to be on a phone.”
The royal also highlighted how device use prevents people from offering others their full attention, something she termed the "most precious gift" one can give.
|PA
Mulligans operates multiple locations, with the Stevenage site featuring indoor crazy golf, while other branches, such as the Hemel Hempstead venue, offer a broader range of activities, including shuffleboard, ping pong, pool and electro-darts.
Stephen Brown, Adventure Leisure's chief operating officer, said: "We know how important spending quality time with your family is, so we wanted to create the best environment where our guests can make their memories.
“We're really proud to be the first leisure operator to introduce an official 'no phone zone', and we hope to see others following suit in the future."
As an added incentive, families visiting during half-term will receive a 50 per cent discount voucher for a return trip in March.
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