Privacy on the dancefloor as new Manchester club bans phones

The trend to put stickers over smartphones is growing in Britain, mirroring a rise in the digital detox scene

- Guardian Staff

Over the past decade, going to a live event has nearly always been accompanied by a sea of phones capturing every moment of the experience to be shared later on social media feeds. But now, living in the moment is becoming the new luxury.

Partygoers in Manchester will be asked to cover their smartphone cameras with a sticker in a strict rule being enforced by a new nightclub. Amber's nightclub, which opened on Friday night, is the latest venue to enforce the no-phone rule, clamping down on the endless recording or livestreaming of the night out on mobiles.

Amber's director Jeremy Abbott said they took the decision to open as a no-phones venue, meaning no photos, no filming and no flash, because they "really want the music and experience to be at the forefront."

"We believe that having phones away creates a better vibe in the room and makes people feel more present in the moment. We totally understand that people may want to capture footage to remember the night; however, we have an in-house content team who will take care of that," he added.

In Berlin, notorious for its party culture, this is already standard practice. Popularised by the world-renowned Berghain in the German city, the no-phone policy has been rolled out at a number of underground nightclubs, including London's FOLD and fabric.