Frankie and Benny's is '˜banning' mobile phones from all its restaurantsÂ

Frankie and Benny's will be implementing the ban from today until Friday, December 7 after research found that 72 per cent of children wished their parents would spend less time on their phones. 

The Italian-American style chain, which has a restaurant in Portsmouth's Gunwharf Quays as well as at the Whitley Shopping Centre in Fareham, will offer a free kids meal as an incentive for customers to give up their phones. 

A '˜no phone zone' box will be placed on each table and diners will be encouraged to deposit their mobiles in it for the duration of their meal, to encourage quality family time uninterrupted by social media, texts and phone calls. 

A spokesperson for the chain told The Independent: '˜Our staff are actively encouraging customers and families to take part in the campaign, but of course, we can't force them to hand over their phones.

'˜If the initiative is a success we'll certainly be looking at ways to activate it on a more permanent basis.' 

Frankie and Benny's will consider whether or not to extend the mobile phone '˜ban' based on customer feedback from the initial trial over the next week. 

Do you think this is a good idea? Should more restaurants have '˜no phone zones'? Let us know what you think in comments below.