Amber’sA Manchester nightclub that made headlines when it opened with a strict no-mobile phone policy has issued a stern reminder after a rise in people seen flouting the rules.
One year on, Amber’s has welcomed a host of world renowned DJs and has been nominated for Best Club at the DJ Mag awards, with bosses saying the decision behind the ban was to “protect the vibe” and let people focus on the music.
However, as bigger acts have been booked, they have noticed videos once again appearing online and on TikTok.
“Our renewed pledge is that if you are seen filming, there’s no strikes or second chances, you’ll be asked to leave,” co-founder Jeremy Abbott said.
He continued: “Ninety per cent of people who come to the club really do respect the rules but there’s always going to be a select few who don’t listen.
“We wanted to give this reminder, because we really do believe in this policy, and we do believe you’ll have a better time without it.
“With Gen Z, people are born with their phones in their hands.”
He said he understood that some people will always want to “capture the moment”.
But for those who desperately want to see footage, the club’s in-house media team will always film the night for people to look back on.
The reminder prompted a largely positive response from clubbers who support taking a digital detox.
Posting on Instagram, one said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the break from my phone to be honest.”
Another said: “This makes me want to come to your venue more, not less.”
A similar policy was introduced for events at the Concourse section of the Warehouse Club in September.
Organisers said club culture was “best enjoyed in the moment with your friends, and your phone in your pocket”.
However, one raver said that when people realised nobody was enforcing the policy, many began to film anyway.
Mr Abbott said that at Amber’s, they have spotters on the dancefloor to ensure people are safe, and not filming.
“The small amount of people who can’t adhere to it, spoil it for everyone, so we wanted it to be known that we aren’t going to stand for it,” he said.