Get the latest gossip

‘Much better vibe’: Manchester’s phone-free nightclub reviving the rave spirit

Inspired by Berlin clubs, the phone ban at Amber’s has been embraced by clubbers seeking deeper connections

Standing in the queue at Amber’s, one of Manchester’s newest nightclubs, before your bag is searched or your ticket is checked, you are asked to take out your phone and a white sticker bearing the club’s name is placed over the camera. “We understand that people might want to capture footage to remember the night, but we have a team that roam around the venue, and we’ll be able to create content from that,” Abbott, who is also one of the club’s resident DJs, said. Photograph: Clive Hunte/RedfernsAt festivals, gigs, and club nights, the view of the stage is often obscured by a sea of phones held aloft in the air.

Get the Android app