4 hours Ago By Henry Martin
A PUB is selling pints for as little as £2.60 - but punters have to stick to a strict set of rules or face being kicked out. The Abbey, located in Derbyshire near the banks of the River Derwent , re-opened last week after a five-year hiatus.
Sessions at the boozer are focused on enjoying a cheap drink and, according to landlady Fiona Ashley, "the old fashioned art of conversation". Fiona and her husband Nathan have bold reminders pinned to the walls and even on beer mats that state: “We are a digital detox pub.” Other signs at the hostelry in historic Darley Abbey, on the outskirts of Derby , warn: “Use of mobiles, laptops and other digital devices are not allowed.
" Other notices include “No swearing - zero tolerance", and “Beer and conversation encouraged". Read more Money When The Sun visited the pub - which is set in a former monastery's sleeping quarters - not one person was seen daring to break the rules. Food is yet to be introduced, but the busy lunchtime crowd seemed content simply having a drink and chatting, with many even making new friends.
Customers all raised a glass to the ban on phones. Other bans include no TV, no dogs, no taking photos inside - and children are only allowed in if they are having a meal with adults. Most read in Money When our reporter asked Fiona and Nathan - affectionately knowns as Fee and Nath - to pose at the bar pulling a pint, they looked horrified, and replied in unison: "No!” The mum-of-four explained: “There’s no photos allowed inside.
.. You can’t even take a sneaky picture.
” Fiona added: “It’s a strict pub, probably the strictest in the country but it makes it more pleasant!" For those people too shy to talk there’s a range of popular board games to play, plus darts. The pub boasts a cosy downstairs bar with a roaring fire and a huge bar upstairs with a dining area set off by exposed 15th century brickwork. Teaching assistant Zoe Heslop from Belper, Derbyshire , said: “This is an iconic pub and we’re pleased it’s finally re-opened after being closed for five years.
“But I'm not sure I like being told what to do, and not to use my phone, but those are the rules so I’ll go with the flow. “It makes you realise how much you rely on your mobile so it’s good to put it away. “It’s nice not to hear the ring, ring or ping, ping of texts.
It’s very refreshing." Zoe, 50, was sipping a lemonade while her boyfriend Seton Watson went to the upper bar to get a pint of Alpine lager - for a bargain £2.60.
She said: “My automatic reaction was to get my phone out but I can’t!” Instead she got chatting to stranger Tommy Dowd, a double glazing company boss, who had popped in for a pint. IT consultant Seton, 53, agreed the phone ban was “a good idea,” saying: “We all use our mobiles too much. "We were aware of the ban when we came in but didn't know how seriously they took it.
“Anyone caught using a mobile will be thrown out. Those are the rules so it's fair enough.” Local Tommy, 39, a former regular at the refurbished pub before a chimney fire closed it down, recalled: “In the good old days you could use your phone and bring your dog in but not any more.
“I get the no phones, and I’ve put mine on silent, but it’s a shame you cant bring dogs into the bar downstairs because it’s such a lovely area for dog walking and I reckon they’ll lose a lot of customers.” He added: “The beer’s pretty cheap, not as cheap as Wetherspoon , but the building is impressive and full of character." Kevin Eley, an electronics engineer from Burton upon Trent, was enjoying a pint with his dad Paul Eley, a retired consultant engineer, and his father-in-law Ian Holden-Smith, a retired brewery manager.
Kevin said: “I agree with the ban on mobiles. People should be talking to each other, not into their phones.” His dad chipped in: “It’s a brilliant idea.
I’ve been coming to this pub for years before it closed, it’s a great place and the ban won’t put people off, as long as they’d swear about it!” Ian added: “It’s the first time I've heard of a phone ban in a pub so people better get used to it. "The beer prices are very fair here, much cheaper then when we were in Devon the other week where is was £6.30 a pint.
" Lizzie Mazza, a learning co-ordinator, was having a drink with her mum. She said: “Having no phone is so good and refreshing. "People should be making conversation.
You come to a pub to chat not call up your mates.” Former beauty therapist Lizzie, 34, added: “I’m in two minds about the dog ban but all for the no phones and no swearing. “It’s a lovely old pub with a lot of charm and heritage and the brewery boss sets the rules.
Yes, they’re strict and he may be a bit of a control freak but he’s doing a good job." Fiona and Nathan, who are both trained chefs and looking forward to introducing meals this month, refer to themselves as “caretakers" of the pub not managers. Fiona, a gran, said: “We are taking care of the pub.
It's such a warm and cosy place and we live right next door.” The former chef added: "It was always Nigel’s dream to run a pub and I’m supporting his dream. "He saw an advert and we had a an interview with the main man, Sam Smith.
We must have impressed him because we got the job. "We love the fact there is a ban on anything digital and so do most of our customers. If we see people breaking the rules and on their phones we’ll politely show them to the door.
"Now people sitting around a table talk to each other and tables talk. "It is wonderful to hear conversation and not someone shouiting down their phone or looking at social media. "The other night a father and son came in, they sat down with a pint and played a game of Scrabble.
A lady comes in on her own and she sits by the window reading a book. “The best thing is hearing the old fashioned art of conversation!" Nathan, who admitted he has to switch his phone off and hide it away to stop him from mistakenly using it, said: “Banning phones encourages customers to have a conversation. “It's an old fashioned place and you come in and find yourself in a different world away from digital.
" The Abbey is owned by millionaire chairman Sam Smith, 79, from Tadcaster in North Yorkshire. He is renowned for imposing his unique rules on his premises. Local councillor Martin Repton, who had been campaigning for the pub’s reopening, wrote: “Many hundreds of people are talking about their excitement.
"It's an integral part of our community. It is of immense national importance, and I am just excited to hear it is back. "I met with the new managers and I am sure they will do an amazing job.
" Fiona pointed out that when it re-opened, the original pub sign - which had been swiped by a group of locals dressed as monks - was mysteriously returned. READ MORE SUN STORIES She said: "It’s the same old sign with one side still authentic, the other side restored. “That’s worth a picture on your phone and it’s allowed because it’s outside!”.
