Everything venues, promoters, schools and production teams ask before going phone-free - how the pouches work, what they cost, and how to run them on the door.
A lockable phone pouch is a soft, padded case that seals a mobile phone inside and can only be opened with a separate unlocking device. The owner keeps their phone with them the whole time but cannot use it, creating a phone-free space without confiscating anyone's property.
Guests place their phone into the pouch at the door and staff press it shut to lock it. The guest keeps the sealed pouch on them. To use the phone, they tap it on an unlocking base in a designated area. Pouches are unlocked and collected on the way out.
No. Standard lockable phone pouches do not block signal, so phones inside still receive calls, texts and data, and will still vibrate. Only Faraday pouches cut reception, and we choose not to stock those on health and safety grounds — guests keep Bluetooth medical devices and Government safety alerts working.
A lockable pouch stops phone use but leaves signal intact, so calls and alerts still arrive. A Faraday bag blocks all signal but usually is not lockable, so the user can reopen it at will. Choose by whether you need behavioural control or genuine radio silence.
| Lockable phone pouch | Faraday bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Stops phone use | Yes — sealed until unlocked | No — user can reopen it |
| Blocks signal | No | Yes |
| Calls still arrive | Yes | No |
| Best for | Events, comedy, schools, courts | Security, forensics, privacy |
| Needs staff | Yes, at entry and exit | No |
Yes. Lockable phone pouches are legal in the UK because the phone stays in its owner's possession and is never confiscated. Venues can make pouching a condition of entry and schools can require it under their behaviour policy. Publish the policy in advance and provide unlocking stations.
Comedy clubs and touring comedians protecting new material, music venues, film premieres and sets, schools and exam halls, courts, corporate boardrooms, weddings, galleries, nightclubs and digital detox retreats. Any setting where filming, leaking or distraction causes real commercial, legal or educational harm.
No. Quality pouches use padded neoprene with a soft brushed lining, so the phone is cushioned rather than compressed. The locking mechanism sits in the pouch rim, away from the screen. Magnetic unlocking bases are safe for modern smartphones and will not harm wireless charging coils.
Not without visibly damaging it. The pouch only releases on a matched magnetic unlocking base and forcing it tears the seam, which staff spot instantly. That deterrent is the point: almost every guest walks to the unlocking station rather than risk being seen breaking a pouch.
An unlocker is the magnetic base that releases the pouch's lock. Staff keep them at entry, exit and designated phone-use zones. Tapping a pouch on the base opens it in about a second. Unlockers contain no electronics or batteries, so they need no power and cannot fail mid-event.
Comedians use phone pouches to stop new, unfinished material being filmed and posted before it reaches a tour or special. Leaked clips lose their context and burn the joke's value. Pouching also keeps the room present and reactive, which is why many touring riders now specify phone-free shows.
Yes. Schools using lockable pouches commonly report fewer classroom disruptions, less filming of incidents and more talking at break. Pupils pouch their phone on arrival and unlock at the end of the day. Success depends on clear parent communication, consistent enforcement and enough unlocking bases at the gate.
Staff can unlock any pouch in seconds using an unlocking base, so a phone is never truly out of reach. Because standard pouches do not block signal, the phone still rings and vibrates. Venues should keep unlockers at every exit and brief stewards before doors open.
Most venues run a single universal size that takes any modern smartphone in a case, including the largest Pro Max and Ultra models. There is no sizing decision to make and no size mix to order — one pouch fits every device your audience brings through the door.
| Device | Fits the universal pouch |
|---|---|
| Standard smartphones | Yes |
| Large-format phones (Pro Max, Ultra) | Yes |
| Phone in a slim, rugged or folio case | Yes |
| Phone in a thick battery case or grip ring | Tight — ask the guest to remove it at the door |
| Smartwatches, smart glasses, compact recorders | Yes |
Yes, in nearly all cases. The universal pouch takes phones in slim, rugged and folio cases. Very thick battery cases or bulky grip rings can be a squeeze. If you are pouching a mixed public audience, advise guests to remove their case before placing the phone into the pouch, which also speeds up the door.
Yes. Smartwatches, compact cameras, audio recorders and smart glasses can all be sealed in the universal pouch, which is crucial now that glasses record discreetly. Brief door staff to ask for every recording device, not just phones, and make the wording explicit on your entry signage.
Cost splits three ways: event hire is quoted per pouch per event and drops with volume, outright purchase is priced per unit with tiered discounts, and optional staffing support can be provided too. Complete our Rental Request Form for exact pricing.
| Model | How it is priced | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Event hire | Per pouch, per event — unit rate falls with volume | One-off shows, tours, premieres |
| Outright purchase | Per unit, tiered volume discounts | Schools, clubs, boardrooms |
| Staffing | Optional add-on, per steward per session, or use your own team | Large-capacity or fast-load venues |
Hire for one-off events, tours and premieres: you get pouches, unlockers and the option of trained staff with no storage or upfront outlay. Buy if you run phone-free sessions regularly, like a school, comedy club or boardroom, where the pouches pay for themselves within a few months.
| Hire | Buy | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low | Higher |
| Cost per use | Higher | Falls with every use |
| Storage and logistics | Handled for you | Your responsibility |
| Staffing | Optional add-on | Usually your team |
| Best for | One-off events and tours | Daily or weekly phone-free sessions |
Order one pouch per attendee plus roughly five to ten per cent spare for fluctuations in attendee numbers, second phones and the unlikely event of faulty pouches. A thousand-capacity venue therefore needs around 1,050 to 1,100 pouches. Add one unlocking base per 100 to 200 guests at entry and exit to keep queues moving.
A trained steward pouches roughly eight guests a minute, so a thousand-capacity room clears in about fifteen to twenty minutes with six to eight staff on the door. Pouching alongside ticket scanning, rather than after it, removes the second queue that causes most delays.
Both use a lockable pouch released by a magnetic base. Yondr is a large US operator built around managed event and school programmes. Lockabl is UK-based and offers both rental and outright purchase with UK delivery and direct account contact.
| Compare on | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Supply model | Rental only, or can you buy pouches outright? |
| Minimum order | Is there a floor that rules out smaller rooms? |
| Staffing | Supplied stewards, or does your team run the door? |
| Lead time and delivery | UK-based stock, or shipped and cleared from abroad? |
| Total cost per event | Pouches, unlockers, staff, delivery and losses combined |
A good pouch survives hundreds of lock cycles. Neoprene bodies and mechanical locks contain no batteries or electronics to fail, so lifespan depends on handling rather than age. Expect several years of daily use in a school, or dozens of events on tour, with occasional replacement for damages.
Yes, but fewer than most venues expect. You need door staff to pouch guests on arrival, one or two people covering unlocking stations during the event, and stewards collecting pouches on exit. Hire packages can include trained staff and schools usually fold pouching into existing gate duty.
Send your event date, venue, capacity and door times to get a quote. Confirm pouch quantity and staffing, then pouches and unlockers are delivered ahead of the event. Brief your door team, run pouching at ticket scanning, unlock on exit and return the pouches afterwards.
Yes, though we cannot provide custom-printed pouches for orders under 3,000 units. Below that threshold, plain stock pouches are the only option. Custom printing also needs a longer lead time, so confirm your artwork and quantities at least eight weeks before the deadline.
Hire agreements usually carry a per-pouch replacement charge for anything not returned or returned torn. Losses stay low because guests must visit the exit unlocking station to get their phone out. A supplier agreement is provided for events with a large quantity of pouches on hire; it breaks down any fees incurred for damage and loss.
