Joe McGrath and Matthew Veasey, who met at Manchester Business School, say Txt2Table will be a real boon for drinkers enjoying the summer sun in beer gardens - as well as for smokers banished outside when the smoking in public places ban comes into force in England and Wales next year.

The idea is simple - customers use the equipment to text their order to the bar, and their drinks are brought to them.

Joe told the Manchester Evening News:

"A lot of money is being invested in outdoor drinking areas but serving people in the outside areas in the next challenge. All pubs are trying to entice their customers in with better levels of service."

The equipment will cost £40 a week to rent and the duo have won backing from Interbev - the brewing giant which makes Becks, Stella Artois and Boddingtons.