Anyone been to the US Embassy in London recently?

We are going tomorrow to renew our youngest daughter's passport.  I've read on their website that you are not allowed to take mobile phones in.
When we were there two years ago, they had a place where you could leave mobile phones, etc.  Do they still have it? 

Yes

Thank you for your reply.   

That's good to know as we are going for the same thing on Monday. 

They put them in a pigeon hole, and you get a tag to claim it back when you are finished. 

I was just at the embassy last week. Yes you can leave your mobile phone and other items at the security booth, but you'll save yourself a lot of hassle if you just leave it at home. There was a long line for people waiting to retrieve items.

Got back from London a few hours ago.  They have you place your electronic items (and belts) in plastic bags.  They keep the electronic items in little cubby holes and give the belts back after going through x-ray. 
Maybe it was the timing, but we didn't have to wait at all to retrieve our items.  Our appointment was at 11:30 and we were finished by 1:05.

US Embassy, hmph. Those dudes lost my passport. I wanna poke 'em in the eye  

How sad that they feel they have to go to these lengths now.   

When I was there in 1995 for my visa interview it was all very relaxed.