Turn down that racket: pubs urged to reduce noise levels for diners

From eye-watering cheesy pop to ‘that’ chill-out mix compilation that everyone who reached adulthood in the late 1990s still mysteriously owns, music in pubs and restaurants is an inescapably contentious issue among diners.

A poll by Action on Hearing Loss reported last week that approximately 80% of customers have left a food business because of noise, with 91% saying they would not return to an overly loud venue.

Speak easy

The charity’s new campaign, Speak Easy, has called on pubs, restaurants and cafés to make dining out more enjoyable and accessible by reducing noise levels at dining establishments.

Paul Breckell, Action on Hearing Loss chief executive, said: “We want the restaurant, café and pub industry to create a more welcoming dining experience for all customers.

“Whether you’re out for a meal with friends or if you’re on a date, you should be able to enjoy it without having to repeat yourself, raise your voice or receive the wrong order due to high levels of background noise.”

Wrong order

Action on Hearing Loss’s research claimed that loud noise from the kitchen and background music was responsible for almost a third of respondents having received the wrong order when dining out.

Breckell added: “Three quarters of people believe that restaurants, cafés and pubs have become louder in the past five years and we look forward to working with the catering industry to help take noise of the menu.”