Why are acoustics important in a restaurant?
If diners are shouting to be heard, they’re not relaxing. With carefully considered acoustic design, conversations feel natural again. Diners can hear each other. Staff can communicate clearly without raising their voices. That’s what good acoustic treatment does.
Hard surfaces create a hard sell. Concrete, glass, exposed brick and bare ceilings – the look everyone wants, but the with the echo nobody can stand. Sound bounces, builds, and before long every table is trying to talk over each the next one.
For Ottolenghi Richmond, Resonics solved this exact problem.
The before and after speaks for itself.
Why choose Resonics for your Restaurant?
We know hospitality
Restaurants and bars are loud in a specific way: hard floors, glass, open kitchens and bare ceilings, all feeding the cycle where guests shout to be heard and the room only gets louder. Calming a buzzy bar isn’t the same as a fine-dining room — it takes the right mix of ceiling absorption, wall treatment and acoustic features. We’ve done hundreds of them.
We work around your service
You can’t shut for a fortnight, and we don’t expect you to. We install overnight, on closed days, or one zone at a time. A single area is often a half-day; a full venue is usually two to five days.
We fit in with your fit-out
Most of our work happens inside a wider restaurant or bar fit-out, alongside your designer and main contractor. We provide CAD drawings ready to drop into the design pack, attend site meetings, and sequence our work around the main programme. Our team is CSCS, SSSTS and SMSTS accredited.
Designed to look good, not utilitarian
In hospitality the room is the brand, so the acoustics can’t look like an afterthought. We specify from design-led brands (Autex, BAUX, Impact Acoustic, De Vorm, Hunter Douglas, Tenso), print panels with your branding or artwork, and use stretched fabric systems that read as architecture when you want the treatment invisible.
Measured, not guessed
We design to a target reverberation time, so the room feels calm and conversation flows even at full covers. You get the numbers up front in our proposal — the target we’re working to and what it takes to hit it — and post-install testing is available on larger projects to prove the result.
Trusted across the industry
We work directly with hospitality architects, design-and-build contractors and directly with operators such as Ottolenghi & Pizza Express. Whether you need a full turnkey install or just supply, we slot in at the right level.
How to reduce noise in restaurants
Many modern restaurants prioritise style over sound control, featuring minimalist designs with bare tables and hard floors, open-plan layouts with high ceilings and exposed surfaces.
With thoughtful design adjustments, acoustic treatments can significantly reduce noise levels while preserving the lively energy of the space, improving diner comfort and the overall experience.
Need expert acoustic advice?
Call us on 020 7858 1030 or request a quote below—we’ll contact you.
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Our work in restaurants
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From start to finish we handle everything
Consultation
Our acoustic consultants assess your space on-site (or remotely) and provide a detailed proposal. Every consultation includes acoustic design recommendations, product specifications, and reverberation analysis to ensure measurable improvements.
Assessment
We don’t just identify noise issues — we provide solutions that are cost-effective, design-conscious, and performance-led. Whether reducing echo, improving clarity, or addressing speech privacy, our expert guidance ensures the right acoustic fit for your space.
Design & Planning
Every project includes a tailored acoustic design with a free CAD proposal, showing product placement, specifications, and performance ratings. Our designs can blend seamlessly into interiors or become bold architectural features — always balancing form with function.
Supply & Installation
With over 5,000 projects completed nationwide, our in-house installation teams handle even the most complex acoustic projects. We work to strict health and safety standards, with IPAF-certified specialists, SSSTS/SMSTS-trained supervisors, and all installers CSCS accredited.
FAQs & tips for selecting the right Restaurant Acoustics
Sound plays a big role in how people experience a meal. Poor acoustics make it difficult to hold conversations, causing discomfort and reducing the overall dining experience.
Most modern restaurants feature hard surfaces like glass, concrete, and wood. These reflect sound instead of absorbing it, leading to excessive noise and echo when the space gets busy.
High noise levels can make customers leave sooner, limit repeat visits, and cause fatigue for staff. Good acoustics create a calmer, more welcoming atmosphere and improve communication.
Resonics install discreet sound-absorbing panels, ceiling rafts, and baffles that reduce echo and noise build-up while complementing the restaurant’s design and lighting.
Absolutely. Acoustic panels come in a wide range of fabrics, colours, and custom designs — including artwork or branding — making them part of the aesthetic, not a distraction.
No — the goal is balance. Acoustic treatment doesn’t remove all background buzz but reduces harsh reflections and makes speech clearer without losing atmosphere.
Most restaurant projects can be completed in one or two days. Resonics can install outside of service hours to avoid disrupting business.
While not strictly regulated like schools, restaurants must comply with Health & Safety Executive (HSE) workplace noise guidelines to protect staff hearing. Acoustics also play a key role in WELL and BREEAM comfort standards.
No — our panels are made from materials that are safe, fire-rated, and easy to clean, suitable for food-service environments.
Costs depend on the restaurant’s size and design but start from round £5000. Resonics provides free acoustic surveys and tailored proposals to achieve optimal comfort within budget.
Our clients
