Acoustics
Taking noise off the menu
Rockfon Project Support Manager, Rob Noble, explains how noise affects our dining out experience.
Does visiting a restaurant with loud music leave a bitter taste in your mouth? Oxford University Experimental Psychologist Charles Spence could have an explanation for that. His research has revealed strong links between noise and taste, meaning dining out is not just about food.
Certain sounds enhance tastes, for example, classical music may add to the perceived quality of wine and food. Loud background noise can suppress sweet and salty tastes. High pitched notes bring out the perceived sweetness of food, while base notes affect bitter flavours.
A lot of unwanted noise can overwhelm the senses and become a distraction. It might mean you’re less able to taste your food or hear your fellow diners. An additional issue can be misheard orders, resulting in the wrong food being served. Under these conditions diners could decide not to return to the restaurant.
Intrusive background noise is becoming a major problem in restaurants, cafes and pubs. 35% of customers surveyed by charity Action for Hearing write reviews on websites after dining out - and half of these reviews mention high noise levels. An earlier report found that 79% of those surveyed had left a restaurant early resulting in a loss of revenue for the restaurant, all due to excess noise.
The trend for using highly reverberant building materials in restaurant design can add to the problem. Rockfon acoustic ceilings and wall panels are an effective solution for controlling sound and they enhance the interior design. Rockfon Mono Acoustic, a Class A sound absorbent ceiling, has transformed the atmosphere in the iconic Dublin landmark Bewley’s Grafton Street. The interior of Bewley’s features mahogany panelling, stained-glass windows and mosaic floors that could generate distracting background noise. Rockfon Mono Acoustic controls the level of reverberation and seamlessly integrates with the building’s period features.
ROCKFON
Irwin Carr Consulting Senior Consultant Acoustician, Malachy McAlister, advised on improvements to the acoustics at Bewley’s. “We were able to determine the additional absorption provided by the new ceiling by undertaking acoustic tests before and after its installation. Our measurements show Rockfon Mono Acoustic reduced the reverberation time from 1.1 seconds to 0.7 seconds, a 35% reduction in sound reverberation.”
Consulting with an acoustician or a reputable manufacturer of sound absorbent ceilings and wall systems at the beginning of the project will ensure your restaurant interior offers a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience for customers who will want to recommend and return.
TEL: 0208 222 7457 31
WWW.ROCKFON.CO.UK
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