Don't talk with your mouthful! Loud restaurants are driving diners away as Brits refuse to sit next to noisy punters

By SOPHIA STANFORD, NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:44, 18 May 2026 | Updated: 01:59, 18 May 2026 Noisy eaters are driving away customers, with a low tolerance among Brits to put up with a loud restaurant. More than a third of people told a recent survey that they encounter venues that are too loud, with under half admitting they probably would not return to a restaurant that is excessively noisy.  The data suggests that quieter environments are more closely linked to comfort, wellbeing and overall perceptions of quality when dining out.  Disruptive environments were a general cause for concern, with loud workplaces and disruptive homes to noisy restaurants and gardens all coming under scrutiny for their impact. The research by Quiet Mark, in partnership with YouGov, suggested that excessive sound is directly and increasingly affecting wellbeing, productivity and consumer behaviour.  The National Noise Survey found a growing annoyance among respondents who have to use spaces for multiple functions, with appliances, entertainment systems, conversations and external noise all competing for people's attentions. For example, household noise is affecting the productivity of people working from home, with nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) saying they feel like their concentration is impacted. It is only slightly higher than the 59 per cent of respondents who said that noise negatively impacts productivity in their working environment in general. More than a third of Brits told a recent survey that they encounter venues that are too loud It will therefore come as no surprise that almost three quarters (74 per cent) of people actively seek features like a 'mute' setting in their products and appliances. Quieter living and household wellbeing was apparent in the results, with 84 per cent of parents saying a quieter home has a positive impact on family wellbeing. This suggests that noise is no longer viewed as a harmless background distraction, but as a factor that can influence stress levels, mood and overall quality of life. Outdoor spaces were also found to be becoming noisier, with nearly four in 10 people (41%) saying garden noise disrupted their peace during the summer months. Over half (51%) also believed garden and DIY tools should be designed to operate more quietly. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.