5 common problems with noise in restaurants, and how to solve them with acoustic plaster
Great food isn’t enough to keep customers coming back. Nowadays, diners expect more than delicious dishes: they want a restaurant with atmosphere, where they can enjoy time with loved-ones in comfort. Yet one issue consistently spoils even the best meals: noise.
Whether it’s the clatter of cutlery, raised voices or booming music, poor acoustics can ruin the experience. Fortunately, it’s very much avoidable. At Oscar Acoustics, we’ve worked with some of Britain’s top architects and designers to create acoustic environments that complement design, not compromise it.
echoes that kill conversation
Nothing flattens the mood faster than the harsh, echoing of voices bouncing around a hard-surfaced room. Concrete, glass, steel, timber and tiled surfaces may look stunning, but they do little to absorb sound. The result? Conversations become strained, people raise their voices, and background noise quickly escalates.
The fix: Oscar Elite acoustic plaster absorbs sound energy instead of reflecting it. Installed at 27mm or 47mm thickness, it significantly reduces reverberation time, helping to clarify speech and reduce overall noise.
Unlike traditional ceiling tiles or wall panels, Oscar Elite creates a seamless surface that can be sprayed onto walls or ceilings, even those with curved or vaulted shapes.
noise from kitchens and bars
Open kitchens and exposed bars are popular in modern restaurants, but they often bring their own sonic baggage. Clanging pots, extractor fans, ice machines and more can all bleed into the dining area, blurring the lines between ambience and annoyance.
The fix: Acoustic plaster absorbs sound rather than reflecting it back into a space. By applying Oscar Elite to ceilings above the kitchen or bar area, and potentially to walls surrounding them, you can better control reverberations.
loud groups disrupting the entire room
When a large table becomes the dominant voice in a space, everyone else suffers. In a poorly treated room, one rambunctious group can overwhelm the soundscape. At worst, it can force nearby diners to compete just to be heard. This creates a ripple effect that turns a calm restaurant into a shouting match.
The fix: Oscar Elite helps absorb excess sound at the source, creating a more balanced acoustic environment where one group doesn’t hijack the entire room. Unlike boxy acoustic panels that interrupt the visual flow, our plaster blends seamlessly into any design style, from minimalist to maximalist.
At 94% light reflectivity in white, it even helps maximise natural and artificial lighting, ideal for helping create the right mood.
music that blends into noise
Music is essential for atmosphere. However, it’s useless, or worse irritating, if it becomes unintelligible. In acoustically poor spaces, even a carefully curated playlist can degrade into muffled background mush. Instead of enhancing the experience, it adds to the chaos.
The fix: By reducing reverberation, Oscar Elite enhances both the clarity of music and people’s conversations. The difference isn’t just in volume (it’s in tone, depth, and detail). Live venues, high-end eateries, and cocktail bars alike benefit from improved audio definition without needing to pump up the decibels.
And since Oscar Elite complies with the most rigorous fire regulations (A2-s1,d0 & Class 0 to BS476), you can rest assured that safety is built in.
visual acoustic clutter
Let’s face it: traditional solutions for noise control aren’t known for their looks. Acoustic ceiling tiles, foam panels, or hanging baffles often stick out (literally and figuratively!).
Oscar Elite is designed to be invisible to the eye but powerful to the ear. It offers a smooth, continuous plaster finish that can be colour-matched to any design scheme. Whether it’s a Grade II listed ceiling or a hyper-modern interior, Oscar Elite enhances the space without stealing focus.
And because it can be applied directly to most substrates, you don’t need to rebuild to upgrade your acoustics.
Oscar Elite doesn’t just look incredible. This acoustic plaster is also:
- Fire-rated (A2-s1,d0 and Class 0 to BS476). View full fire ratings here.
- Low-emission (M1 certification for building materials)
- Easy to maintain (vacuum or dust as needed)
- Fast to install (by our nationwide specialist in-house teams)
Every project we take on is installed by Oscar’s own teams, ensuring consistent quality across the UK, whether your restaurant is based in London, Manchester or Edinburgh.
We also have a range of SonaSpray acoustic sprays which work well in restaurants and other hospitality settings. These attractive sprays deliver exceptional sound absorption while making architectural details even more beautiful. They’re available in a range of colours, textures and performance levels.
ready to reduce restaurant noise without ruining your design?
Acoustics don’t have to be an afterthought. With Oscar Elite, you get world-class noise control wrapped in seamless design.
Whether you’re designing a serene fine-dining restaurant, a buzzing wine bar, or a multifunctional hospitality space, our acoustic experts are here to help you strike the perfect balance between style and sound.