Campaigners are calling for a ban on "incessant" background music in restaurants, claiming it ruins the atmosphere
Pipedown, a group opposed to piped music in public places, has teamed up with charity Action on Hearing Loss to call for the ban.
The group is also asking pubs to turn their music down and to incorporate more soft fabrics and materials to help muffle sounds.
The campaign follows Marks and Spencer’s announcement that they would be turning off all background music in stores in response to feedback from customers and staff.
Gorki Duhra, from Action on Hearing Loss, told The Times: “For some people, it can be irritating.
“But when it leads to you getting the wrong order or not being able to have a conversation and you’re missing the main bit of the joke because you just can’t hear it, you feel left out.
“Background music makes it harder to pick up a particular voice. We would ask restaurants not to play any.”
The campaign will launch next month and target high-street food chains including Prezzo and Wagamama.
But it could be bad news for waiting staff; research shows background music can lead to better tips.
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