Customers in Spanish restaurants asked to ‘dine quietly’ by new campaign

RESTAURANTS in Spain may be world famous for the quality of food and wine, but one charity has started an initiative to lower the noise volume in the country´s eateries.

Oir es Clave is a charity for people with hearing impairments and their ‘Dine Quietly’ campaign is directed at diners who they say could be a little quieter as they enjoy their meals.

The campaign is aimed at encouraging a more appealing atmosphere in restaurants which will also make life easier for those who are hard of hearing.

“Spain is the second noisiest country in the world after Japan,” the charity´s director Svante Borjesson told Spanish media.

“We are working to improve the quality of life for people with auditory problems and our ‘dine quietly’ initiative benefits not only our particular interest group but the whole of society,” he added.

The initiative calls on restaurants to do what they can to lower noise levels and has provided some guidelines such as switching off TVs and radios and minimising street noise from entering the establishments.

More tips are available on its website comersinruido.org. 

The campaign already has the backing of Hotel Único in Madrid chef Ramón Freixa who said: “Gastronomy is an experience of the senses and noise can harm that pleasure.”