Do you enjoy music in Pubs and Restaurants or does it annoy you?

sorry abt that tried to do a smiley face but failed still finding my way round the site !

When we lived on Tyneside, they used to play soothing classical music on some Metro stations. I heard that it reduced wild behaviour among young people.

Hate it, and often ask for it to be switched off or turned down. We like to have a good chat when we go out, on our own or with friends/family. In Italy one of the nice village restaurants had TV on above the table- and we always asked for it to be turned off as soon as we got there.

What really gives me the woolies though, is synthetic american style Christmas music in shopping centres from November onwards. Makes me feel sick and I just have to get out.

We used to have lovely gentle classical music playing very quietly in our GP surgery. Very calming. Last time I went, the music was the usual pop stuff (not too loud admittedly). The receptionist said they'd had complaints that the classical music was 'depressing'. Ah well, horses for courses I suppose

I went for a meal with five friends recently and we couldn't talk to each other because of the music. I asked for it to be turned down and the waitress did reduce the volume.

Our local pub has awful music sometimes. Early evening is 'pensioner feeding time' so the it would be good if the landlady took this on board and played quieter music for us!

There is some awful classical music just as there is some incredibly good popular music. It's not the genre that defines its worth.

Well that's true-you probably wouldn't want the 1812 overture while you were eating.

Just had a nice meal in Frankie and Benny's after the cinema- lovely smooth music Frank Sinatra Dean Martin et al played at just the right level and beautifully balanced sound... Volare.. Oh Oh!!!

I am another who hates loud music. I left the weddings of my neice and nephew early as I couldn't hear myself think never mind have a conversation. I do not know why musicians playing in a relatively small space need to use amplifiers. Maybe it is to hide their inability ?
I have no problem with low level background music and have been known to ask for it to be turned down in restaurants when I consider it to be too loud ie conversation impossible.

The right background music is the type where you go home after a lovely meal and can't remember whether or not there was any background music.

I like the music in Frankie and Benny' s too. You can buy the CD s they play. I used to work in a pub that never had music but when a new landlord came he installed a juke box. It was not long before the locals superglued the coinslot!

I'm sure that I read somewhere that turning up the volume of music in pubs encourages people to drink more rapidly and so buy more drinks. Consequently, the slower the sales, the louder it gets.

Thankyou seaside I was thinking I would like that CD for when I'm cooking up a pasta storm.

How I hate loud music in restaurants. DH and I regularly eat in a very good one but their choice of music is to put it crudely CRAP. It appears to be on a continuous loop and the music so loud and lively that you feel as if you are being encouraged to eat up and get out.

Loud music is a no-no for me too. I think is seems to distort it whatever the genre. I hate it when you can't hold a conversation because of it and it is often difficult to listen to someone elses choice.

These days music ( I use the term lightly ) seems to be every where. It is almost as if people are frightened of silence.

Oh how I agree with the 'no music camp'. If anyone can tell me where I can go for a music free meal in a nice restaurant with my friends/family in the Bedford and/or Cambridge areas I would be eternally grateful! To say I hate piped music is the understatement of the year, I absolutely loathe it. In fact eating out in restaurants is something I hardly ever do these days as they are just too noisy, and so often you can't even hear yourself speak and spend the majority of time saying 'pardon' to whoever it is you are desperately trying to have a conversation with. It does my head in......

I like quiet background music in restaurants, classical or modern jazz as I feel some places are too quiet when there aren't many diners and I think something playing quietly adds atmosphere to an otherwise cold deadly silence.

I agree, agus, but sadly too often volume is too high and the music played is not conducive to pleasant, quiet conversation.

In that instance bags, I wouldn't hesitate to ask for the music to be turned down and did this in one restaurant. The couple at another table said they were pleased it had been turned down! Why they didn't request this themselves beats me

Oh, I do ask, but the response is not always well received. Once in a Co-op supermarket when the muzak was really annoying I happened to notice someone doing something to shelves. He looked as if he might be part of the management team so I said loudly to DD, "Let's just get out of here; I can't think straight with this racket going on in the background." Within a v short time the volume of the muzak had dropped considerably

I agree with you Agus. Music can add to the overall experience. It should never be loud though. A quiet background music, no pop [in pubs/cafes /rest. etc]In shops, I would prefer no music at all. In the run up to Christmas I wonder how many times I will have to endure Noddy Holder shrieking 'It's Chriiiiiiistmaaaas' !

Oh, I have been in certain shops whereby the young staff obviously enjoy the loud racket and I know without a doubt, should I complain because I can't think straight, I would be looked upon as an old fart

I just walk out again if the music is too loud, Agus. Just waiting now for the first Ch......music. It's usually in the local garden centre.

I walk out too Anno when I just can't take any more.

I hate the piped c........ music but, I do get quite emotional when I hear school children singing carols. Off topic and a different thing all together though.