A noise annoys

What could be nicer than a nice evening out at a restaurant? Good food, good wine and good company: who could ask for more? However, a problem can arise with the last of this trinity. Because, while our chosen dining companions may be delightful, we cannot necessarily legislate for those others who are dining in the same establishment. How many of us have sat down, perused the wine list and ordered aperitifs only to realise with mounting horror that the table next to us contains people with voices, volume, views or – worst of all – children that leave us gripping the steak knife white-fingered with murder on our minds? Once upon a time, what one feared in a restaurant was someone who lit a cigar or cigarette, enveloping one in lungfuls of fug as one attempted to enjoy a delicately-flavoured consommé. However, that menace having been dispatched by legislation, the greatest fear now is the noisy neighbour. Of course, the problem cuts both ways. Occasionally, one may wish to discuss something private with a dining companion, only to realise that one's neighbour is taking the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the details of your private life. The Challenge So can technology help? Is there a means whereby diners can eat in privacy and seclusion in a busy restaurant? A number of ideas spring to mind. For instance, could one install Perspex tubes that descend from the ceiling to enclose the table. These could either be activated by the diners themselves or by their neighbours should enough of them request that it happen. While this solution would serve the purpose, it is hard not to feel that the diners may object to being enclosed against their will, potentially harming the restaurant's chances of a repeat booking. Equally, such an installation may be prohibitively expensive for all but the most exclusive restaurants. In fact, the solution we have in mind is relatively low-tech, but surprisingly elegant and effective. However, there is nothing to say that it is necessarily the best available. We are very keen to see if Eureka's readers can come up with something better. -Solution- Solution to the August 2013 Coffee Time Challenge The solution to August's Coffee Time Challenge of how to cut down on noise from neighbouring diners in restaurants comes from The Woolly Shepherd; a natural acoustics company based in Somerset, responsible for creating a unique, sound absorbing wool cloud, specifically designed to soak-up unwanted reverberations so that people can enjoy a more peaceful dining experience. These innovative clouds are the only natural material eco-solution on the market and utilise the properties of 100% natural wool in combination with other sustainable, low impact materials to create high performance alternatives to industry standard, highly processed mineral and oil-based products. Having been installed previously at a variety of leading restaurants and schools, community centres, businesses and homes, including several prestigious National Trust properties, Woolly Shepherd is also already the holder of a Platinum-level national sustainability award from London-based Think.Eat.Drink, and has been nominated for a Yeo Valley Business of the Month award. Jamie Grainger-Smith of Think.Eat.Drink enthuses: "It really is amazing how discarded wool can function in such an effective manner. These clouds absorb everyday restaurant noise flawlessly, and help mould the acoustics of most restaurants to contribute to the right atmosphere and ambience for customers; minimising any unwanted noise. The success of the product also signifies a growing need for modern sound absorption techniques, benefitting not only restaurants but all types of events." Woolly Shepherd director Tim Simmons concludes: "We are particularly pleased to be recognised for our work in the field of sustainable business. We work hard to source our raw materials from ethical, UK sources wherever we can. We also create extremely low levels of waste and see no conflict between successful business and ethical trading. Let's hope our clouds are as warmly received at this year's RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, as they have been in the restaurant world." www.woollyshepherd.co.uk