Can Startle handle digital screens for promotions and events in pubs?

Yes. Startle's digital signage runs from the same Studio platform as the music, so your team can schedule promotions, events, sport fixtures and seasonal campaigns across every screen in every pub, from one central dashboard.

Background Music, Digital Signage & Games for Pubs

Q: How does Startle manage background music across a pub estate?

Startle's Studio platform gives head office central control over music and digital signage across every pub in your estate. You set the playlist, the schedule and the volume rules, and individual pub staff cannot override your brand sound.

Q: Can Startle run different music in different areas of a pub?

Yes. Multi-zone audio lets you run distinct playlists simultaneously in the main bar, beer garden, function room and dining area, all managed from the same platform and scheduled automatically by time of day.

Q: How is Startle priced for a pub group?

Startle operates on a predictable monthly cost per site, with no surprise hardware fees. Free next-day shipping, plug-and-play setup and no-quibble hardware replacement are included as standard.

Q: Do I need a commercial music licence for my pubs?

YYes, playing music in commercial premises requires a licence (typically PPL PRS for Music in the UK).

Why music matters in your pub.

Music does more than fill the silence - it changes how people drink and stay. Research dating back to the 1980s found that loud, fast-tempo music pushes people through drinks and food faster but enjoying both less, while a slower, softer soundtrack encourages people to settle in for another round. University of Oxford research has shown that pitch plays a part too - higher notes read as sweeter, lower notes as more bitter. Get the soundtrack right, and it shows up in dwell time and spend, not just atmosphere.

Trusted by pub brands that lead on customer experience

Startle Music.

A library of 100+ regularly updated playlists spanning every genre and era, whether it’s a quiet Tuesday lunch or a heaving Saturday night.

Every playlist is professionally compiled to shape customer behaviour and brand perception.
Already have a Spotify playlist you like the sound of? We’ll find you a professionally curated match, or you can edit and build your own.

Music Curation.

We work closely with your team to understand your brand and your venues, then build one-of-a-kind playlists just for you.

Our curation is built on a research-backed model, so music is expertly chosen and targeted to each pub and brand.
We keep working with you after launch, updating playlists in line with seasons and trading patterns, new menus and brand refreshes.

Branded digital signage.

Your pub’s screens aren’t just there for decoration - they’re an opportunity to engage, entertain and upsell.

Digital signage contributes to your pub's unique atmosphere, promoting drinks deals, quiz nights and seasonal offers.
Studies show digital signage reduces perceived wait times at the bar during busy periods.

Automated sports promotion.

Startle Arena is a sports promotion channel that automatically updates fixtures, stats and breaking news, with pre-match hype and post-match analysis.

Pair sports promotion with your food and drink offers in Studio, so matchday attention turns into orders.
Live GAA streaming direct to your screens, automatically taking over your channel and music for kick-off, then switching back once it’s over.

Pub entertainment at your fingertips.

Alongside our music and digital signage solutions, we have a range of entertainment solutions to give pub customers another reason to stay for one more round.

Ultimate DJ.

Professional DJ-curated sets, available whenever you want the energy of a live DJ without the hassle of booking one.

Rock and Roll Bingo.

An interactive music themed bingo game, built to fill quieter midweek sessions.

How Startle sets up your pub estate.

Here's how we take you from that first conversation to a fully live soundtrack, screens and games across your estate.

1. Discovery session.

We learn about your pub estate, the brands within it, and the trading patterns across every site.

2. Sound & screens plan.

A proposal covering which route suits your brand best (Startle Music or playlist curation), how many zones you need, and where signage, sport and games fit in.

3. Setup and installation.

Your music and signage are configured and your Startle Players are shipped and installed, plug-and-play or with an engineer for anything more complex.

4. Go live site-wide.

Music, screens and games launch across your estate, with our team monitoring performance and yours in full control through Studio.

5. Ongoing refinement.

We keep reviewing and refreshing things as your seasons, trading patterns and brand refreshes change.

Brand-consistency at every site in your pub estate.

Replicate a perfectly curated branded atmosphere across an entire estate, all from a single platform with Startle Studio.

Simple drag-and-drop scheduling and volume & EQ management for different times of day.
Music, signage and games, all run through the same platform and the same Startle Player.
Multi-zone audio, so you can run distinct playlists in the main bar, beer garden, function room and dining area.

Trusted by restaurant groups like yours.

Mitchells & Butlers turned to Startle to run a consistent entertainment platform across a portfolio of very different brands, from O'Neill's to Sizzling Pubs, without losing what makes each one distinct.

Daypart-flexible playlists move the mood from daytime dining through to evening service, while Ultimate DJ, Startle Arena and Rock and Roll Bingo give teams extra ways to keep guests in the building.

Read the full case study

Working with Startle has been a very positive experience for Mitchells & Butlers. They understand the important role that music and atmosphere play in shaping the overall guest journey and helping our venues feel welcoming, engaging and on brand. Their solutions support us in delivering a consistent, high-quality experience across our estate, while still allowing our teams to focus on what matters most – great hospitality.

Dawn Clarke

Head of Electronic Leisure

Read the case study

Our pubs range from community pubs to hybrid high street venues in town centres, so each of them has a unique identity and needs entertainment and offers relevant to its local environment. It is vital that our suppliers can offer each pub a bespoke package to help them drive sales and become a go to destination. Startle helps each pub to deliver their message, their way. We are delighted to use them for our music, digital signage and sports promotion.

Gary Roberts

Operations Director

Read the case study

Startle has been great for our pub. The biggest difference is with Ultimate DJ. It has been an invaluable tool in shaping our later night offerings. Customers believed we had an actual DJ! We have seen an increase in revenue on Saturdays too since introducing cabaret and Ultimate DJ. It has been nothing short of amazing and I'm very happy to have it on site.

Alan Stuart

Manager, City Of Quebec

I have been waiting for a music and signage service like this for years. Current music but in-keeping with the Lloyds brand, I feel like it is driving repeat business as the customers are actually enjoying the music. Signage is fabulous and takes all the pain away.

Anthony Thomas

General Manager

We have been enjoying the Startle background music system across our estate for many years now. We find the system technically robust, the content great and the user interface works really well for our managers.

Chris Tulloch

Managing Director

Book your brand sound discovery call.

Book your free brand sound discovery call to see how Startle can transform your music and signage across all locations.

On this call we’ll:

Learn about your brand, venues and customers.
Map that to a tailored music direction, something useable.
Share how sound can improve customer experiences.
Give you a clear plan and a tailored follow up.
Answer your questions on rollout and next steps.

Just need a quote? Request pricing here.

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Faqs.

Frequently asked questions.

How does Startle manage background music across a pub estate?

Via the Studio platform, giving head office full control over music, signage and games across every site - playlists, scheduling and volume roll out estate-wide instantly, and staff can't override brand settings.

Can Startle run different music in different areas of a pub?

Yes. Multi-zone audio enables distinct playlists in the main bar, beer garden, function room and dining area, all managed from a single dashboard.

Can Startle handle digital screens for promotions, sport and games in pubs?

Yes - signage and live fixtures all run from the same Studio platform, so scheduling stays integrated rather than juggled across separate systems.

What happens if the system goes down during a busy service?

Startle's Relentless Support™ team is available 24/7/365 via WhatsApp, phone and live chat, with an average response time under 30 minutes. Proactive remote monitoring means most issues are caught before they affect your floor.

How is Startle priced for a pub group?

A predictable monthly cost per site, with no hardware fees, free shipping, plug-and-play setup and hardware replacement included.

Do I need a commercial music licence for my pubs?

Yes - commercial premises require licensing (typically PPL PRS for Music in the UK). Outdoor areas like pub gardens are still covered by this same requirement. Find out more about music licensing here.

Background Music for Pubs.