What happens if the music system goes down during a 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 diagnostics mean most issues are caught before they affect your floor.

Can we have different music in the bar, dining room and terrace at the same time?

Yes. Startle supports multi-zone audio, so each area of a restaurant can play a different curated playlist simultaneously, all managed from a single dashboard.

Do I need a music licence to play background music in my restaurant?

Yes, businesses playing music on commercial premises require a licence (typically PPL PRS for Music in the UK).

Background music for restaurants.

Q: How does Startle manage background music across multiple restaurant locations?

Startle's Studio platform gives head office full control over music across every site, curated playlists, scheduling, volume and override settings, so staff can't change the music off-brand. Changes roll out instantly, estate-wide.

Q: How is Startle priced for a restaurant group?

Startle operates on a predictable monthly cost, no surprise hardware fees. Pricing is tailored to the number of locations. Request a quote or book a discovery call for a proposal built around your estate.

Startle is the fully managed background music and digital signage provider for restaurants and restaurant groups.

Choose a ready-to-go playlist or a bespoke curation service, tailored to your brand and refreshed regularly.
Dynamic and engaging branded digital signage for menus, promotions and seasonal specials.
Schedule music and screens site-by-site or group wide, all from one platform.

Book your discovery call

Request a quote

Waiter serving food to a group of friends

Why music matters in a restaurant.

Music isn’t just atmosphere, it changes how people behave. Research dating back to the 1980s found that loud, fast-tempo music speeds up eating but reduces enjoyment and appetite, while soft, slower music encourages guests to linger and tends to increase spend. University of Oxford research has shown that even pitch plays a part - higher notes read as sweeter, lower notes as bitter. Get the soundtrack right, and it shows up in covers and spend, not just atmosphere.

Trusted by restaurant brands that lead on customer experience

Startle Music.

A library of regularly updated playlists spanning every sector, genre and era, ready to soundtrack everything from a quiet midweek lunch to a Saturday night dinner rush.

Every playlist is professionally compiled to shape dining pace, mood 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, your menu and your diners, then build one-of-a-kind playlists just for you.

Our curation process is built on research and academic models, so your in-venue soundtrack leaves a lasting impression consistent with your brand.
We keep working with you after launch, refreshing playlists in line with new menus, campaigns and seasons.

Digital signage.

In restaurants, atmosphere matters as much as what’s on the plate. Give your menu, and brand, the promotion it deserves with our digital signage solution.

Use eye-catching screens that showcase dishes, specials and menus without a single reprint.
Upload and schedule campaign promotions, themed nights and new menu launches, in sync with your music.

How Startle sets up your restaurant sound.

Here’s how we take you from that first conversation to fully soundtracked venues with dynamic screens.

1. Discovery session.

We learn about your brand, your venues, your guests and your trading patterns.

2. Sound & screens plan.

A proposal covering which route suits your brand best, how many zones you need, and even an example schedule.

3. Setup and installation.

Your music is 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 and signage launch across every site, with our team monitoring performance and you in full control through Studio.

5. Ongoing refinement.

We keep reviewing and refreshing the soundtrack as your menu, seasons and trading patterns change.

Consistent sound and screens at every restaurant.

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

Simple drag-and-drop scheduling and volume & EQ management for different trading patterns.
Multi-zone audio so the bar, dining room and terrace can each run their own sound.

Trusted by restaurant groups like yours.

Zizzi, as part of the Azzurri Group, previously had inconsistent music suppliers, and were struggling with repetitive playlists and a lack of updates. Working directly with our Creative Director, Startle helped them build a bright, feel-good playlist that shifts through multiple energy levels across the day.

Automated volume control, remote signage update updates and regular playlist refreshes remove the guesswork entirely and keep the guest experience fresh.

Read the full case study

From my first interaction with Startle I have been very impressed with the understanding they have of what we're looking for. Creating a 'vibe' or environment within a space is something quite hard to explain but the support and reactivity they gave throughout the curation process was incredible.

Joe Gilbert

Head of Business Development

Read the case study

Startle has proved to be the perfect partner for Pizza Pilgrims, embracing all of our ideas for using music and technology to enhance our pizzerias. Our playlist management has improved massively.

Thom Elliot

Co-founder

Read the case study

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 multiple restaurant locations?

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

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

Yes. Multi-zone audio enables distinct playlists in the bar, dining room and terrace, all managed from a single dashboard.

How is Startle priced for a restaurant group?

A predictable monthly cost per site, with no hardware fees, free shipping, plug-and-play set up and hardware replacements included.

What happens if the music system goes down?

Startle’s Relentless Support™ team are available 24/7/365 via WhatsApp, phone and live chat. Proactive remote diagnostics also mean that a lot of issues are caught before they affect your floor.

Do I need a commercial music licence for my restaurant?

Yes - commercial premises require licensing. Find out more about music licensing here.