How to Create Sensory Friendly Places: A Guide for Businesses

Making your venue sensory friendly is not just a matter of ethics — it is increasingly a commercial imperative. An estimated 1 in 7 people in the UK is neurodivergent, and millions more have sensory sensitivities linked to anxiety, chronic illness, or simply age.

Why Sensory Friendly Matters for Your Business

The "purple pound" — the spending power of disabled people and their families — is estimated at £274 billion annually in the UK. A significant proportion of that spending is redirected away from venues that fail to meet basic sensory or accessibility needs.

Sensory-sensitive customers who find a venue that works for them tend to return consistently and recommend it strongly within their communities. Word-of-mouth within autism, ADHD, and sensory sensitivity communities is powerful — platforms like KindHours amplify positive venue experiences rapidly.

The Four Sensory Dimensions to Address

1. Noise

Noise is consistently the most cited sensory barrier. Sources of problematic noise include background music, hard floor surfaces, open kitchens, high ceilings with poor acoustic treatment.

Actionable improvements:

• Introduce a quiet hours policy (switch off background music during designated times)
• Add acoustic panels, soft furnishings, or ceiling baffles to reduce echo
• Create at least one designated quiet area — a corner, a booth, a separate room
• Train staff to moderate their own voice levels

2. Lighting

Problematic lighting includes bright overhead fluorescent strips, highly contrasting light and dark zones, sunlight glare.

Actionable improvements:

• Replace fluorescent strip lighting with warm LED panels or indirect lighting
• Add dimmable lighting controls
• Install blinds or diffusing film on windows prone to direct sunlight glare
• Ensure consistent lighting levels across the venue

3. Crowd Density

Actionable improvements:

• Review your floor plan for pinch points
• Consider booking or reservation systems during peak periods
• Create clear, predictable customer flow routes
• Offer a quieter area of the venue for customers who prefer less stimulation

4. Scent

Actionable improvements:

• Switch to fragrance-free or lightly scented cleaning products
• Avoid plug-in air fresheners, scent diffusers, or strongly perfumed hand soap
• Ensure good ventilation so cooking smells do not permeate the whole venue

Staff Training: The Human Element

Key Training Points:

• Understand what sensory sensitivities mean in practice — staff do not need clinical training
• Welcome without overwhelming — take cues from customers about how much interaction is welcome
• Respond to sensory requests without questioning
• Communicate changes clearly to returning customers

Implementing a Quiet Hours Programme

A quiet hours programme is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost sensory improvements a venue can make.

What a Quiet Hours Session Involves:

• Music is turned off or reduced to a very low ambient level
• Lighting is dimmed where possible
• Staff are briefed to work more quietly
• The programme is communicated clearly in advance

Recommended Quiet Hours Timing:

• Weekday mornings (9–11am): Low natural footfall, easy to implement
• Weekday afternoons (2–4pm): Post-lunch lull, particularly useful for cafes

Getting Listed on KindHours

KindHours is the UK's dedicated sensory venue platform. Listing your venue signals your commitment to sensory-sensitive visitors and puts your space in front of an engaged, loyal audience.

Learn more about getting your venue listed →

Quick-Start Checklist for Sensory-Friendly Improvements

Immediate (cost: low to none)

• Introduce quiet hours — schedule and communicate them
• Train front-of-house staff on basic sensory awareness
• Designate a quiet corner or table
• Remove plug-in air fresheners
• Lower background music volume

Short-term (moderate investment)

• Add acoustic soft furnishings to reduce echo
• Install dimmers on overhead lighting
• Switch to fragrance-free cleaning products
• Create and publish an accessibility statement

Longer-term (planned investment)

• Replace fluorescent lighting with warm LED panels
• Commission acoustic assessment and treatment
• Apply for autism-friendly or sensory-friendly accreditation

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Making your venue sensory friendly is a process, not a single action. Start with the no-cost changes, communicate what you've done, and build from there. List your business on KindHours →