Like Ian Jack (Eating out in Britain..., 22 February) I love eating out but hate having to shout over my food and strain to hear conversation on my own table. How can we possibly solve the world's problems, exchange intimacies or enjoy a good joke or anecdote if we have to compete with constant high-decibel hilarity from other tables? We aren't always in celebration mode when we join friends to eat. Could restaurants that establish quiet areas be awarded Good Mood rosettes? Pressure for smoke-free areas, child-friendly dining, wheelchair access and special dietary requests produced results. What couldn't designers achieve with artfully handled soft furnishings, strategically positioned screens and acoustic panels.
Barbara Crowther
Leamington
• Ian Jack really doesn't need to go as far as Antwerp to experience pleasant, un-shouty restaurants. He simply needs to get out of London. Oh, and to remember not to confuse "London" with "Britain".
Katy Jennison
Witney, Oxfordshire