The Best Silent Discos Across the UK

With summer approaching, many of us are looking forward to festivals and nights out full of music and dancing. However, some experts suggest that silent discos may be better for people with hearing loss problems than a regular disco or rave.

Music festivals and nightclubs are plenty of fun, but they can also be extremely loud places, which can both contribute to hearing loss and cause stress to anyone who already struggles with hearing impairments.

Not only do silent discos offer the chance for guests to personalise the music that they are listening to, but you can also adjust the volume of the music, as well as the chance of hearing your friends when you talk to them.

Katie Ogden, the HCPC registered hearing aid dispenser and Training Manager for ReSound in North-West Europe, has shared her expert insight into what makes silent discos more suitable for people with hearing loss and compiled a list of the best silent discos across the UK.

How are silent discos more suitable for people with hearing loss?

The Right Headphones

“At silent discos, music is streamed through headphones as opposed to through a speaker or sound system. Almost all silent discos can implement a special streaming device that is compatible with a cochlear implant or a hearing aid, making them generally more accessible.

“A person who has hearing problems can easily readjust the volume on their headphones to their liking at a silent disco, meaning they get the perfect night for them.”

Visual and/or Sensory Experiences

“There’s more than just music to be enjoyed at a silent disco. Events that offer some kind of visual spectacle to accompany the music can help to make the experience more enjoyable for people with hearing issues.

“A quiet room or space where a person can take breaks from the disco should they need to can also improve their overall experience of the silent disco.”

Use of Lighting

“Plenty of discos or raves can take place in a dark room, which can be difficult for people who depend on lip reading for communication. Any silent discos that take place in an outdoor space, such as a festival, or in a room with coordinated pools of light can help to make any person with hearing loss in attendance more comfortable.”

Where are some of the best silent discos to attend across the UK?

Glastonbury Festival

It makes sense that the UK’s most popular festival also puts on one of the best silent discos. In fact, Glastonbury was one of the first UK festivals to introduce silent disco to its lineup, back in 2005. Glastonbury’s iconic silent disco currently goes by the name of Heds Party, with the party going on until the early hours of the morning.

Glastonbury’s silent disco takes place in a well-lit tent and comes equipped with adjustable headphones, making it the perfect place to party for anyone suffering from hearing loss.

Kendal Calling Festival

Further north in the Lake District, the smaller sized Kendal Calling Festival offers a great silent disco of its own.

Unlike other music festivals, Kendal Calling’s silent disco takes place at the outdoor ‘Woodlands’ stage. This means that any guests dancing to the indie classics being spun at Kendal Calling’s silent disco can enjoy them in a more open and naturally lit space, with plenty of quiet spots nearby if they need to take a break from the action.

Retro Silent Disco at Freight Island, Manchester

The adjustable headphones in use at Manchester’s grooviest silent disco mean that attendees can feel more comfortable as they sing their hearts out to power ballads and 80s pop classics alike.

Time Out Silent Disco at The View From The Shard, London

A world away from muddy festival fields, this exclusive silent disco in London’s famous ‘The Shard’ invites guests to pop on a pair of adjustable headphones and party in the clouds. The spectacular views on display on the open-air Skydeck provide the perfect visual experience to accompany the three channels of live music played through the adjustable headphones.

Fruity Headphone Disco at Leeds Student Union

Students will certainly not feel left out at this student’s only silent disco in Leeds delivers three channels of fruity tunes and nonstop fun.

Pulling out all the stops to make guests feel safer, this silent disco comes equipped with adjustable wireless headphones and even an official nightbus to make sure attendees get home safe.