Morrisons introduces new 'Quiet Hour' to afternoon shoppers, across all supermarkets

morrisons-corporate.com/med…rs/

Morrisons currently implements a 'Quieter Hour' between 9 am and 10 am on Saturdays, as well as during the first hour of opening on Sundays. These designated hours aim to accommodate individuals who may find loud noises challenging, such as those diagnosed with autism, including my son.

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Expanding on this initiative, Morrisons has announced that its Quieter Hour will now take place between 2 pm and 3 pm every Monday through Thursday. During these times, various disruptions typically encountered during in-store shopping will be minimized. Measures include reducing store lighting, silencing music and radio, and refraining from making tannoy announcements. Additionally, efforts will be made to decrease the movement of trolleys and baskets, lower checkout beeps and other electrical noises, and inform other customers outside the store that it is Quieter Hour.

Charlotte Exell, Morrisons' business sponsor of ability, expressed, "The weekly shopping trip can be overwhelming for individuals sensitive to noise, from the clattering of trolleys to loud conversations and music. At Morrisons, we continuously seek ways to support our customers, and the positive reception of Quieter Hour in our stores nationwide has encouraged us to extend its duration to assist more shoppers during our extended hours."

Tianna Cowan, corporate partnership lead at the National Autistic Society, commended Morrisons for extending its Quieter Hour initiative, emphasizing the importance of creating a welcoming environment for autistic individuals and their families.

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For those who may not have access to Morrisons, similar initiatives are available at other supermarkets:

Asdainitiated its "quieter hour" in 2018, which has since become a permanent feature. During this hour, lights are dimmed, and noise levels are reduced to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for customers with additional needs. The quiet hour occurs between 2 pm and 3 pm on Mondays through Thursdays.

LIDL NIEvery week we offer Autism Aware Quiet Evenings to all of our customers. These evenings take place every Tuesday evening from 6pm-8pm across all of our stores. Features of the evening include: Reduced lighting, No music or announcements, Lower till scan sounds, Priority queuing, Assistance dogs welcomed
As part of our weekly Autism Aware Quiet Evenings we are offering customers a calmer shopping environment and the security of knowing that additional assistance is available if necessary.

Tesco offers a quiet hour from 9 am to 10 am every Wednesday and Saturday. During this time, lights are dimmed, and checkout noises are minimized in their large stores. Tesco also provides resources such as an autism-friendly visual guide to shopping and a downloadable visual shopping list to support customers with specific needs.


Something else, also on this topic, that may interest you: Sensory / Autism Friendly Cinema Screenings - Where, when and what's showing - Thanks to @Ken for this!