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Bristol toilets named best in England
An independent cinema in Bristol has won big in an unusual awards ceremony on Thursday.
The Watershed picked up the National Award for England in the Individual Business Category in the 2023 Loo of the Year Awards.
The cinema and arts hub was also graded Diamond for the Eco Friendly Toilet Award, awarded to entries judged to be the most environmentally friendly.
The Watershed mopped up the two awards for its welcoming gender-neutral loos in the building’s top foyer, which opened in November 2022 and have since gained recognition and praise as one of the very few inclusive public toilets open for everyone in Bristol city centre.
Made up of floor to ceiling self-contained toilets – some of which contain hand-washing facilities and mirrors and some that are ambulant – an accessible toilet, baby changing facilities and a large family room.
Their toilets also have free period products from Grace & Green, an ethical and sustainable provider, and low energy lighting, energy efficient heating, cooling and hot water systems and wall tiles and flooring made from recycled materials.
To coincide with the opening of their new toilets in November last year, the Watershed launched Inconvenience, a zine by Jo Kimber and Alec Stevens celebrating stories from the toilets and why access to toilets is so important.
The Loo of the Year Awards ceremony, which began in 1987, is aimed at highlighting and improving standards of ‘away from home’ toilet provision across the UK.
As part of the awards, inspectors made unannounced visits to thousands of toilet sites to judge them, rating them against 101 categories including signage and décor, fixtures and fittings, accessibility, cleanliness, overall management, and customer care.
The designs were carefully considered and reviewed by experts from Around the Toilet, and the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL) consulted on signage, colour schemes, physical access and light and noise
Speaking about the win, Watershed CEO Clare Reddington, said: “Toilets are such vital pieces of cultural infrastructure that are used for many human needs.
“We are so proud of our award-winning toilets, which are joyfully designed to forefront comfort, access, and inclusion.
“Despite moments of concern from some of our community when we announced our plans they are now loved by audiences and visitors and this award is a testament to that.”
Main photo: Clare Reddington Twitter
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