Lack of toilets

[Deathraystare]

I tried to find the thread where everyone can have a jolly good moan. That's one moan out the way!

Yesterday I was going to The Gate cinema in Notting Hill. Was early so going to Westfield but friends said to meet them at White City station. I did not realise there is a loo there (badly needed) but thought we will soon be at the restaurant/cafe so no worries. Get to the cafe by the cinema. So tiny, no loo. Never mind I thought I will go use the one in the cinema. Cinema so small it only allows you in 15 mins before film starts.

I managed to go somewhere else. We had an hour to do so went back to the other cafe I went loo in as we knew we could use that loo! Got to the cinema and there loos are out of service.!

By the end of the film, my bladder was determined to stomp off on its own looking for a loo. The cafe I used earlier was closed. Two other places were too small to have one and a Pret also had loo out of service. My friend reckons this is still from Covid.

Luckily Maccy D's across the way had loos.

I was getting quite fed up (and desperate!!). It really takes the shine out of going out when you have to keep hunting down loos!

Does anyone else feel like this?

I admit I have to take water tablets plus two other pills I have to take, the side effects mean I pee for England. Unfortunately, I cannot keep my drinking down as I get soo thirsty (diabetes).

Surely I cannot be the only one who? All I can say is thank goodness for Tena lady etc etc!

This is why a lot of people of a certain age won't pass (no pun intended) a loo without using it.

It actually pisses me off (no pun intended there either!). Some places you really feel you have to beg to use their facilities and then buy a wretched drink (so you know you will have to visit a loo again!

Some places only let their customers use their facilities and have a code to use the door. It does not seem to have entered their heads that if they cheerily let you use the loo, you are bound to be a future customer!!

I thought cafes serving food were supposed to provide toilet facilities for customer

This is a much bigger problem than people realise. There really isn't very many toilets that are available for public use in London and I actually think this is a quite stressful prospect for a lot of older people, especially women, so they just don't leave.
Every other city I've been to in mainland Europe has had lots more options than London has.
I'm not sure about the rest of the UK though.

I use my notes app to keep a record of the loo codes for pret, Starbucks and Costa.

I have IBS. I dont anywhere without searching out toilet facilities first.

I don't understand how a cinema's loos can be out of service, films can be over an hour long, what do they expect people to do, are you sure that's not against some Health and Safety Law.

@Babysharkdoodoodood

That is a good idea. Shame I am a technobimbo!!!

@Georgeskitchen ·

Yeah I thought so too!

My DH has a medical issue that means he needs to use the toilet many, many times a day. Most of the time, to be honest, we assume there’s going to be a loo at a cafe or a cinema or wherever we happen to be going, and have been lucky not to encounter what you did.
But there have been times when he’s needed to check first, like the PP with IBS. Bigger supermarkets are usually a good bet for him! Google has been a godsend when we’ve been somewhere unfamiliar.
Also pubs and the traditional McPiss like you did

My borough has 'community toilets' which are generally in restaurants / cafes and you don't have to spend to use the facilities. There aren't many though. I always look out for McDs/ BK/KFC

OP there is an app which locates the nearest loo, wherever you are in the world xx

Never pass up a seat or a loo is my mantra. 62 with a weak bladder it's the bane of my life.

I have a chronic bowel condition (BAM) that means I have about 90 seconds to get to a loo once I feel that initial twinge. It's hugely limited my life and now I have to stick to places I know really well, with good access to clean loos. I would've been stuffed in your situation.

Some places only let their customers use their facilities and have a code to use the door. It does not seem to have entered their heads that if they cheerily let you use the loo, you are bound to be a future customer!!

No, people using the loo are not necessarily a future customer. We have a cafe and toilets open for all to use. There are a number of people who frequently use our toilets and the maximum they use the cafe for is to get a free glass of water when it's hot.

There are also public toilets about 10 yards from the back door.

However I would avoid a cinema which didn't have a loo. I'd also think it would be a false economy as people will buy fewer drinks.

@vera99

I am also 62 with a weak bladder! Maybe we should start a support club!

@MargaretThursday

No maybe not everyone will be a future customer, but if it is near me or near anywhere I go, I would remember if they cheerfully let me in rather than said no or grumbled.

There were loos but they were out of order. Same as in Pret.

@badassbaby

OOh What is it please? Then I can find someone technical to put it on for me!

Sadly people abuse toilets and leave them disgustingly dirty, broken or blocked. Toilets are an expensive burden on councils to provide. Plus staff do not (understandably) want to sort out toilets after they have been abused. Granted it’s a small number of people causing issues - but expenses add up for the business or council and causes massive inconvenience for others. (Pun unavoidable). Covid excuses just hide the fact that business are fed up of facilities being abused and rather than outright say it, they hid behind the perfect excuse - social distancing/covid, like so many business do in other areas. Saves them time/money/staffing costs.

It's called Flush

Yes this drives me mad too. (I have an overactive bladder). Was in London today. Had to plan the loo stop - Selfridges fine. Then thought I’d have lunch at Costa and use their loo. But they didn’t have one. I too thought it was the law that if you serve food and drink you have to provide a loo.

There are no public loos so you end up traipsing up 3 floors on a department store. Why are the men’s loos always on the ground floor?

I was in France over the summer and their provision was much better. Even at the start of hikes in the countryside they’d have these loo cabins.

There are apps which tell you the nearest toilets and you can add your own to the app with info about accessibility etc.

The one I have on my phone is ‘toilet finder’.
they cover overseas as well as Uk.

Cheers w eryone. I will ask the Porter if he is on Tom orriw to get those 2 apps put on for me.

Sadly I now only too well the disgusting state the loos can be in. It is not just the patients!!!! If only men would flush!!

This is yet another impact of the bastard Tories' cuts - councils have been closing loos and can't afford to clean them. It has negative economic impacts as it puts people off visiting town centres. You are not alone finding this difficult!