Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To expect a naice cafe to have a loo?

69 replies

SeashellHoarder · 22/02/2017 17:36

My judgement is skewed as this made me a bit cross.

Long story:

I've had a tough few weeks so I decided to go out with the baby for a fancy hot chocolate at a naice cafe. Sans buggy as parked round the corner.

Ordered said fancy hot choc and baby has a poonami. So I ask for baby change and they don't have one. I ask if there's a loo to change her in. The answer is no. Apparently it's her private home.

She said: "Would you let a stranger change their baby in your loo?"

My answer is"yes!" Btw.

She offered to let me change baby on the stairs.

There was no sign before I went in that it was a private home. Lots of signage out front, menus, sandwich board etc.

I had to leave with baby to sort it out and leave the expensive hot choc!

Baby has just had 8 week jabs so I have to wash hands thoughly after each change. I had to change baby on lap in car and drive to nearest public loos.

Wibu to expect a loo?

OP posts:

Eeeek686 · 24/02/2017 07:03

Oo we used to live in Probus! Never went in the cafe tho, the lady always looked like she hated people and was sucking a lemon ... A proportion of the village population was very similarly predisposed we found - the "farm shop" were often scowly and the chip shop closed at 8:30!! There was an ongoing protest against building a bus shelter in the square as well - despite the fact that it was extremely well used - as it would be "unsightly".....

A lovely village in some ways but minimal community spirit and an overwhelming attitude of "we will tolerate our customers but we definitely Will Not like them" from all village services.

We left after a year....

BadKnee · 24/02/2017 08:39

They should make it clear that they don't have one as many people expect it but as others have said it isn't the law and many don't have loos.

Pret a Manger in all the major stations including Waterloo, Euston and Manchester Piccadilly - al of which I have sent many hours in! There is also a restaurant in Kings Cross - posh - does nice breakfasts - no loo.

Once again though we have the complete lack of understanding of costs of a small business. £2.75 is nothing for a seat, drink ingredients and labour costs let alone other overheads. Adding loos means all sorts of other costs, increased insurance, cleaning (!!).

The real problem was that you expected one thing and she didn't make it clear before you went in that that was not on offer.

Aeroflotgirl · 24/02/2017 08:42

By law, if she is providing food and drink, she has to have a toilet.

marcopront · 24/02/2017 08:49

Foxes I voted it as helpful as well. We are not the only ones as it now has 14 helpful votes.

I am not sure why the owner thinks it is unhelpful. I have seen similar reviews where the owner has said it is not helpful to tell us now you should have said so at the time, which does make sense but I don't feel this is the meaning here.

BadKnee · 24/02/2017 08:53

Oh and the comment about letting in a mother who knocked on your door... Reallly?? Would you??

See the almost monthly threads on workmen using the loos in the house in which they working to realise that that is not a widely held sentiment. (Workmen should take crap before they leave for work at 7am and not need the loo for the eight hours they are on site apparently!!)

Letting any random in to your home is not something to be done lightly. (I did it once when I was eighteen and very stupid. A quick diversion into the bedroom by mistake and the jewellery that was on my mother's dressing table was pocketed.

Would you also supply cleaning equipment or would you be happy to clean up after them if they made a bit of a mess?

When I was young and struggling I worked at MacDonalds in Central London and part of my job on Lobby Duties was cleaning/checking the loos. Not nice at all. Not everyone is clean. People who are away from home and caught off guard do not always leave the loos spotless!! Some cultures squat on the seat. Some men have no aim at all. Some people have tummy bugs or are sick - hence the urgent need for a loo away from home. Some people stuff sanitary towels and vast quantities of loo roll down the loo. If it blocks no-one does anything - they just leave and hope - until there is a flood. When given the choice of taking a dirty nappy away in a handbag or leaving it on the floor - no contest. And sanitary products - in the bin, on the floor. Sorry - but you have no idea.

Foxesarefriends · 24/02/2017 11:05

Heir I checked Cornwall county council website, and no. It's only of your licensed or a new build

Although there are photos of alcohol being served in the photos on FB/Twitter.

Maybe there is a way of getting round that and not being licensed?

I am interested in a comment on twitter asking holidaymakers to be careful on the roads as it is locals and their friend and family who have to pick up the pieces.
I am pretty sure that it's the holidaymakers who keep the economy going in Cornwall and I think that locals have their fair share of accidents too.

It's a love/hate thing I think that many places have with tourists but it's how well they keep a cheerful persona going which is important.

Foxesarefriends · 24/02/2017 11:07

Sorry- it was a comment from the cafe owner about holiday makers on the roads.

Anyway, I couldn't go anywhere without a loo nearby, such an issue for me.

Deathraystare · 24/02/2017 11:34

Please post a photo so that i can avoid this place because i have a very weak bladder.

Me too. Lost count of the times I have had a coffee or other drink , asked for the loo and found there isn't one and ended up in yet another coffee/drink place to go loo and feel obliged to have anohter drink.! Nightmare!

Notjustuser1458393875 · 24/02/2017 11:44

Regardless of whether she is legally required to have one, surely she should not be surprised to be asked. It's her rude manner that is the big problem here. In her position I would imagine she is asked regularly about loos and needs to give a far more polite response.

And to the PP who wouldn't think of letting a stranger use her loo, you are not opening up your home as a cafe! The owner has willingly put herself in a situation in which strangers (or customers as she should think of them) will ask. In her position I think it's shameful if she doesn't allow those in clear need to use her loo. Direct others to the nearest public loo with an apology and an offer to watch their food and drinks if necessary.

Buzzardbird · 24/02/2017 11:47

It's only licensed properties that have to have loos. I am genuinely shocked by how many of you don't know that.

cantmakeme · 24/02/2017 11:50

badknee No, I think that the real problem was the rudeness of the owner not differing expectations. If you don't have a loo available, point the customer in the direction of a public loo and offer to keep the drink warm for their return. Be friendly and polite. Manners and friendliness go a long way.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 24/02/2017 11:54

I'm sure their legally requires to have a toilet for sanitation reasons? Especially if serving the public?

My ExDHs BIL bought a shop and wasn't allowed to open until he'd installed a toilet for his staff etc at least. I'm sure you'd have to do a lot more for your customers when you're a cafe?

AwaywiththePixies27 · 24/02/2017 11:57

It's only licensed properties that have to have loos. I am genuinely shocked by how many of you don't know that.

BuzzardBird I think most of us genuinely don't know that. Then again I've never been in any sort of cafe that doesn't have a loo so probably just ignorant to the fact.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 24/02/2017 11:59

I get that they're not legally required to have one for customers bur surely they have to for their staff? regardless of the extra costs one may incur for installing it.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 24/02/2017 12:02

If you don't have a loo available, point the customer in the direction of a public loo and offer to keep the drink warm for their return.

Yes this. We were in London once, in a niace cafe in St Pancras. DS needed the loo and when I asked the waiter said sorry we don't but there's some just around the corner. If you're in a customer facing role,these questions shouldn't come as unexpected to them.

Pineappletastic · 24/02/2017 12:03

Really rude. Surely she could have either made an exception or pointed out the nearest public loo and remade your drink when you came back?

If a person with an obviously poo-ey baby knocked on my door and asked to use my loo I would let them! I don't think burglars would seriously do the rounds with a poonami-ed baby in the hopes of falling on something to steal.

But then I'd let workmen use my loo as well (though I might grumble if they made a mess, in the same way I grumble when people leave a mess in the loo at work).

kali110 · 24/02/2017 13:36

Matbe she does have one for staff?
She isn't going to let customer use it though is she?
I think she should have a sign up stating she doesn't have toilet facilities.
There's a cafe by me with mo toilet, very irritating!
I don't think £2.75 is bad for a drink, good infact!

SuperFlyHigh · 24/02/2017 18:37

knackered unless you are going to a "quick" Pret the vast majority of Prets in London do have toilets. Sometimes they are well hidden but all the ones I've been in have had them, after asking.

BadKnee · 25/02/2017 10:58

cantmakeme - Fair point. She should have handled it better.

Flip

1 2 3