Since Covid - Do you expect to be allowed to use the toilet in a caffe at the moment?

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When getting a takeaway coffee or water ? Or when you're getting nothing ? Have your views on this changed since covid?

If somewhere is only open for takeaway I wouldn’t expect the toilets to be open.

If somewhere is open then I would expect the toilets to be open for paying customers

i would not think to ask, it seems a bit cheeky, unless it was a dire emergency.

Takeaway, no... sit down at tables outdoors, yes.

Same as pp's, if open with tables outside, yes. If only for takeaway, not necessarily, although it would be nice.

Not takeaway only. If seating was outside the possibly. The lack of public facilities in this country drives me nuts and even more so they’ve closed them for covid. At the weekend we drove to visit family, we’re only 20 mins away but I was busting for the loo and pregnant so no way I could hold it. Passed a “picnic area” which was signposted as having toilets. Except they were closed for covid. I cried then peed behind a wall as I would have wet myself otherwise. Even the radar disabled toilet had a massive metal bar bolted over it, it’s shocking.

For takeaway food and drink? Definately would not expect toilets to be open.

Yes, it's a basic human right and it's pretty mean to refuse someone the use of a toilet when there's one available

I don't think it's ever been ok to expect to use the café in a toilet without buying something unless they've been part of that scheme some councils run where their toilet is open to the public and they display a sticker saying so. As with others, if they are serving outside tables then yes, I'd definitely expect a toilet, but not if takeaway - which is a change to pre-covid, I think it was fine to use the toilet if you were buying a takeaway coffee then but now the toilet might be shut if they have no sit-down service.

Forgot to say only for sitting in not takeaways

It’s a really difficult one right now but it impacts women especially, and elderly / disabled people when there are no toilets available, it compounds the isolation that many are already feeling.

Generally not, these days.

Takeaway no, if there's tables yes

Not for take aways but yes for sit ins/outs

I would expect to be able to use a toilet anywhere with seating/table service.

I wouldn't expect to be able to use it for takeaway, but I have asked (nicely) in two separate places - one said yes and the other no. Fine.

It is a problem though, I was heavily pregnant during the first lockdown last year and often had to shorten my walks or plan their routes so that I could get home. Very annoying!

Not for takeaway only no. For sit down yes.

If the only cafe for several miles around (and in a place popular with walkers etc) was takeaway-only, the chances are that if the toilets were open, then it might well prove to be popular and attract more customers.

We have ours open now we have outdoor seating allowed.
When it was takeaway only we were often also lone working so toilets were closed.

I must admit I had a mini breakdown the first week of seating outside. First day of lockdown easing and somebody had already broken the lock, day two someone fucked up the toilet flush so I had to do some repair work. The final straw was some random later in the afternoon not even buying a drink, who completely blocked it and left it a state. I cleaned, blocked access with furniture and went out the back for a fag and a much needed scream/weep.

We obviously can’t have nice things. Two days. Two fucking days.

If you aren’t buying anything then no - I wouldn’t expect to use a toilet unless a medical emergency.
If I was sitting at a table with something purchased then yes I would expect a toilet to be available

For takeaway no, not at the moment. When getting nothing, not unless it was a genuine emergency.

Takeaway no.

Tables outside, def yes. I've had to pop in and use the toilet once or twice already (heavily pregnant!) and the staff were fine with it. I think you can't expect customers to sit and enjoy a few drinks (if you are a pub for example) and some food without providing a toilet really.

Takeaway no but seating outside yes! As someone who was pregnant in the first two lockdowns, having no toilets anywhere was a nightmare!

I assume not so plan accordingly.

I found this AWFUL in Cornwall when we visited. Toddler needed the toilet the moment we left a sit down restaurant. They wouldn't let us re enter and nowhere would let us use one, even coffee shops and pubs. You had to be booked in? Eventually we walked nearly 2 km to the public toilets in a car park. The situation as a menstruating women, small child or someone with IBS just means they won't go out or spend as much money in towns, so businesses really should think about it.

If you want people to visit your town, use your establishment whether sitting outside or take away then you should let them use your toilets. I live in a seaside town and during the first lock down when the public toilets were closed people were using the sand dunes.

Well, you may be using their establishment, which is also why you should respect their right to protect their staff from covid and not have their toilets become a public toilet. Therefore cafes and restaurants need to limit who can use their toilets.