Fringe venue ‘breaking law’ by letting biological men use women’s toilets

[IwantToRetire]

Underbelly Bristo Square, which is home to multiple small theatres, posted a disclaimer below the sign for the female bathroom telling attendees to “use whichever toilet best fits your identity or expression”.

The men’s toilets display a similar disclaimer but individual cubicles appear to still be labelled “gents”.

Full article at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/03/edinburgh-fringe-venue-biological-men-womens-toilets/

Can also be read at https://archive.is/69HBM

They should be reported to Edinburgh council to make sure when they apply for a licence to operate the venue next year it is conditional on them upholding the law

I think it's reasonable that even after the SC ruling, a venue can't be expected to guarantee 100% that only women will use the women's toilet - bad actors and all that.
Putting up clear signs saying that single sex toilets should be respected would at least show a basic compliance with the law.
But putting up signs that say in so many words F*ck the Supreme Court ...?

As they are breaking the law would this invalidate their insurance?

As if we don't have long enough queues at the ladies....

(Not the point I know, but still annoying!)

Oh I know. Subject of another thread really but every time I go to a camping holiday or similar I can't help but notice how in families with a parent of each sex, the lions share of the toilet and shower visits with younger kids are undertaken by the mothers. Irritating imbalance in itself, but also when numbers of toilets and showers are being allocated does anyone factor in that 95% of the time children of both sexes under 8 would also use the women's?

The general rule of thumb is that there should be twice as many women’s toilets as men’s toilets to create equity (like wait times etc).

Would the presence of such a sign be aiding and abetting voyeurism? Giving men, who want to, permission to go into women’s toilets that aren’t designed to be mixed sex.

Mixed sex toilets do not have door gaps for the reason of privacy.

These toilets do have door gaps under and over the door (if they are the same ones on another thread) because they are the safer single sex design for one sex only. Gaps allow better cleaning, more ventilation, prevent assaults, and prevent delays in assistance for medical emergencies. I think the courts would be particularly damning if children were using the toilets too.

I hope JazzyBBBG doesn't mind me re-posting her photo from the Toilet progress Supreme Court | Mumsnet thread -it's exactly the kind of sign I had in mind in my previous post.
Well spotted, Jazzy

edited to say I've just noticed that they are offering the accessible toilet as a gender neutral toilet for anyone at all - they should be making clear it's only for disabled people, just as the women's toilet is only for women😠

This doesn't surprise me. Edinburgh Uni who own a lot of the Fringe venues are massively captured. They won't, and don't care that they are breaking the law..

Fringe venue removes signs allowing biological men to use women’s lavatories
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/07/fringe-venue-removes-signs-biological-men-womens-toilets/
also at https://archive.is/CibEc

The message added is probably foul of the SC ruling but even if they didn't, can they physically stop people using the wrong toilet? Expecting venues to police this could put them in dangerous positions too. Different if its eg. a gym that can ban members who break rules.

Well, some good news that they've had a rocket up them. As GoldenGate says, even though they've removed their illegal signs, will they act according to the law? They may simply ignore MCW using g the ladies, or even tell them to.

An aside: how many times did the article use "bathroom"? Sets my teeth on edge...

Whether it's policed or not, males will have no excuse for just walking in and hopefully they will think twice before doing so.

If it’s for the customers / clients then theres no requirement to provide single sex toilets.

Staff provision is different, but as a visitor you have no way of telling.