Many Victorian urinals remained abandoned for decades after World War II, but encouraged by local officials keen for fresh sources of income, the conversion wave is gathering pace.
Many embrace their lavatorial heritage, like ‘The Convenience’ -- a coffee shop that opened in the trendy district of Hackney in 2013, ‘WC’ -- a wine bar in Clapham in south London -- and ‘ArtsLav’ -- a performing arts space in Kennington.
Others have chosen less literal names like ‘The Attendant’ and the ‘Cellar Door’ cabaret, both in the city centre. The trend has ‘picked up recently’, according to Rachel Erickson, whose job organising guided tours of the city’s working public toilets has earned her the nickname ‘Lady Loo’.
Jayke Mangion, 34, who opened ‘WC’ in July, explained that ‘the government has been pushing the councils to use all empty places to generate revenues’.
Whether it be derelict toilets or abandoned underground stations, many more unusual sites are coming on the market, offering far more affordable rents than traditional addresses.
Housed in a Victorian subterranean toilet block attached to Clapham Common underground station, ‘WC’ has kept its original mosaic floor and tiled walls and the woodwork has been fashioned into tables and intimate alcoves.
The old urinals are no longer in use but have stayed on as decor in the new bathrooms. Katie Harris, owner of ‘The Convenience’ -- a restaurant by day and bar by night -- has instead made the porcelain pots a feature, supporting the wooden bar.
The 30-year-old explained that she did not want ‘deny it was a toilet’ but also was wary of making the space ‘too toilety’.
Many embrace their lavatorial heritage, like ‘The Convenience’ -- a coffee shop that opened in the trendy district of Hackney in 2013, ‘WC’ -- a wine bar in Clapham in south London -- and ‘ArtsLav’ -- a performing arts space in Kennington.
Others have chosen less literal names like ‘The Attendant’ and the ‘Cellar Door’ cabaret, both in the city centre. The trend has ‘picked up recently’, according to Rachel Erickson, whose job organising guided tours of the city’s working public toilets has earned her the nickname ‘Lady Loo’.
Jayke Mangion, 34, who opened ‘WC’ in July, explained that ‘the government has been pushing the councils to use all empty places to generate revenues’.
Whether it be derelict toilets or abandoned underground stations, many more unusual sites are coming on the market, offering far more affordable rents than traditional addresses.
Housed in a Victorian subterranean toilet block attached to Clapham Common underground station, ‘WC’ has kept its original mosaic floor and tiled walls and the woodwork has been fashioned into tables and intimate alcoves.
The old urinals are no longer in use but have stayed on as decor in the new bathrooms. Katie Harris, owner of ‘The Convenience’ -- a restaurant by day and bar by night -- has instead made the porcelain pots a feature, supporting the wooden bar.
The 30-year-old explained that she did not want ‘deny it was a toilet’ but also was wary of making the space ‘too toilety’.