Clean loos leave pubs flushed with success (From Swindon Advertiser)

Clean loos leave pubs flushed with success

8:40am Sunday 22nd November 2009

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TWO Swindon pubs are no longer bog standard after coming out top of a poll to find the 2009 Loo of the Year.

The Dockle Farmhouse in Bridge End Road, Stratton, and The Sir Daniel Arms in Fleet Street, town centre – both Wetherspoon pubs – have been flushed with success after being awarded a five star rating by inspectors who were on the search for the UK’s top pub toilets.

The independent awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of ‘away from home’ toilet provision across the UK.

Authorised inspectors made unannounced visits to more than 1,500 toilets at sites across the UK, in order to judge them.

Nicole Calver, manager of The Dockle Farmhouse, said: “I am delighted with the award.

“Staff at the pub work hard to ensure the toilets are in a first-class condition at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

The toilets are judged against numerous criteria, including décor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment and overall management.

All of the toilets are graded from one star to the maximum five star rating, with unacceptable toilets not graded at all.

Awards director, Mike Bone, said: “The inspectors were impressed with the toilets at both of the pubs and they thoroughly deserve their five star ratings.”

There are 60 categories in the awards and the most bizarre include loos in self storage facilities, crematoriums, ferry ports and toilets along Britain’s shoreline.

The 2009 Loo of the Year Awards presentation ceremony is being held on December 4 at the National Motor Cycle Museum near Birmingham were magician Paul Daniels will be providing the entertainment.

Since its introduction in 1987, the annual Loo of the Year Awards competition has helped focus the spotlight on public toilets throughout the UK.

The awards are run independently and promoted by the British Toilet Association.

For more information log onto www.loo.co.uk.

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