Guildford and Waverley’s Loos of The Year

Published on: 8 Nov, 2023
Updated on: 10 Nov, 2023

Wetherspoon’s Rodborough Buildings pub Google Street View

By Chris Caulfield, local democracy reporter

and Martin Giles

Water supply permitting, those responsible for a Guildford pub and two toilets in Waverley borough could be excused for feeling flushed with success.

The Wetherspoon pub in Rodboro Buildings, Bridge Street, Broadwater Park, in Farncombe, and Frensham Great Pond and Common have been awarded platinum status.

The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of “away from home” toilet provision across the UK.

Loo of the Year Awards inspectors made unannounced visits to thousands of toilets at sites across the UK, in order to judge them.

All of the toilets are graded silver, gold, platinum, platinum plus or diamond with unacceptable toilets not graded at all.

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

Danny Nixon, manager of the Wetherspoon pub, said: “We are delighted with the award. Staff at the pub ensure the toilets are in excellent condition at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

The Loo of the Year Awards 2023 managing director, Becky Wall, said: “The toilets at The Rodboro Buildings have been designed and fitted out to a very high standard and are both clean and well maintained.

“The pub deserves its platinum award.”

Loo Of The Year 2023 Photo Waverley Borough Council

Waverley toilets have reclaimed their thrones as some of the country’s best bogs after inspectors released their results from unannounced lavatory visits. Broadwater Park, in Farncombe and Frensham Great Pond and Common have again been awarded platinum status – honours they held from 2017 and 2019 respectively.

Cllr Steve Williams

Cllr Steve Williams, Waverley Borough Council’s portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said: “Clean, well-managed toilets are very important for those visiting our sites and I would like to say a big thank you to our contractors and staff who do such a great job keeping them up to such a high standard.”

According to Loo of the Year organisers, the awards encourage the highest possible standards in all “away from home” washrooms and inspectors make unannounced visits to toilets across the UK and Ireland to judge them.

Acceptable toilets are graded silver, gold, platinum or diamond and are held up against a number of criteria, including décor, cleanliness, hand washing equipment and accessibility.

The awards have run since 1987 and are considered the ‘washroom standard’ with overall winners competing in 61 categories.