The pub nearest to where I live that sells real ale is The Havelock. We usually go there for a lunch time meal. Now in the gents there is a large blackboard above the urinals with chalk to let you leave messages or draw silly cartoons. This got me thinking about unusual pub toilets in general, but not in a pervy way you understand !
Most times you go, you do your business, dry your hands on a 100 dB hand dryer, rendering conversation impossible, then leave. But some loos are better than others. Over Christmas we did a Newcastle/Gateshead pub crawl and ended up in the Station East, which has only recently opened. They had a novel idea of fitting out the gents, as you can see from the photograph above. This contrasts with the graffiti decorating the loo in the Free Trade, Newcastle.
Usually going to the loo is a simple event with short walk. Not so some Wetherspoons who are famous for having toilets which are miles away from the bar. Through the door marked toilets is just the start. Up ( or down) flights of stairs, along several corridors till you find the actual door. Can you hell find your way back again ? There is a pub in Manchester ( not a Spoons pub) that has solved this problem. Called The Wharf, there is the long trek upstairs to the gents, but when you come out, there is a helpful sign " You came from this direction " Nice touch.
We were doing a pub crawl of South Shields a couple of years ago to survey pubs for a Real Ale Trail ( well that was the excuse anyway). In the Holborn Rose & Crown near the river there was a sign in the gents " PLEASE DO NOT THROW CIGARETTE BUTTS IN THE URINAL, IT MAKES THEM SOGGY AND HARD TO LIGHT".
On the same day we called into The Rattler on the sea front and I'm not making this up - there was a guy in trap one chatting away on his mobile taking part in an audio conference. Bizarre.
On the same day we called into The Rattler on the sea front and I'm not making this up - there was a guy in trap one chatting away on his mobile taking part in an audio conference. Bizarre.
As you may well know, in a lot of gents toilets the decor is often complemented by the inevitable condom machine. Have you ever seen anyone use one, or even any one filling one ? I haven't, never.
Anyway, moving swiftly on. While writing this, I got to thinking about the best gents I have been in. Without doubt my award for the best loo I have visited last year goes to ( drum roll ) the Philharmonic Dining Rooms in Liverpool. See picture. Nothing can beat this.
Finally, a sign spotted in a Ladies On it was written :-
" my husband follows me everywhere".
Underneath was written " No I do not !"
" my husband follows me everywhere".
Underneath was written " No I do not !"
