Both Wetherspoon and Vapiano have been quick to celebrate success in gaining recognition for the quality and standards of their toilets – rightly recognising the importance that their customers place on this aspect of hospitality – in the Loo of the Year Awards 2014.
The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of ‘away from home’ toilet provision across the UK, with authorised inspectors making unannounced visits to hundreds of toilets at sites across the UK in order to judge them.
Pubs are rated from bronze to gold with extremely poor pub toilets not gaining a rating. The platinum rating is given only to outlets which offer ‘exceptional toilets.’
Wetherspoon: setting the standard
A total of 447 Wetherspoon pubs have won recognition for the quality and standards of their toilets: the company has been awarded a platinum rating for 365 of its pubs and a gold rating for a further 81 outlets, with one pub gaining a sliver rating.
Loo of the Year Awards 2014 Managing Director, Mike Bone, said: “Wetherspoon’s pub toilets are setting the standard for the hospitality sector.
“Their unique design, cleanliness and range of facilities are a credit to the vision of Wetherspoon’s board and the pub management and staff who keep them in excellent condition.”
Wetherspoon Chief Executive John Hutson added: “This is a great accolade for the company. Credit goes to our architects for designing such excellent toilets and to our staff for maintaining them in first-class condition at all times.”
Vapiano wins acclaim
Italian fresh casual dining restaurant Vapiano has also won acclaim for the quality and standards of its toilets.
Vapiano has three restaurants in London – its restaurants at Great Portland Street and Bankside have been awarded a platinum rating by inspectors – the highest award possible. Its third restaurant in Soho opened after the judging had commenced.
The Loo of the Year Awards 2014 Managing Director, Mike Bone, commented: “Vapiano’s toilets are outstanding, in terms of design and cleanliness.”
The company’s UK and US Managing Director, Phil Sermon, added: “We are delighted that we have achieved the highest rating for the quality and standards of our toilets.”