In the seat of power: top toilets hoping to be flushed with success
The Loo of the Year competition, hitting Irish shores for the first time, will guarantee the bog standard approach to the nation’s loos gets a much needed boost.
The awards, run by the British Toilet Association, will test hundreds of loos around the country to see which comes out tops for bottoms at the awards ceremony to be held in Belfast this September.
Richard Chisnell, BTA director, said he expected inspectors to be flooded with entries in the coming weeks and months.
“We’re expecting over 1,000 entries this year,” he said. “With 50 different entry categories, including, for the first time, important locations like cemeteries and crematoria, as well as fast or quick service restaurants and exhibition venues, we’ve got every conceivable away-from-home location covered.”
Mr Chisnell said tourism bodies across Ireland and Britain were supporting the awards as visitor impressions of anywhere are often first gained in the loo.
There are National Awards for each country to find the best place to go as well as awards for baby-change and accessible facilities.
The competition, billed as the Oscars of the toilet world, is designed to encourage the highest possible standards in public conveniences. Every entry received before June 30 will be inspected with grades of three, four or five stars presented along with a Grading Certificate to promote the award winning facilities.
