Toilet in Scottish shopping centre crowned UK's Loo of the Year

A Scottish toilet has been named the best in the UK, taking home the top prize at the “Toilet Oscars”.

The facilities at The Centre Livingston were up against more than 1,500 sites across the UK and judged by private inspectors in the summer.

The Loo of the Year Awards, often nicknamed the “Toilet Oscars”, have been identifying the best in the UK for almost 40 years.

Entering the retail category of the awards, the Scots toilets have now been named as the “best away from home” toilets and washrooms in the UK.

What makes an award-winning toilet?

The toilets at The Centre Livingston were up against more than 1,500 sites across the UK. Scott Media

Signage
Décor
Fixtures and fittings
Overall standards of cleanliness
Management

Every entry receives an unannounced visit from an authorised Loo of the Year Awards inspector and is assessed against a wide range of judging criteria, which include signage and décor, fixtures and fittings, and overall standards of cleanliness and management.

Over 1,500 entries were received across 63 separate entry categories, all of which have been graded from bronze to diamond.

The Centre facilities weren’t the only Scots loos that took home a top prize at the awards, with the winner of the Changing Places Toilet being won by St James Quarter in the centre of Edinburgh.

The awards were presented at the official Loo Of The Year event, which took place on Wednesday at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

Scott Media

Becky Wall BEM, co-founder of A Plush Flush, which provides mobile luxury toilets to UK venues and events, said the event is more than just a culmination of a year’s work.

“Every venue or workplace which enters is given a grading from which they can then improve their washroom facilities for their visitors and staff.

“While it can be funny to think about ‘loos’, these are important facilities that we all need every day, and it’s important that they are of a good, and indeed exceptional standard,” she added.

“This supports the wellbeing of staff, visitors and tourists.”

Keynote speaker at the event was Stefan Thomas, best-selling author of three books on successful networking including Business Networking For Dummies.

Mr Thomas also has Crohn’s and Colitis which means he understands the need for hygienic and accessible toilets.

Jules Hudson from BBC’s Escape to the Country was the host for the day, and Shaun Williams, best known as Barry in Eastenders, was the after-dinner speaker.