Restaurant Toilets!

**stojkovic** · 08/06/2005, 2:26 PM

Got caught short meself once in Liverpool.

Went into a McDonalds and headed straight for the jax.

I could here 'Excuse me, excuse me" from the security guard but I kept walking and didnt turn around.

Came out later and there's your man blocking the doorway commenting that our toilets are for customers waffle.

I pulled open the door and said 'I wont do it again', smiled and walked away. He went ballistic.

**Macy** · 08/06/2005, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Macy are you a PD voter by any chance?

Worst insult I've ever got on here...

The Cafe should probably have let them into the jacks, however, it's not anyone's right to demand to use something on private property (unless you're a communist party voter?).

Problem is the supermarket, that's where she was spending her money, and that's who should be getting the complaints.

**Poor Student** · 08/06/2005, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

Worst insult I've ever got on here...

The Cafe should probably have let them into the jacks, however, it's not anyone's right to demand to use something on private property (unless you're a communist party voter?).

Touch�.

Macy I see where you are coming from in some pedantic way however in a more moral sense you think we would afford people come basic rights like use of a toilet in times of desperation no matter the preceeding situation.

**Metrostars** · 08/06/2005, 3:04 PM

I've been in the same situation in the past with my kids over here in the US, "you have to be a customer" story. Especially when they just out of diapers/nappers and learning to go.

I usually say "Right then, can I have a menu and a table oh and I need to use the bathrooms first". Come back out and I say "eh, I don't like what I see on the menu, but thanks anyway" and drop them a few quarters.

**pete** · 08/06/2005, 5:11 PM

This is typical of the pregnant women agenda - always looking for freebies.

**anto eile** · 08/06/2005, 9:25 PM

in spain the custom is you can use a toilet,if youre not a customer, but you are meant to leave a small tip. i.e. 50 cent.
most places on te continent youve to pay for public toilets, it can cost a small fortune if youre interrailing

**Closed Account 2** · 08/06/2005, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by stojkovic

Got caught short meself once in Liverpool.

Went into a McDonalds and headed straight for the jax.

I could here 'Excuse me, excuse me" from the security guard but I kept walking and didnt turn around.

Came out later and there's your man blocking the doorway commenting that our toilets are for customers waffle.

I pulled open the door and said 'I wont do it again', smiled and walked away. He went ballistic.

Ah the good old McSh*te with lies... did it a few times interrailing myself, hang around by the order queue / check out for a minute or so before you do the business and then you never get stopped by a security guard.

**hamish** · 08/06/2005, 9:42 PM

Can be a downside too lads.

A good few years ago, having a party in the house here, mum went to use the jacks, opened the door and found a mate of mine with his girlfriend shagging each other senseless. Me mum. she was so shocked, had to make her a cup of tea to help her get her voice back!!!

Mate became Mayor of the town a few years ago - there's a joke there somewhere???

Ever happen to you lot???

**Neish** · 08/06/2005, 9:49 PM

Originally Posted by Malby

My Mrs was out shopping recently with our little one who had to go the loo. There was none in the supermarket so she brought her into a cafe beside it. The staff refused to let her use it as she was not a paying customer (she's six months pregnant and the kid is 8). Needless to say my kid got caught short and I'm fuming over this!

Does anyone know if they were within their rights to do this? Or if there is any way I could (legally) get back at them? I've written to local press and they've published but without naming and shaming.

Next time you use the toilet mail it to them

**hamish** · 08/06/2005, 9:54 PM

Originally Posted by Neish

Next time you use the toilet mail it to them

Yeah, especially after a curry!!

**liam88** · 08/06/2005, 10:04 PM

Malby I'm with you all the way-Macy your being well out on this; it must have been so uncomfertable for Malby junior and upsetting for Malby's wife-not over dramatising but it's a basic human right not to have to wet yourself. If the little lad went up the side of the Cafe they'd be ready to sue but their perfectly happy to let him go home soaking wet and sore; not nice.
I'd understand it more with a shop that had a staff only toilet as these are not normally covered by insurance etc. for the public so hardly anybody asks-but for a Cafe is just rediculous!
What gets me even more is that Malby's wife actually had the decency to ask if her son could use the toilet and not just go straight in (as to be honest she should have a right to) and they still said no!
Sounds to be like not only a stupid rule but a stupid adherance to it! When I was on the make Poverty History all night vigil in London the toilets in Trafalgur square were locked and we couldn't find any other public ones so we went to the Hargandaze Cafe in Piccidily Circuis and said "can we use your toilets" and the chap says "I really shouldn't let you" so I said "I understand that but we're out all night and the toilets in trafalgur sqaure are locked" so he did! Ok he broke their own rule but he understood it was a decent reason like Malby's wife had!

Obviously not as bad as refusing toilet facilities but when we were younger me and brother in a supermarket and my dad getting lots of food so he gave us 50p each for the vending machine and we went and sat in the (half empty) shop restuarent. Manager came over and kicked us out because we bought drinks from the machine and not the restaurent!
Ok it's their rule that you have to purchase food from the restaurent and I respect that but surely you can make an exception for an 8 year old and a 10 year old waiting for their dad when they are making no mess and the restaurent is half empty anyway! What harm was it doing? The manager didn't understand when my dad went and talked to him.

Woah just realised how much i've written but it really gets to be stuff like this your wee lad shouldn't have had to go through that! Ok shop rules are rules but there are always exceptions-it's people who arn't clever enough to realsie this who have to paly everything by the book and cause these problems!

**Macy** · 09/06/2005, 7:25 AM

Actually asked the missus about this last night - her being a former retail manager.....

The supermarket should've let Mrs Malby use their toilets. She used to work in a major supermarket chain, and in the smaller stores without Customer Toilets, customers would be let use the staff ones (once they were escorted in the back of the shop).

Something has also occured to me - could there have been insurance problems for the cafe if a non-customer had slipped or something in the toilet?

**Frank Blue** · 09/06/2005, 7:31 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

Actually asked the missus about this last night - her being a former retail manager.....

The supermarket should've let Mrs Malby use their toilets. She used to work in a major supermarket chain, and in the smaller stores without Customer Toilets, customers would be let use the staff ones (once they were escorted in the back of the shop).

Something has also occured to me - could there have been insurance problems for the cafe if a non-customer had slipped or something in the toilet?

This is true about insurance. However, look at it this way, it is everywhere - you go in a store, browse, but buy nothing and have an accident in the store - you can sue. There have been examples of councils being sued after people tripped on uneven paving stones, etc.
So I think it is nonsensical to use this as an excuse.