The exceptional priority that nation pub chain JD Wetherspoon places on its toilet facilities has led to the company winning the 2001 Cannon Hygiene Loo of the Year Award.

Of the fifteen Wetherspoon pubs entered in the competition three won the individual national awards in England, Scotland and Wales, seven others won 5 Star Awards and the remaining five won 4 Star Awards. On November 23rd the teams responsible fro providing these superb facilities received the gleaming mahogany and brass trophy, together with certificates to be displayed on the walls of all the winning facilities. Now in it fourteenth year, the Loo of the Year is sponsored by Cannon Hygiene with further support from the Tourist Boards in Scotland and Wales and the English Tourism Council.

"The provision of outstanding loos, in terms of design, equipment provision and maintenance is quite clearly a number one priority for this innovative company," said Awards director Richard Chisnell. "We understand that every fortnight the entire head office team, plus selected area management and pub managers study photographs of good toilets to decide which ones are best. Those views are then transmitted to their design team for inclusion in all the new designs they are working on. All we can say is that this effort clearly shows in the reports provided by our independent team of judges."

In England, the major national winners were The Ledger Building (Wetherspoon) in London's Docklands - Individual Category; North Street, Rugby (Rugby BC) - Individual Local Authority; the Steam Museum, Swindon - Babychange and Viaduct Meadow, Evesham - Accessible toilets. The Standards of Excellence Shield was presented to Portsmouth City Council and the Attendant of the Year Award went to the team at The Castle Grounds, Tamworth.

In Scotland, the Individual Category Winner was the Clydesdale Inn, Lanark, (Wetherspoon) whilst the best Local Authority Loos were at Cochrane Park, Alva run by Clackmannanshire Council. The best Babychange facilities were at the Luss Camping Site, Loch Lomond and the winning Accessible Toilets were at Baltic Street, Montrose. The Standards of Excellence shield went to East Lothian council, with the team at Rothesay Pier, Bute winning the Attendant of the Year Award.

The Welsh Individual Category Winner was the Coliseum, Abergavenny (also Wetherspoon) with the Local Authority Award going to John Street, Porthcawl, run by Bridgend County Borough Council. The best Babychange facilities were judged to be those at Pencelli Castle Caravan Park, Brecon. The award for Accessible toilets goes to Pont Kemys Caravan Park, Chainbridge. Winner of the Standards of Excellence National Shield was Badger's Cafe, Llandudno with the Attendant of the Year Award going to the Plassey Craft Centre, Wrexham.

In what was another record year for the competition, 114 Five Star Awards, 175 Four Star Awards and 136 Three Star Awards have been present to loo providers around Britain. This represents the highest number of awards presented since the awards scheme began. [Visit www.loo.co.uk for a listing of all 2001 winners...]

Oliver Weisflog, managing director of Cannon Hygiene, the Loo of the Year Awards major sponsor, saw this record as further evidence of the improving standards of British loos. "We're delighted that once again there has been an increase in the number of awards presented in the competition. When one realises that all the facilities were judged both independently and anonymously, it becomes clear that there are a rapidly rising number of organisations who realise that first class toilet facilities are an integral part of the overall customer package. Everyone who has taken part, whether they are loo providers or hard-working and conscientious attendants and cleaning staff, should be very proud of these results." Cannon Hygiene, the UK's leading privately owned washroom hygiene services supplier, is committed to raising washroom standards with a range of comprehensive and innovative solutions.

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