Gail’s in Primrose Hill may be required to install customer toilets after a complaint. Council to discuss legal obligations.
A customer named Chris Thorpe visited the Gloucester Avenue café and discovered there were no toilets available. The bakery seemed big enough to legally need them. Chris contacted the Ham&High newspaper about this.
Camden Council stated they will discuss this with Gail’s and talk about their legal toilet obligation. Businesses with seating for over ten must have restrooms.
Staff told Chris to use a pub further down. Chris thought this was unfair to the pub owners. He counted twelve chairs plus bench seating. He noted some customers can’t easily walk far.
A similar case happened with Gregg’s bakery. Hull Council took Gregg’s to court for lacking toilets at two locations. The council won, citing unfair competition.
The new Gail’s upset local businesses before opening. Cafes and shoppers feared the chain and what it would do to independent shops.
A Gail’s spokesperson said they won’t change anything. The bakery was once a deli, and it had a staff toilet in the back.
They cannot make the old toilet safe for customers. The building is too small for a new toilet, and Camden Council approved the current design.
Camden Council stated the legal seating rule, requiring ten seats or more to provide toilets. They will advise Gail’s on customer toilet access.