Hereford-based Loo of the Year Awards celebrated the 35th Anniversary of their National Awards on 12 January at the National Motor Cycle Museum, Solihull.
The ceremony celebrated all those that have been flushed with success in the 2022 Awards for the ‘best away from home washrooms’.
This year the Awards were headline sponsored jointly by Citron Hygiene and Aunt Flow, along with associate sponsors Accrol and P-Wave. Cistermiser was this year’s Awards Supporter. The compere for the day was Jules Hudson from BBC Escape to The Country and Channel 5’s Week on the Farm and Cash in the Attic. Entertainment was provided by Ben Nickless, as seen on Britain’s Got Talent, and a disco and band provided a party atmosphere for the evening.
The event saw many trophies and certificates presented to congratulate those that are creating a higher standard of hygiene and safety within our washrooms. The overall winner this year was Mitie, and some of their clients were highly recognised in both the certificates and trophy winners.
Becky Wall, Managing Director of the Loo Of The Year Awards, said: “We would like to congratulate all certificate winners and also the overall UK Trophy Winners.”
The individual category winners were:
- Corporate Provider: J D Wetherspoons
- Public Toilet Entries: Fife Coast & Countryside Trust
- Local Authority and Accessible Toilet Entries: Wychavon District Council
- Individual Categories Entries: Byndu Caravan and Camping Park
- Baby Changing Facilities: Foyleside Shopping Centre
- Changing Places Toilet: St Davids Dewi Sant
- Space to Change: The Buttercrane Centre
- Eco Friendly Toilet: Kings Cross Station
- Toilets In Education: The Aga Khan University
- In-House Cleaning Team: The Ladies from Foyleside
- External Contractor Cleaning Team: Mitie
During the day many new exciting announcements were made, including a new award, sponsored by Citron Hygiene and Aunt Flow, for the best Period Dignity Washroom, which will see venues providing free of charge sanitary wear within the washrooms.
A new construction and engineering category was highlighted by the Bald Builders of Fix Radio, who entered a modified plastic portaloo to show the importance of raising standards of toilets provided within construction sites.
There was also an exciting announcement of a website-linked App, which will go live in the summer – if not earlier – showcasing all the entrants of toilets, including where they are and their gradings.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Antony Leamon this year, who has been an inspector for the Loo of the Year Awards for more than 11 years, but has also built and runs his own very successful Accredited Cleaning and training company in Wales.
This year’s Washroom Cleaner Award Winner (which will be renamed Washroom Technician from 2023) was Isobella Green from Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell, who was congratulated on her 22 years of service.
The Awards also had a visit from a walking poo mascot who came with ERIC the Children’s Bowel and Bladder charity, the Loo of the Year Awards’ chosen charity for the second consecutive year. One lucky attendee was also the winner of a £1,000 travel voucher given by the Awards to celebrate the 35th Anniversary.
Charles Wall, Chairman of Loo of the Year Awards, said: “A very successful day was had by all, with lots of important networking through many of us within the washroom industry. I also want to thank all the team, especially our Awards Manager Jane Kibble, for all their hard work in bringing the Awards together.”
The Loo of the Year Awards 2023 will take place on 18 January 2024.
