New London bar opens in an old public toilet

In a clever plot twist, several pubs have claimed the space once used for getting rid of drinks.

Given the popularity of WC Bloomsbury it seems no-one is giving a second thought to popping down below a London street for a wee drop of whisky, a cocktail or a glass of champagne. 

In Victorian times, these subterranean public latrines catered for one of life’s necessities. Gentlemen caught short while in the capital would spend a penny to enjoy the conveniences.  Left derelict for half a century, three of the City of London’s Grade-2 listed lavatories have now been given a second wind and have been re-purposed to cater for two modern-day necessities - wine and, of course, coffee. 

I went in search of these toilets, reportedly now flush with food and wine, and found the latest to open, WC Bloomsbury, below a traffic island in Guilford Place, Lambs Conduit Street. The unassuming, somewhat uninviting, entrance gives no hint of the transition from Water Closet to watering hole so look for the drinking fountain and you will see the tiled steps leading down through ornate ironwork railings.

Yup, there's pub down there.

Apparently, public urinals were built below ground in the late 1840’s to take up minimal space on what was already busy streets. The underground structures also helped to hide what was considered “objectionable contrivances” from the eyes of sensitive Victorians.

We head down tentatively. Of course it won’t still smell – or will it? There is no whiff of an odour at the bottom of the steps nor grunginess. What we find instead is an atmospheric, candle-lit subterranean cavern complete with original features such as tiles, granite and marble flooring. There are wooden booths, snug side seating and a small bar above which hangs, fittingly, a portrait of Thomas Crapper, leading proponent and manufacturer of the flushing toilet. 

Sir Thomas Crapper looks on approvingly. We think.

The original wooden walled toilet cubicles now form private booths for groups of four so we take our seats instead at the original porcelain urinals – now beautifully and comfortably adapted and upholstered in leather.

The name WC Bloomsbury stands obviously for its former role but also for Wine&Charcuterie so there is an impressive curated wine, spirits and cocktail list and a tempting food menu. There is plenty to linger over with small plates such as raclette, duck rillettes, burrata and wild mushroom and truffle crostini on offer while sharing boards of cured meat or a plant-based board provide an equally attractive option.

Eat up by the urinals.

The next morning, in need for a coffee, we go on the hunt for another former WC, the repurposed latrine known as The Attendant in Fitzrovia, just a 10-minute walk from bustling Oxford Street. While both venues have scrubbed up well, the interior here at The Attendant is completely different. At WC Bloomsbury you sat with your back against the old urinals (albeit disguised with leather). Here you sit at a marble counter which has been inserted across the original Royal Doulton & Co porcelain urinals. 

It’s probably the closest most women have ever come to a urinal so you may find the proximity disconcerting while you are enjoying a cup of tea and a slice of Victoria Sponge.  The name of the café pays homage to WC attendants who were the key to properly run toilets in the Victorian era. It was not an easy job to keep the toilets sparking clean and fit for purpose. Accounts of the time refer to attendants having to hose down the walls and cubicles with something akin to a fire hose. 

Today the former attendant’s office has been repurposed into the kitchen from which a great selection of food emerges all day. There is no end to the hungry hordes keen to see what a good dose of bleach and elbow grease has done to the old WC.  

Originally published as New London bar opens in an old public toilet