Old public toilets near Bristol University set to become café

Edwardian public toilets near Bristol University will soon be re-opened as a café.

The former toilets, on the corner of Park Row and Woodland Road, were bought for £215,000 at auction by Alfred Fitzgerald in December 2017.

Mr Fitzgerald, 38, of Bath said: "I didn't want to open a cafe in Bristol - I just fell in love with the building."

The café, expected to open next week at The Cloakroom, will serve products including hot drinks, organic juices and homemade cakes.

Over the past year Mr Fitzgerald has been working alongside an architect to secure planning permission allowing the former men's and women's toilets to be joined.

"It's just taken a long time to get the building ready because of the nature of building - it's quite unique," said Mr Fitzgerald, who runs the Wild Café in Bath as well as a guest house.

He said he realised straight away that the building would make a "great café space" because of its character.

The former ladies' side, when opened next week, will boast its original oak panels and marble.

When the toilets were closed in 2001, the property was used for art projects - including an installation featuring a giant penis and vagina.

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