Ensuring the right number of toilets in a restaurant isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s a legal requirement. Whether you’re opening a new venue or refurbishing an existing one, understanding UK regulations will help you stay compliant and provide a comfortable experience for your customers.
Legal Requirements for Restaurant Toilets in the UK
In the UK, restaurant toilet provisions are governed by the 1976 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. This legislation requires restaurants with 10 or more seats to provide toilets for customers. If your establishment operates purely as a takeaway with seating for fewer than 10 people, you may not be required to provide customer toilets—though it’s always worth checking with your local council.
The British Standard BS 6465-1:2006 also offers guidance on the recommended number of toilets based on seating capacity:
- Up to 25 covers – 1 unisex accessible toilet (which can also be used by staff if the total number of people is under 25).
- 26 to 50 covers – 1 unisex accessible toilet, plus 1 additional WC for either gender.
- 51 to 100 covers – 1 unisex accessible toilet, 1 male WC, and 2 female WCs.
- 101 to 120 covers – 1 unisex accessible toilet, 2 male WCs, and 3 female WCs.
- More than 120 covers – Further provision may be needed based on customer volume and layout.
Staff Toilets: What’s Required?
In addition to customer toilets, businesses must also provide adequate facilities for staff under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The number of required staff toilets depends on the number of employees:
- 1 to 5 employees – 1 WC.
- 6 to 25 employees – 2 WCs.
- 26 to 50 employees – 3 WCs.
For larger establishments, the number increases proportionally. In many cases, separate facilities for staff and customers are recommended, particularly in high-traffic venues.
Accessibility and Inclusive Design
All UK businesses must comply with the Equality Act 2010, ensuring accessibility for disabled customers. This means that at least one toilet must be wheelchair accessible, with appropriate grab rails, an emergency pull cord, and sufficient space for mobility aids. You can see our range of DOC M packs here.
For restaurants with over 50 covers, separate accessible toilets are strongly recommended rather than just modifying an existing facility.
Other Considerations
However, we know that the washroom is a vital part of any establishment, and more consideration that just legal requirements should be made. Below are some other factors to keep in mind for your restaurant or bar washroom.
- Customer experience – you may want to tailor the number of toilets you have to the expected flow of users. For a high-end restaurant or bar, it would be bad if lengthy queues form, so more facilities might help keep users moving. Other accessories such as high-speed hand dryers can also help with this - you can see our range of hand dryers for bars and restaurants here.
- Baby changing facilities – depending on the nature of the venue, baby changing facilities might be needed. The knock-on of this will be that more space is required in that particular unit, which needs to be considered.
- Maintenance and hygiene – Fewer toilets with more usage will need to be cleaned, managed and inspected more often. It also means that they feel ‘cluttered’ much quicker.
At Intelligent, we’ve been industry leaders in the supply of commercial washroom equipment since we started 10 years ago. We can supply all the equipment needed for your washroom, along with a range of services, for rental, the installation and maintenance, so we really can be a one-stop-shop for all your washroom needs. To find out more just call us on 0114 3540047 or contact us here.
