It’s an interesting dilemma, in that when visiting a restaurant, everything except the washrooms is discussed. The food, the music, the service, the ambiance are all talked about after the fact. But, the washroom rarely so, despite it typically being the first and last place patrons visit when they go to a restaurant.
And, thanks to the Peak End Rule, which states that people are more likely to judge an experience by its peak or the end point, the washroom can play a pivotal role on whether patrons will talk positively about their experience or not. Added to this, people are wired to take notice of and talk about bad experiences more than they are good. So if the washroom isn’t up to standard, then people are likely to talk about it.
But what exactly is it that users want from a washroom? In this post we’re going to draw on our 10 years of experience of supplying commercial washrooms, and talk about what really matters to your patrons, and how to make sure their washroom experience leaves them saying the right things about your restaurant.
Cleanliness
The first and most obvious thing to ensure is that your washroom is clean. This is a good rule for any business, but is infinitely more important for any establishment dealing with food. Most restaurants, cafes and bars have rotas for checking and cleaning the washroom facilities, but there are other ways in which this can be improved.
Contactless washroom devices, such as hand dryers, soap dispensers and taps, means that physical contact is kept to a minimum, which in turns makes for a generally more hygienic experience. Along with this is the perception of hygiene; a cluttered, messy washroom feels dirty. One of the worst causes of this is actually paper towels. Damp paper towels on the floor or on surfaces simply don’t look great, but happens so easily.
Décor matters
It would be a jarring experience if a patron in a dark and moody restaurant had to use a stark white, lifeless restroom. And yet it happens so often. There seems to be a pre-conceived perception that washroom facilities have to be white to be effective, but we have numerous complete ranges of washroom equipment where style is as important as functionality. For example, we stock hand dryers in black, white, satin, chrome, silver, bronze, rose gold and even blue. There is absolutely no reason why a washroom couldn’t be outfitted to match the existing aesthetic of the restaurant.
Keep it stocked up
Not only is keeping your washroom stocked up with soap and toilet simply good for hygiene and the user experience, but not doing so indicates a lack of care. There is only one way in which things run out, and that is if the staff simply aren’t looking after the facilities. This unconsciously extends to the wider experience of the restaurant. It’s an unconscious thing, but all these small touch-points add up to the overall washroom experience.
User flow matters
There are laws about the number of washrooms any given establishment must have. You can read our recent article about that here. But beyond simply being inline with the law, a washroom that is properly laid out, and has an appropriate number of toilets / cubicles, will make for a better washroom experience. People will move through the toilet faster, queues won’t form and their overall experience will be improved by it.
There are several things that can affect this – from the type and placement of the washroom utilities (toilets, sinks, bins, hand dryers etc.) to the actual facilities themselves. The size of the room can be an obvious limiting factor, but then this can be worked around with intelligent layouts and the use of minimalist accessories (such as slim hand dryers) and equipment.
If you are undertaking a restaurant or bar washroom project then feel free to drop us a line. We have experience and can help at every step of the process. From design, to installation and maintenance, as well as supplying any washroom equipment you may need. Call us on 0114 3540047 or contact us here.
