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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Abbie Meehan & Neil Shaw

Costa Coffee challenged for 'no toilets just for women' and four for men

A branch of Costa has vowed to swap the signs on its toilet doors after a customer pointed out there were none exclusively for women.

The Costa branch has two toilets marked as for men, and two marked and for men and women - but not just for women.

The problem was pointed out by Twitter use Lauren posting as @NeepsnTatties, reports EdinburghLive.

She wrote: "Hello @CostaCoffee. I was at your new Edinburgh Meadowbank cafe yesterday and was surprised to see that of 4 loos, 2 were for females+males and 2 were males only.

"Why do women get only 2/4 with 0 exclusively for female use, while men get the choice of all 4 with 2 just for them?"

She added: "Of the two men’s rooms, one just had a urinal + sink in it, one had a toilet + sink.

"Same as the mixed sex one, so I don’t understand that. Why one whole room for a urinal though? Why not just install another toilet that everyone can use?

"I think there are 2 connected issues. One is mixed sex lockable toilet rooms which, while *not* my preference, are less controversial.

"My main problem here is the sexist unfairness - men got all 4 including 2 for their exclusive use. What on earth was the thinking behind this?

"I don’t really believe it was a mistake tbh. The work would have been planned and signed off. One toilet only had a urinal in it. I’m glad the signs have been changed now (to what, I don’t know) but it shouldn’t have happened.

"Some people are bringing it up as a transgender policy but it’s not about that, it’s about the male default and treating women with less consideration."

The chain coffee store replied: "Hi thanks for raising this with us. We have now looked into it and found that, after the store opened last week, some of the toilet doors have the wrong signs.

"We’ve asked our contractors to change them & have put temporary signs up until then. We’re sorry for the inconvenience."

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