Burnley pub earns ‘gold standard’ loo award

Anyone spending a penny in the Boot Inn, St James’s Street, could be forgiven for thinking they are millionaires after the pub’s toilets won acclaim for their quality and standards.

The top toilets – far from being bog standard – were awarded a five star rating by inspectors in the Loo of the Year Awards 2010.

Boot Inn manager Kerry Newton said: “I am delighted with the award. Staff at the pub work hard to ensure the toilets are in first-class condition at all times and it is great this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

Wetherspoon pub the Boot Inn re-opened earlier this year after the former Yates’ Wine Lodge bar closed.

Since its introduction in 1987, the annual Loo of the Year Awards have helped focus the spotlight on “away from home” toilets throughout the UK.

The awards are run independently and promoted by the British Toilet Association.

All of the inspected toilets are graded from one star to the maximum five star rating, with unacceptable toilets not graded at all.

Authorised inspectors make unannounced visits to more than 1,500 toilets at sites across the UK, to judge them.

The toilets are judged against numerous criteria, including décor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment and overall management.

The Loo of the Year Awards 2010 director Mike Bone said: “The toilets at The Boot Inn are superb and the pub richly deserves its five star rating.”