Flushed with success

As the Loo of The Year Awards enters its 25th anniversary year,Georgina Bisby speaks to the event's managing director,Mike Bone, about where it all began and finds out what celebrations are in store for this milestone year

CM:Where/when and how did the Loo of the Year Awards begin?
MB: In 1987 Richard Chisnell was communications director of leading washroom service company Initial Services and Martin Higham was a director of their external PR company and they decided to run a competition to find the best loos in Britain.

CM: How did the 1987 event compare with now?
MB:There were only entries and awards for Hotels and Restaurant toilets in 1987 and 50 guests attended the event which was held at the Le Meridien Hotel, Piccadilly, London.The winner was the Hatton Court Hotel, Upton St Leonards in the Cotswolds.The manager at the time commented the following year that their turnover had doubled since winning Loo of the Year Awards.

Since then over 60,000 loos have been inspected by Loo of the Year Inspectors and today entries include all types of toilets from eco loos with no electricity or running water to luxury portable toilets.

In 2012 there are nine main National Loo of the Year Awards - at least one for each of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and 13 UK Awards.

There are also three National Attendant of the Year Awards - one for each of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and three Attendant of the Year UK Awards

CM: Have there been any particularly memorable highlights?
MB: John Jenkinson, owner of the Evesham Hotel arriving at the 2006 Loo of the Year Awards Event dressed as a toilet duck! The hotels toilets are very quirky with various toilet memorabilia and humorous items - well worth a visit.

The other highlights have been the media interest, particularly TV documentaries, (see below).

The 2005 Loo of the Year Awards Event coincided with the 2005 World Toilet Summit in Belfast.The first summit in the western world.This was very special for both the British Toilet Association (BTA) and the Loo of the Year Awards (LOYA) with visitors from around the world attending both events.

CM: What entertainers and famous guests have you had presenting the awards over the years?
MB: More recent entertainers included Sean Williamson 2011, Les Dennis 2010, Paul Daniels 2009, Roy Walker 2008 and Tom O'Conner 2007, Duchess of Northumberland 2006, We have also had the Duchess of Devonshire ,Sir William Lawrence - foremost representative for the disabled and several Government Ministers.

CM: Did any of these guests stand out?
MB: Paul Daniels - he was extremely professional and entertaining yet also very personable.He mingled with our guests and sponsors throughout the day and was highly regarded. CM:What has media interest in the event been like? We have featured in all of the main cleaning and FM magazines as well as several consumer magazines.

We have also been the subject of a host of TV programmes, including:

• BBC One Life series prime time documentary on LOYA - For the love of loos 2007
• Cwmida Welsh TV filmed 2011 Awards Event
• Caravan Channel film 2011 - covered LOYA inspections
• Wall Street Journal - video and editorial of Awards Event 2010
• Channel 4 - '3 minute films' 2010 - documentary on LOYA Inspectors
• Steadfast TV filmed Awards Event for BBC documentary 2008
• BBC Regional Radio following up local winners every year
• Various short news items in national and regional press
• Bee in Your Bonnet TV documentary - Amanda Platell

CM: What's in store for the future?
MB:We have lots of exciting celebrations planned for the 25th Anniversary year celebration. There will be a special awards event on 7th December with celebrity guests and entertainment We are also changing the grading system from a 1 - 5 star grading to Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Awards.This will enable the very best toilets to be graded at a higher level than was previously possible.

2012 will also mark a return to regional presentation events in Scotland and Northern Ireland in addition to the main UK Event.

CM: Have there been any success stories from the event?
MB: There have been numerous success stories. In 2008 for example Albany Washroom Services used the Headline Sponsorship of the event to raise its profile and expand its service coverage from the Essex region to nationwide.Albany has subsequently merged with PHS.

The event has also proved a useful vehicle for many charity campaigns. Help the Aged for example used Associate Sponsorship of the event to publicise its 'Nowhere to go' survey and subsequent toilet campaigns.

To find out more about getting involved in the 2012 awards, visit: www.loo.co.uk