The question of 'Do cafes have to provide toilets?' can be a bit of a grey area to answer. That's because the laws and regulations surrounding washroom facilities are not the same for every business.
On one hand, you want to ensure that your customers are satisfied and content with your services. However, some cafe shops are just too small to have these facilities in place or don't have enough customers at one time.
If you’re a cafe owner, you will always have to provide toilets for staff as this is the law.
However, for customers and clients, they may also legally require toilet facilities or, at the very least, expect them to be provided.
In this article, the Inspired Washrooms team will break down when cafes need to legally provide toilets as of 2026. Plus, we'll cover the specific scenarios when toilets are not legally required.
Do Cafes Have To Provide Toilets UK?: A Simple Explanation
No, it is not an automatic requirement for cafes in the UK to provide customer toilets.
However, having customer toilets can be mandated if any of the following apply:
- There are 10 or more seats and customers will be consuming food or drink on the premises
- A cafe or restaurant is licensed to serve alcohol (under the Licensing Act 2003)
- The local council includes toilet requirements in its planning permission or licensing conditions
When a cafe is required to provide toilets, additional requirements apply over the provisions which must be made available. This includes providing separate male and female toilets (or unisex facilities in smaller venues) as well as accessible toilets where reasonably practicable (under equality laws).
The rules don't however apply to staff as providing cubicles for staff is a law that every business must abide by. Learn more about washroom laws and regulations for businesses here.
The Factors Which Impact Toilet Requirements For Cafes & Restaurants
If you are the owner of a cafe, coffee shop, bakery, ice cream shop or any other type of hospitality business, there will also be legal categories which will outline the nature of the services you provide.
Licensed And Unlicensed Premises
If you serve alcohol, your legal obligations towards toilet facilities change. The current regulations state that any establishment with a drinks license must provide adequate and suitable toilet spaces for its customers. The number and type of facilities required will depend on factors such as the size of the premises, the number of customers and any specific licensing conditions.
Times of Service
The time of day that you operate will also affect your legal obligations. Any business that remains open past 11 pm must provide accessible toilet facilities for customers. This requirement exists primarily due to the limited availability of public toilets at night and the nature of businesses that tend to operate late, such as bars and restaurants.
Staff Toilet Requirements
Under the Workplace Regulation, all employers must provide enough toilet facilities for staff, including handwashing stations and sanitary provisions. These facilities must be kept clean and in good working order. Businesses must also ensure their staff toilets are accessible to disabled employees.
When Do Cafes Not Have To Provide Toilets?
Cafes are not always required to provide toilets, including when any of the following apply:
- It is primarily a takeaway (little or no seating)
- It does not serve alcohol
- Local council rules don’t mandate it
However, even when any of the above apply, the question of whether or not to provide customer toilets requires careful consideration by business owners. In particular, not providing toilets when they aren’t legally required but expected can result in a poor customer experience.
Tips For Small Cafes Looking To Provide Toilets
Even if you have limited space, there are creative ways to include a toilet in your business. Some solutions include:
- Regular maintenance – Ensure that both general and sanitary bins are emptied regularly, especially in unisex or shared toilets.
- Odour control – Smell is one of the biggest complaints in public washrooms. Installing automatic air fresheners or air purification systems can help maintain a fresh and pleasant environment.
- Accessibility considerations – If you only have space for a single toilet, making it inclusive with handrails, lower sinks, and easy access can help accommodate all customers, including those with disabilities, children, and elderly patrons.
Disabled Toilet Regulations In Restaurants
In the UK, restaurants that provide toilet facilities are required under Building Regulations Approved Document M and the Equality Act 2010 to ensure those facilities are accessible to disabled customers.
Where toilets are provided, at least one accessible unisex toilet designed to accommodate wheelchair users should be available, meeting the space, fixture and layout specifications set out in Approved Document M.
The Equality Act places a broader duty on businesses to make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers that prevent disabled people from accessing their services, which means that a restaurant with toilets located only via steps or in an otherwise inaccessible area may need to consider structural or layout changes where these are reasonable and proportionate.
Newer or recently refurbished restaurants will have been required to incorporate disabled toilet provisions as part of the building regulations approval process. However, older premises operating without any modifications are more likely to be assessed on whether reasonable adjustments have been made rather than full compliance with current standards.
Learn more: How Many Toilets Does My Restaurant Need?
Restaurant Toilet Design And Refurbishments UK
Inspired washrooms have years of experience within the washroom fit-out and refurbishment sector, focusing on commercial spaces such as cafes and restaurants.
Not only are we aware of all the laws and regulations in place, but we also have an eye for what looks good and combined with our specialist designers, produce washrooms which look good and work well.
Whether you own a small local cafe or have a selection of nationwide shops, get in touch for a free quote.
Or, give us a call on 0115 811 4242 to speak with our team.