Freshly brewed: Urinals transformed into coffee shops

Published October 8, 2014
A picture shows the exterior of "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the exterior of "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the exterior of "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the exterior of "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Pastries and cakes are displayed in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Pastries and cakes are displayed in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
Original urinals and cisterns are pictured in "Attendant", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and sandwich bar in central London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A man cycles past "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A man cycles past "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows part of the exterior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP
A picture shows the interior of the "The Convenience", a former public toilet that has been converted into a coffee shop and restaurant in Hackney, east London. — Photo by AFP

With spiralling land prices turning even the darkest corners of London into potential goldmines, the city's forgotten spaces, including 19th-century public toilets, are blossoming into restaurants, cafes and boutiques.

Many Victorian urinals remained abandoned for decades after World War II, but encouraged by local officials keen for fresh sources of income, the conversion wave is gathering pace.

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