Many Brit gay man grew up with a fascination for cottages. Well at least the self containd puluc toilets resembling small cottages in their appearance . Plus what we Brits also love ore double-entendres so these cottages gave birth to the word ‘cottaging’ referring to seeking anonymous sexual encounters in these public toilets.
What still seems unclear is how American queers referred their publuc toilets as ‘tearooms’. An educated guess would suggest that its maybe because urine looks like tea?
With homosexuality still illegal in the UK until 1969 the ‘cottages’ were one of the few places closeted men could meet other men for sex, It was hardly a secret as on many nights the urinals would be full of ‘pretty’ policeman hoping to entrap some unsuspecting gay man. An arrest for ‘importinnung as t was called” could ruin a man’s live even forcing him to committ suicide .
What is very surprising that back in 1937 there was ossibly the first queer guide to London, For Your Convenience by Thomas Burke (or ‘Paul Pry’) was a guide to the city’s public lavatories © Bishopsgate Library
HowEver one on the (many) things that as. a gay man l love abOut LOndon it is wonderful sense of Irony. Fast forward to 2024 and now we are being invited back to one of those illicit sex rooms, and even bring our partner with us. If only walls could talk we would love to know what this 120 year old WC would think about being converted into a trendy Wine Bar
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It’s a Grade II-listed building, so many of the original features have been kept, including wooden stalls, tiles, granite and marble floors and porcelain urinals, now upholstered to be used as seats.
As well as a wine list that endeavours to represent all regions, there’s a selection of signature cocktails, small plates and grazing boards made using artisan cheeses and charcuterie on offer.
