Takeaways that do not provide seating, or only provide a few seats for customers who are waiting for for their order, do not need to provide customer toilets. If a takeaway provides seating for customers to consume food then they should comply with cafe's and restaurants sections below.

Toilets are not to open directly into rooms in which food is handled, all toilets in food business premises should therefore be separated by a lobby from food eating or preparation areas. See our section on accessible toilets for further information about a possible exemption.

Toilets are not to open directly into rooms in which food is handled, all toilets in food business premises should therefore be separated by a lobby from food eating or preparation areas. See our section on accessible toilets for further information about a possible exemption.

Minimum provision of sanitary appliances for customer toilets in shops and shopping centres with a retail area in excess of 1,000 m².

Minimum provision of sanitary appliances for assembly buildings where most toilet use is during intervals. For example theatres, cinemas, concert halls, sports stadiums and similar buildings.

Minimum provision of sanitary appliances for assembly buildings where toilet use is NOT concentrated during intervals. For example exhibition centres, libraries, museums and similar buildings.

• Where there is only one toilet in a building it should be an enlarged wheelchair chair accessible type. 
• The provision of an accessible toilet can count towards the overall WC provision for the building.
• Accessible toilets require extra facilities such as:

1. A raised height WC with extra projection for wheelchair transfers
2. A washbasin with lever style taps to assist users with limited dexterity
3. Paddle style toilet flush mechanism for ease of use
4. Five supporting grab rails of a contrasting colour to aid the visually impaired
5. An outward opening Access door
6. An emergency assistance alarm system

For the full requirements for accessible toilets please visit GOV.UK - Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M.

For further information see CAE Managing Accessible Toilets and Building Regulations in Practice -  Accessible Toilets 

Accessible toilets in food business. Where a toilet cubicle is used infrequently because it is intended for the use of disabled persons, the degree of food safety risk should be considered against the inconvenience caused to a disabled person trying to gain access to the toilet. Sometimes it may be acceptable not to enforce the requirement under food safety law for a lobby if the food safety risk is shown to be low. The toilet should be sited as far from the food handling area as possible.

Whether or not public enter a workplace, the employer must provide staff toilets (Workplace, [Health, Safety & Welfare] Regs). In small workplaces, e.g. small cafes it maybe possible for staff to use the customers toilets. However staff should not have to travel unreasonable distances to the toilets or wait an unreasonable amount of time. 

This table minimum number of toilets and washbasins that should be provided where both men and women are working. Column 1 refers to the maximum number of workers likely to be in the workplace at any one time. If separate toilets are provided for a group of workers (e.g. men, women, office workers or manual workers), a separate calculation should be made for each group. More facilities may be necessary if, for example, breaks are taken at set times or workers finish work together and need to wash before leaving.

Toilets used by men only:

An additional toilet and washbasin should be provided for every 25 people above a total of 100 (or fraction of 25). For toilets only used by men, an additional cubicle for every 50 men (or fraction of 50) above 100 is sufficient, provided at least an equal number of additional urinals are provided.

Further information on the provision of toilets at work can be found in HSE Leaflet INDG293 and the Approved Code of Practice Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare L24.

For more information on WC standards for hotels, hospitals, schools etc.. you may wish to refer directly to BSI.Knowledge - Sanitary installations - Code of practice for the provision of public toilets.