All cisterns go as old toilet blocks get new lease of life

YOU’D probably think that an empty and abandoned public toilet couldn’t be turned into much.

But as councils close toilets to save money, people are buying them and converting them into fantastic things.

From fancy restaurants to cafes and shops, developers are bringing these tiny spaces back to life.

Cafe Castan, Cardiff The former toilets at Llandaff Fields were turned into the hugely popular Cafe Castan, which opened in March 2012.

Now the cafe serves breakfasts, lunches and cakes and is known for its pizzas.

A restaurant hub in Barry The Grade II-listed toilet block on Barry Island is being turned into four different restaurants.

Called Nell’s Point, it will be home to four restaurants.

One of the restaurants will be housed on the roof of the current building and there will be an extension on the side for another.

The premises had been on the market for a number of years before Morse Affiliated bought them.

Building work has now started, but the restaurants moving in are yet to be confirmed.

Bloc Coffee, Cardiff Since the splashpad opened, families have been flocking to Victoria Park in their hundreds.

This year, Bloc Coffee opened giving another reason to visit the famous parkland. The total space is just 90 square metres and during the building process co-owner Alex Parker said that it was all about making the most of the space.

Selling plenty more than just coffee, its transformation from disused toilet block to cafe took six months.

It also holds supper club evenings.

A baguette shop, Tredegar The old toilets on Castle Street in Tredegar were turned into a baguette shop years ago. The current Baguette Shop. occupier is Ollies

A convenience store, Rhondda The tiny public toilet on Hendrecafn Road in Penygraig, Rhondda, went up before planners in 2016 for it to be turned into a convenience shop.

It had previously been for sale with a guide price of £15,000.

At the time, the owners said the shop would have a “traditional style” front, and would involve “limited alterations” to the inside of the building.