Sunday Brunch’s Simon Rimmer faces backlash after placing unisex toilets in his new vegetarian restaurant for ‘trans and non-binary diners and staff’ and telling anyone who doesn’t like it to use separate accessible bathroom
- TV chef Simon Rimmer has unisex toilets in his new vegetarian restaurant in Sale
- The Sunday Brunch host opened Greens on Stanley Square earlier this month
- Diner tweeted after being left disappointed with the lack of single-sex toilets
Simon Rimmer has sparked outraged online after commenting on his decision to have unisex toilets in his new vegetarian restaurant in a Greater Manchester town.
The Sunday Brunch host opened Greens on Stanley Square in Sale, earlier this month, but one customer was left disappointed after discovering the lack of single-sex toilets.
Twitter user Lulabelle B wrote on Saturday: ‘Just been to @simonrim’s lovely new restaurant where I was disappointed to discover gender neutral toilets. Men and women awkwardly shuffling round each other wondering if they were in the wrong place.’
The celebrity chef, 59, took to his own social media profile to address the choice, saying it was ‘not taken lightly’ and explaining that the establishment has ‘trans and non-binary customers and staff’.
Facing backlash from many followers, he added diners who find unisex toilets ‘unacceptable’ should use the separate accessible toilet.
Simon Rimmer (pictured right on Sunday Brunch) has sparked outraged online after commenting on his decision to have unisex toilets in his new vegetarian restaurant in a Greater Manchester town
The Sunday Brunch host opened Greens on Stanley Square in Sale, earlier this month, but one customer was left disappointed after discovering the lack of single-sex toilets. Pictured, the unisex toilets
The celebrity chef, 59, took to his social media profile to address the choice, saying it was ‘not taken lightly’ and explaining that the establishment has ‘trans and non-binary customers and staff’
Taking to Twitter, Simon said: ‘Our decision to have unisex toilets was not taken lightly. We have trans and non-binary customers and staff.
‘We also have a separate accessible toilet for any person who finds the unisex toilets unacceptable. We listen to feedback from customers constantly.’
He later added that the cubicle doors are floor-to-ceiling in length, there are no urinals in the new build’s bathroom and it is ‘safe and clean’.
However, some diners were left less than impressed, with one person writing: ‘They’re nice. I just don’t get how it’s equality to force women and girls into enclosed spaces with unknown men. Predatory men are often opportunists. Why create more opportunities?’
However, some diners were left less than impressed, with one person writing: ‘They’re nice. I just don’t get how it’s equality to force women and girls into enclosed spaces with unknown men. Predatory men are often opportunists. Why create more opportunities?’
One person wrote: ‘Many people don’t use accessible toilets as they wouldn’t want those who need them to have to wait. Did you consider this in your arrangements?’ To which Simon replied: ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but we were told by building control that an accessible toilet is for disabled people and anybody requiring a more private environment due to religion or embarrassment or anxiety?’
Another said: ‘So people with disabilities will likely have to wait to use the toilet specifically made for their needs because you care more about looking woke? Cool, cool.’
A third added: ‘Which business is this please? I just want to make sure I never accidentally visit it.’
A fourth wrote: ‘Many people don’t use accessible toilets as they wouldn’t want those who need them to have to wait. Did you consider this in your arrangements?’
To which Simon replied: ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but we were told by building control that an accessible toilet is for disabled people and anybody requiring a more private environment due to religion or embarrassment or anxiety?’
But it wasn’t all negative reactions to Simon’s decision, with one individual saying: ‘The replies to this are unhinged. The loos look lovely and the people objecting to them have never made a good faith argument in their lives.’
But it wasn’t all negative reactions to Simon’s decision, with one individual saying: ‘The replies to this are unhinged. The loos look lovely and the people objecting to them have never made a good faith argument in their lives.’
A second penned: ‘Everyone’s toilets at home are unisex, amazing how suddenly it’s an issue to have unisex toilets outside of that isn’t it.’
Another said online: ‘The first unisex toilet I ever went in was in a club in Amsterdam in 1975… can’t believe almost 50 years later some Brits are making a fuss about it.’
Simon presents Sunday Brunch each week with his TV partner Tim Lovejoy on Channel 4.
He opened the Greens Restaurant in Sale earlier this month, following the success of his first site in West Didsbury, which opened in 1990.
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