From rank to riches: Abandoned public toilets transformed into drinking den, hairdressers and vegan café

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Ever wondered where all the public toilets have gone when you’re caught short out and about?

Between 2010 and 2015, it was reported that a third of public loos in Greater Manchester closed due to cuts.

The shortage became even more apparent during lockdown - when people couldn’t just take advantage of the free loos in M&S or the Arndale.

In May last year, temporary public toilets were even installed in Piccadilly Gardens in a bid to make the city centre 'as welcoming as possible' as coronavirus restrictions were eased.

READ MORE: 'I'm having to walk to Tesco to go to the toilet': Entire block of flats left without water for 30 hours

But what has happened to all of Greater Manchester’s long lost public loos?

Some have been demolished - but many have found a new lease of life.

You can order a taxi, drink a pint of lager in an underground bar, and even eat turmeric scrambled tofu on sourdough toast in former public toilets in Greater Manchester.

Prestwich - taxi company

These former public toilets are attached to the back of the The White Horse on Bury New Road.

In fact, it was the building's proximity to pubs and bars that made it so appealing to Magnum Whiteline taxis around 30 years ago.

"I think at the time it was in the centre of all the pubs in Prestwich," manager Damian Robinson told the Manchester Evening News.

He said that the building is actually owned by Joseph Holt Brewery and that he can't make changes to it as it's listed.

"We can't take the gents or the ladies off it. We can put our sign up, but other than that we can't make any changes to it," he explained.

So do people ever try to make their way into the taxi offices looking for a toilet?

"No, it's been there such a long time so people know it's Magnum,"