h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Toilets at the Busaba Eathai, Wardour Street, London, UK - A1009513
Author: Ashley Stewart-Noble - U276


This took 20 minutes, but these loos have been the source of some phenomenal gossip over the years...

Be kind

Very good! One slight quibble:
"What *is* truly unique, though, *are* the toilets".

It sort of works grammatically, but the change from singular to plural doesn't quite ring true either... Maybe something like "...though, is the design of the toilets" or similar would sort it?

Thanks for that - I *always* cock that up. Should be fixed now.

Being on the wrong side of the Atlantic, I'm having trouble envisioning this...

When you say: ' As you enter you will see a huge trough wash basin crowned by a mirror. This basin is shared with the adjoining restroom for the opposite sex - so while you can't actually see anybody, you can hear lots...'

I may be thick, but how is it shared? Is there something like a partial wall that descends down to the top of the basin but doesn't go the whole way to the bottom or something else?

I like the concept of this entry, I'm just not sure I'm following the architecture of the basin in question.


- Jimi X

I'd like to see a bit more about the toilets rather than just the wash basins. It's a nice entry on an obscure subject, but seems a little bit incomplete.

- How big are the toilets? Roughly how many cubicles are there?
- What is the standard of hygenie like?
- Is the room decorated? Does it have a Thai theme?
- Is there a noisy drier or do you have to use towels?

Stuff like that...

Thanks Jimi and Rocket Man,

I think it's a little clearer now... if it needs further tweaks, just let me know.

Looking at the thread attached to the article itself, I see Underhill has taken issue with the sentence "This is central London so everything is beautiful - the food, the staff and the décor"...

This made me think a bit, and I also have a point to make, but for completely different reasons! In my experience, many of the eateries and bars in central London - certainly the ones at the cheaper end of the market, which are all I can afford on what the BBC pay me - have *horrible* toilets.

If the food's good, AND the staff are friendly rather than being the kind that leave the 'gratuity' section of the bill blank on your credit card slip even though a 15% service charge has already been added to the bill, AND the eating/drinking area's been done up nicely, then you're doing well.

But if the decoration budget hasn't run out by the time the builders reached the toilets, then you're *really* lucky - all too often you find the toilets tucked away in an obscure corner of the buiding, up or down stairs that grow increasingly dingy the further you climb or descend, along a grubby dimly-lit corridor with filthy lino flooring past empty barrels of vegetable oil, and finally arriving at a remote cubicle with decor and signage that suggests it hasn't been refurbished since the joint was a Wimpy bar or branch of Pizza Hut back in the early 1980s...

I love London and living here, but personally I'd be a bit wary of giving the illusion that everything is beautiful and shiny and perfect, particularly in the West End.

But I think it's something you can capitalise (no pun intended) on in the article - the rarity value of being somewhere in central London that *does* have decent toilets!

Still a good entry, by the way...

Cheers,
Number Six

The main problem with this entry, it seems to me, is that the research isn't complete because the Ladies hasn't been investigated. Therefore, it doesn't live up to its title, as it's really only an entry on the Gents at the Busaba Eathai, Wardour Street, London, UK.

Two possible solutions spring to mind:

1) Next time you're there, Ashley, go to the Ladies and have a good look around. If anyone objects, simply explain that you're carrying out important research for the BBC, and hand them your business card. If necessary, repeat the explanation later at the police station and then in court.

2) Buy one of the female Italics dinner there, in return for them completing the investigation for you. Perhaps you could claim the cost of the meal back on expenses, as you really would be carrying out research!

This may be the best entry ever....

*sigh*

I really do need to get out of North America and go on a trip one of these days... This definitely goes on the list of places to stop at.

Oh Boo hoo


I did actually get a glimpse fo the ladies on Sunday (in the name of research and the fact that the gents actually had a queue (make-up for men is revolutionising manly toilet habits..)) and there are just three cubicles, I'll add that now.

I really must check this place out!

Am still a bit confused by the basin thing. Does the partial wall come down and rest across the basin, so that if you wanted you could stick your hand underneath and through to the other side? If so, does this ever happen?

I've spent a fair amount of time in the west end and I'd also argue with the concept that "This is central London so everything is beautiful - the food, the staff and the décor". If you are being sarcastic here then it is a bit too subtle, if not then how did you miss all of the dives I've managed to eat in?

I've added 'becoming' to the beautiful bit. Soho is becoming more gentrified, it's taking its time, but on the whole the experience is becoming more and more pleasant.

I've also added a sentence that should clear up any confusion over the basin.

Just holler if there's owt else.

Ashley

Hi Ashley...

There's a comment in a thread associated with the entry that it's a bit of an advertisement and I have to confess when I started reading the entry, I wasn't sure if we were talking about a restaurant or some toilets.

I don't know if you can make it less adverty, but if you can....

Thans Gordan,

I've replied to that posting, but left the entry as it is.

Many thanks my friend,

Ashley

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done, Ashley!

Lovely entry, Ashley! Congratulations!