A Manchester steak and champagne restaurant, renowned for its opulent lavatories, has introduced a five-minute time limit for women using the facilities after they became a hotspot for selfie-seekers.
The Cut and Craft, which opened in April following a £3.5 million transformation of the historic former Manchester and Salford Bank on Mosley Street, has seen its basement toilets become a surprise attraction. The ladies' washrooms feature a large mirror, makeup stools and perfectly lit mirrors, prompting queues of influencers and guests eager to snap pictures.
Management placed a framed “Polite Notice” outside the women’s toilets, reading: “We’re delighted you’re enjoying our beautifully designed spaces. To ensure all of our guests have timely access to our restrooms, we kindly ask that visits be limited to 5 minutes.” No such restriction exists for the men’s toilets.
Operations Director Darioush Shahidi said the limit is necessary for fire safety. “Given our lower ground floor layout… having an additional 10-15 people gathered in the restrooms at once could pose a risk in the event of an evacuation,” he explained.
The restaurant, which also houses a private dining room in the original vault, has joked on Instagram about adding the bathroom to the menu, but emphasised that the food is worth visiting for. It marks the third site for the “accessible luxury” brand, following success in Leeds and York.
