Botany Bay toilets reopen following £140,000 refurbishment

A partnership project to refurbish the public toilets at Botany Bay in Broadstairs is complete and the facilities have reopened.

The toilet block has been fully refurbished, in a joint project between Thanet District Council and Southern Water, which funded the £140,000 upgrade. 

The renovation works involved installing a new roof and fitting new windows and doors. The existing render was replaced with a silicon coating, improving the look of the outside of the building. Inside, the men’s and women’s toilets were swapped around, allowing for three cubicles in the women’s facilities, with baby changing facilities in a larger cubicle. The building has been redecorated throughout. 

Programme Delivery Lead East for Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force, Angus Cramp, said: “Botany Bay is a really popular Blue Flag awarded beach in the heart of Kent and the toilets really needed this work done to improve the experience for visitors. We’re delighted that this work is now complete with the benefits this will bring to people in the area.”

Cllr Steve Albon, Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Coastal Services at Thanet District Council, said: “We recognise the importance that the provision of public toilets has for both local people and visitors. As Botany Bay is one of the district’s most visited beaches, with a Blue Flag Award, it’s right and proper that it has high-quality facilities.

“I’m delighted to see this refurbishment project completed, with the toilets open during the busy summer season.”

In December 2023, the council’s Cabinet approved an investment of £1.25 million to deliver the first phase of improvement works to public toilets across the district. Since then repair and improvement works to nine public facilities have been completed.

The second phase includes refurbishing the subterranean toilets on Marine Drive, Margate, and building new toilets at street level that allow level access for people with disabilities. The existing toilet block at Stone Bay, Broadstairs will be refurbished, and a new accessible toilet block built at promenade level. The work is expected to be complete in 2026. 

The council provides public toilets for the benefit of residents and visitors to key locations within the district. A list of all the council’s public toilets, alongside their opening hours can be found on the website.