London's old loos become watering holes

London

WITH spiralling land prices turning even the darkest corners of London into potential goldmines, the city's forgotten spaces, including 19th-century public toilets, are blossoming into restaurants, cafes and boutiques.

Many Victorian urinals remained abandoned for decades after World War II, but encouraged by local officials keen for fresh sources of income, the conversion wave is gathering pace.

Many embrace their lavatorial heritage, like "The Convenience" - a coffee shop that opened in the trendy district of Hackney in 2013, "WC"…