If you’re ever in the mood to stay somewhere a little bit weird, the UK has plenty up its sleeve. There’s the Bodmin Jail Hotel in Cornwall (a converted 18th century prison), the actual bus that appeared in the 1997 Spice Girls movie, a spooky gothic haven in Edinburgh and loads of oddly-shaped treehouses scattered across the country. To add to that list, you can now stay in some old men’s loos beneath one of Oxford’s busiest streets. It’s a lot more pleasant than it sounds, we promise.
The Netty (northern slang for toilets) has been 17 long years in the making. The subterranean space in St Giles’ had served the city as public men’s loos since 1895 but closed in 2008 over safety concerns. It was then bought by business owner Gwyn Harries-Jones but it remained empty for the 11 years as development plans kept failing to go ahead. Finally, The Netty opened in June this year.
There are just two 30 square metre rooms, each of which can be accessed via their own staircase from the street above. There’s no traditional front desk, no breakfast buffet and no room service, but there is helpline in case guests are in need of anything.
The hotel’s interior design owes a lot to its next door neighbours – the Ashmolean Museum and the Oxford Playhouse. The curtained entrance to the shower alcoves resembles a stage and a tapestry in one of the bedrooms was inspired by examples on display in the Ashmolean. There’s a baby pink loo and original features from the old WC, like the floor tiles. And though it’s underground, there is plenty of natural light thanks to glass blocks embedded into the pavement above.
Rachel Gowdridge, the interior designer for the hotel, told the New York Times: ‘It was about transforming this overlooked structure into something that was elevated and intimate. When you go down there, it’s like you’re in your own world.’
A night at the The Netty costs anywhere between £170 and £300. You can book a stay here.
Planning a trip to the city of spires? See more of its best hotels here. And explore all of the best things to do in Oxford here.
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