Wetherspoon installs CCTV in pub toilets, leaving customer ‘outraged’

A customer at a Wetherspoon pub in Bristol said he was “outraged” that surveillance cameras had been placed in the toilets, which he said was a “gross invasion of privacy”.

One customer said he was “outraged” at the way Wetherspoon had installed cameras in the toilets of one of its Bristol pubs, which he said was a “gross invasion of privacy”.

The man said he was “shocked” along with other customers after seeing the CCTV cameras inside the Van Dyck on Fishponds Road, he reported BristolLive.

Wetherspoon has reportedly confirmed there is video surveillance in both the men’s and women’s toilets at the pub, but said these cameras do not cover the cubicles or urinals and are aimed at promoting the safety of customers and staff.

But one pub customer said he was not happy with the move and has contacted the chain to complain that the cameras are looking over the urinals.

The man told the outlet: “Myself and a number of other customers were shocked and outraged to find security cameras above the urinals in the men’s toilets.

“We brought this to the attention of a member of staff who said they would speak to the manager. I also sent an email but no reply yet. The camera is over one end of the urinals, which everyone I spoke to felt is a gross invasion of privacy.”

The customer said that he felt many people must feel very uncomfortable using the restrooms now.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon reportedly said: “Van Dyck, Bristol has video surveillance in both the men’s and women’s toilets. The cameras do not cover the cabins.

“The cameras in the men’s room were designed not to take pictures of the urinals. The decision to install the cameras was made to promote customer and staff safety.

“It complements the existing CCTV system in the rest of the pub, which is in place for the same reason. There are signs in both restrooms alerting customers to the cameras.”

It’s not the first JD Wetherspoon store to receive complaints about cameras in the restrooms – a pub in Newcastle faced similar criticism in 2020, as did a pub in Reading in April 2022.

The Mirror has reached out to Wetherspoon for comment.