The Hideaway at Baxby Manor in Husthwaite, North Yorkshire, has been recognized for its eco-friendly toilets, receiving the award for the UK’s best eco-friendly washrooms at the 2026 Loo of the Year Awards.
The awards, which cover public, hospitality, and workplace washrooms, evaluate entries against 101 criteria, including cleanliness, decor, signage, accessibility, and environmental efficiency.
The eco-friendly category considers energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of environmentally friendly products. The Hideaway, built by Barney Smith in 2012, features a biomass pellet wood boiler for hot water, a heat recovery system, and eco-certified cleaning products.
Smith, the fifth generation of farmers on the property, says the site’s operations are guided by a commitment to minimizing environmental impact. “Myself and my family are very conscious of nature and not leaving a lasting impression on the landscape,” he told the BBC.
To maintain hygiene, guests are asked to remove muddy footwear before entering the washrooms and replace it with clean shoes. While Smith acknowledges some visitors initially find this policy unusual, he adds that many later “feel a sense of ownership” and are motivated to help keep the facilities clean.
Head housekeeper Sarah Burton noted that sanitiser sprays remain available following practices introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Especially on the shower seats and things like that, they like to know that they’ve got a clean area before they get changed,” she said.
The Loo of the Year Awards involve unannounced inspections by a team of judges. Becky Wall, managing director of the awards, emphasized the role of high-quality washrooms in broader workplace and customer wellbeing.
“We are using that standard, made up of British standards and legal standards, especially for accessible toilets, and making sure that they are fit for purpose for all users,” she said. Wall also highlighted the importance of recognizing staff who maintain these facilities.
“Everybody finds toilets humorous because I think it’s the way we were brought up. We’re out to celebrate those that are doing a really good job because it’s not always looked on as the most glamorous job, but some of the people that do them, they are so passionate.”
Smith stressed that sustainability does not require compromising on comfort. “The main message is that you don’t have to forego certain comforts just because it’s eco. You can have something like this that is very eco and is pretty much carbon-neutral,” he said.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the award highlights how environmentally sustainable infrastructure can coexist with guest comfort and hygiene, potentially enhancing both guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.