Watering the flowers has taken on a whole new meaning at Arboretum Lifestyle and Garden Centre, where a trip to the toilet has become quite literally a blooming relief! The centre has spent quite a few pennies and installed specially commissioned urinals that are actually shaped like flowers – a poppy, a lily and a hibiscus to be specific.
The unique urinals were designed by San Francisco designer Clarke Sorenson and their arrival at Arboretum has been creating more than a wee bit of excitement.
Not to outdone, the ladies’ toilets have been revamped to include sinks shaped like flowers – a sunflower, a mariposa and a lily.
News of the centre’s new-look toilets has been leaking out all week, with Today FM’s Ray D’Arcy Show even giving the Arboretum’s loos a mention.
“The reaction from customers has been fantastic – we’ve as many ladies as gents in the men’s toilets taking a look,” laughed Barry Doyle of the Arboretum. “We saw urinals by the designer in Barn Grange in England and we decided to specially commission them ourselves. Given that it’s a garden centre, we used the floral theme so it all fell into place.”
The floral urinals and sinks are all part of a revamped restaurant at Arboretum called Rachel’s Garden Café, named after owner Rachel Doyle. It’s been quite the week for the award-winning business, which last Friday night picked up three accolades at the prestigious Bord Bia National Amenity Horticulture Quality Awards, including the big award of the night – the Irish Large Garden Centre of the Year.
This makes it an incredible nine wins in this category over ten years for the Arboretum.
Source: The Nationalist – Arboretum Flushed with Success After Makeover
