There’s another reason to visit a Tewkesbury pub beyond its food and drink – its ‘exceptional’ toilets!

The Royal Hop Pole in Church Street has been awarded a platinum star rating by inspectors – the highest award possible - – in the Loo of the Year Awards 2012.

The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of ‘away from home’ toilet provision across the UK.

Inspectors make unannounced visits to hundreds of toilets at sites across the UK, in order to judge them.

All of the toilets are graded from bronze to gold with unacceptable toilets not graded at all.

The platinum rating is given only to outlets which offer “exceptional toilets”.

The toilets are judged on things like décor and maintenance, cleanliness, accessibility, hand washing and drying equipment and overall management.

The Royal Hop Pole, a Wetherspoon pub, is managed by Linda and Stuart Coxshall.

Linda said: “We are delighted with the award. Staff at the pub work hard to ensure the toilets are in first-class condition at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

The Loo of the Year Awards 2012 managing director, Mike Bone, said: “The toilets at The Royal Hop Pole have been designed and fitted out to a very high standard and are both clean and well maintained