Life

Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer defends restaurant’s gender-neutral toilets after receiving backlash

By Jordan Robledo

20th July 2022

Channel 4
Channel 4

TV chef Simon Rimmer was forced to defend his restaurant’s gender-inclusive toilets after facing backlash on social media.

On 4 July, the Sunday Brunch host opened a second location of his popular Greens restaurant in Sale, Manchester.

Since its launch, the eatery has received praise across websites like Yelp and Trip Advisor for its fine-dining experience and creative menu.

Alongside the restaurant’s positive reviews, however, Greens has also faced backlash from conservative critics for including gender-neutral toilets.

“Just been to Simon Rimmer’s lovely new restaurant where I was disappointed to discover gender-neutral toilets. Men and women awkwardly shuffled round each other, wondering if their were in the wrong place,” one person complained via social media.

In response to the anti-LGBTQ+ backlash, Rimmer defended the inclusive toilets with his own statement.

“Our decision to have unisex toilets was not taken lightly. We have trans and non-binary customers and staff,” he wrote via Twitter.

“We also have a separate accessible toilet for any person who finds the unisex toilets unacceptable. We listen to feedback from customers constantly.”

In addition to his tweets, Rimmer also uploaded a photo of the toilet area, which featured numerous cubicles with ceiling-to-floor doors.

“This is the communal area – each cubicle is obvs separate, and there is a separate, completely private accessible toilet as well,” he wrote alongside the photo.

Shortly after uploading his response, fans praised the 59-year-old for standing his ground on Greens’ inclusive toilets.

One Twitter user wrote: “Thank you for making trans people, parents, and carers feel welcome at your restaurant we all just need to do our business & unisex facilities are needed by so many groups so they can go about theirs without getting harassed or stared down.”

Another user tweeted: “As a cis woman I’m really glad you’ve done this. Thank you. I’m sure lots of others feel the same. Unfortunately, those who don’t like it will always shout loudest!”