Nine Ashford town centre venues let anyone use their toilets free, with no need to buy anything. New stickers on bins now point the way. Full list and hours.

Arrow stickers have gone up on bins around Ashford town centre, pointing people to the nearest toilet they can use for free. Nine venues are in the scheme, and none of them asks you to buy anything first.

The stickers are the latest part of the council’s Community Toilet Scheme. Businesses that join open their toilets to anyone, and display a sticker in the window. The council announced the new bin stickers on Friday.

Where you can go, and when

This is the council’s own list of participants and opening hours, as published on the scheme page on 25 September 2026. All nine have ladies’, gents’ and disabled toilets.

Venue Also has Mon to Fri Saturday Sunday
County Square Baby change 8am to 6pm 8am to 6pm 9am to 4pm
Muffin Break, inside County Square Baby change 8am to 5.30pm 8am to 5.30pm 10am to 4pm
Ashford Gateway Plus Baby change, Changing Place 9am to 5pm (Thu to 6pm) 9am to 3pm Closed
New Rents None listed 8am to 4pm 8am to 4pm Closed
McDonald’s Baby change 6am to 11pm 6am to 11pm 6am to 11pm
The Stour Centre Baby change 6.30am to 10pm 8am to 8pm 8am to 8pm
The Coachworks Baby change, Changing Place 9am to 3pm (Thu and Fri 12pm to late) 12pm to late 12pm to 6pm
Lidl Baby change 8am to 10pm 8am to 10pm 10am to 4pm
The Players Bar Baby change 12pm to 11pm (Fri to 2am) 12pm to 2am 12pm to 11pm

A few things stand out from the list:

  • McDonald’s is the earliest and the most consistent, open 6am to 11pm every day.
  • The Players Bar is the latest, open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • Seven of the nine are open on a Sunday. Ashford Gateway Plus and New Rents are not.
  • The Coachworks is the one to check before you go: it closes at 3pm from Monday to Wednesday, then opens from midday on the other days.

The council’s page also carries a map of every venue.

Changing Places toilets

Two venues in the scheme, Ashford Gateway Plus and The Coachworks, have a Changing Places toilet. These are larger rooms with a hoist and an adult-sized changing bench, for people who cannot use a standard accessible toilet.

The council lists four Changing Places toilets in and around the town:

  • The Coachworks, Dover Place, TN23 1HU
  • Ashford Gateway Plus, the library on Church Road, TN23 1AS
  • Harper’s Cafe, Victoria Park, Jemmett Road, TN23 4QA, open 8am to 6pm daily
  • Ashford Designer Outlet, Kimberley Way, TN24 0SD, open 10am to 8pm on weekdays, 9am to 8pm on Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays

What the council says

Businesses in the scheme are checked from time to time by council staff. The council says this is to make sure the facilities still work and are up to standard.

Cllr Steve Campkin, the deputy leader, said the stickers matter because “people may not be aware of the facilities in question or that they can use them at no cost and with no obligation to buy anything”.

He also asked more town centre businesses to sign up.

What it means for you

  • You do not have to buy anything. The scheme’s own FAQ says so in plain terms. Look for the sticker in the window, or follow the arrows on the bins.
  • If you have a condition that needs frequent toilet use, the Bladder and Bowel Community offers a free Just Can’t Wait card, which the council points to on the same page.
  • If a toilet in the scheme is broken or dirty, the council asks you to report it online.
  • If you run a town centre business and want to join, the council asks you to get in touch through the Love Ashford website with your business name, address, contact details and the facilities you can offer.

Heading into town by car? Our guide to parking in Ashford has the car parks and what they cost.