Spending a penny when you're out and about usually calls for a mad dash to the nearest public convenience.

But pop into this one and you will more likely be relieved of a tenner for a bunch of freshly cut red roses or hand-tied tulips.

And besides, the owners of the toilet block in Brighton Marina which has now been converted into a florists might find it rather strange if you did try to go for a tinkle.

Located between The Katarina pub and Cafe Zio, the latest ex-public loos to be snapped up by entrepreneurs have undergone a radical transformation into a flower stall and underground recording studio.

The toilets stopped operating when the new waterfront was built six years ago.

Keyboardist Mick Lowe, who plays Radiohead covers with a group of friends, came up with the idea for the business venture while drinking a coffee at Cafe Zio.

Upmarket flower stand SEED opened on the ground floor on Thursday. The toilets' basement is being refurbished and sound-proofed in time for its grand opening as RBM Studios in the spring.

Mr Lowe, 48, said: "I thought the toilets would be ideal for a flower stall to brighten it up. Quite a few toilets are being converted now and it's a good way of making use of derelict space.

"The wrought iron canopy already gives the block nice architecture, and underground is perfect for a recording studio."

Mr Lowe is no stranger to property conversions. His building company, Pavilion Property Maintenance, has been based at Brighton Marina's boatyard for eight years and took up the task of knocking down the wall dividing the gents from the ladies with relish.

Bands will be able to use the studios for rehearsal and recording CDs and DVDs in digital sound. There will even be a sound engineer on hand to mix the recordings afterwards so bands can just get on with playing their songs.

Mr Lowe said: "The idea of the studios is not to make people feel intimidated. They can just come down, pick up a guitar and record a song on their own."

Mr Lowe bought the toilets on a renewable lease from X-Leisure. He spent an additional £20,000 on transforming the basement into recording studios and a further £7,500 creating the flower stall.

Kirsty Harris, marketing manager at X-Leisure, said: "Through careful planning and innovation the old and derelict underground toilets have been flushed out and transformed into a very colourful conversion."

SEED and RBM Studios are part of a growing trend. The closure of municipal loos has spawned a new property explosion, changing hands for up to £80,000 at a time when shop space is selling at a premium.

Other ex-public loos to receive a radical makeover include those in Roedean Road, just outside the marina, which have been converted into Strummers recording studio.

Florists springing up in place of old lavs include Flowers At Your Convenience, located at the bottom of Elm Grove, Brighton, and Sweep Pea in Norfolk Square, Brighton.

Perhaps the most famous example of a converted toilet in Sussex is the Frank-In-Steine cafe in The Steine, Brighton. Julie-Anne Gilburt gave a whole new meaning to the word Louvre when she shelled out £77,500 buying a former council WC on the seafront in Madeira Drive, Brighton. She spent a further £30,000 transforming the rat-infested block into the JAG art studio and gallery.

Monday, February 6, 2006