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'Opulent' hotel toilets inspire comic book

North Yorkshire Council The men's toilets at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. Two men are pictured washing their hands at the sink, both drying their hands with a paper towel. The man on the left is wearing a blue suit, the man on the right a black hoodie.North Yorkshire Council
The toilets at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate are known for having Victorian brassware

The men's toilets in a Victorian hotel have helped inspire artists to design an 88-page comic book.

The Secrets of the Majestic anthology of stories is being displayed at the Mercer Art Gallery, in Harrogate, until March 2025.

The conveniences at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate are known for their ornate Victorian brassware, tiling and wood panelling.

Anthology editor Chris Mole, who is Sheffield-based, said he gathered comic artists to create the collection of tales after getting the idea during past comic conventions that were held at the hotel.

He said: “After several years of mucking around taking pictures in the toilets, I decided the time was right to put together an anthology of stories exploring why the toilets are like that.

“This is the result, a collection of short stories which explore various explanations and theories for such an opulent porcelain palace, from horror to action to science fiction and fantasy.”

The hotel became a landmark in Harrogate after opening in 1900 as a luxury destination for spa visitors.

The exhibition is being hosted in partnership with the Thought Bubble Festival convention, a comic art festival that attracts 15,000 visitors and more than 500 artists to the town each year.

North Yorkshire Council People looking at artwork inspired by the hotel toiletsNorth Yorkshire Council
The comic stories in the book are all inspired by the setting of the men’s toilets at the Majestic Hotel

North Yorkshire councillor Simon Myers said: “Who would have thought that a grand set of hotel toilets could spark such creativity?

“It is this quirky, unexpected angle that makes it an exciting exhibition and as such we hope to not only appeal to traditional art lovers but also comic art fans opening our doors to a broader audience.”

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