BRISTOL INNOVATORS SECURE GLOBAL EXPANSION FOR FESTIVAL SOLUTION

A Revolution in Festival Comfort From Bristol Graduates

The quintessential British festival experience has long been defined by music, mud, and the inevitable, seemingly endless wait in a queue for the toilets. For generations, this has been an accepted, if frustrating, part of the landscape for women attending outdoor events. However, a brilliant new chapter is being written in Bristol, where two University of Bristol graduates are turning the tide on this uncomfortable status quo. Amber Probyn and Hazel McShane, the innovative duo behind the start-up Peequal, have successfully secured a significant £925,000 in fresh funding. This major financial milestone is set to propel their pioneering urinal design from a local success story to an international solution, proving that British engineering and design talent can solve even the most persistent of daily challenges. Since the company first debuted its units in 2022, they have been used an estimated 1.25 million times, demonstrating a massive appetite for a more dignified and efficient way to handle basic needs in a crowded festival setting.

Engineering Efficiency for a Better Experience

At the heart of this success lies a clever, thoughtful approach to design that prioritises both the user and the environment. Peequal’s urinals are specifically engineered to be three times faster to use than traditional portable toilets, which immediately slashes the time festival-goers spend waiting in line. For anyone who has missed part of a favourite set because of a long toilet queue, this development represents a genuine upgrade in their overall event experience. Beyond speed, the logistical genius of these units is equally impressive. The urinals are stackable, a design feature that allows for significantly more efficient transportation. In fact, nearly three times as many units can be carried on a single lorry compared to the standard portable toilets we have seen for decades. This reduction in the number of vehicles required for delivery and removal not only lowers transport costs but also improves the sustainability footprint of large-scale events. By rethinking the shape and function of these facilities, the team has managed to balance high-capacity performance with modern environmental consciousness, a combination that has clearly resonated with investors.

Taking a Bristol Innovation to the World Stage

The recent injection of £925,000 brings the total investment in Peequal to an impressive £1.4 million, a figure that signals strong confidence in the brand's vision. With this funding secured in 2024, the co-founders are now ready to scale their production capabilities to meet global demand. While the journey began in Bristol, the company’s sights are now firmly set on international markets. The plan is to export these highly efficient units to events across Europe, the United States, and Australia. It is a proud moment for the UK technology and design sector to see a home-grown start-up take such a functional, user-focused idea and successfully prepare it for widespread global adoption. The transition from a 2022 debut to a 2024 global expansion strategy highlights the rapid growth and clear market demand for infrastructure that puts the user’s time and comfort first. This is not just about a urinal; it is about applying human-centred design to public spaces to improve how we experience the world together.

An Optimistic Future for Outdoor Events

As Peequal prepares to scale up, the implications for festival organisers and patrons alike are promising. Large-scale events often struggle with the logistics of managing tens of thousands of people, and the provision of adequate, quick-access facilities is a cornerstone of a well-managed festival. By adopting the Peequal model, organisers can facilitate a smoother, more sustainable event flow, while festival attendees can spend more time enjoying the music and less time in queues. The fact that these urinals have already proven their worth through over a million uses suggests that the design is robust and highly effective. With the mass production of these units now firmly on the horizon, we can expect to see a more efficient, user-friendly approach to event infrastructure appearing at major festivals far beyond the UK. Amber Probyn and Hazel McShane have transformed a common nuisance into a sleek, efficient, and mobile piece of engineering, demonstrating exactly why the UK remains a hub for creative problem-solving. As these units start to pop up at sites from the United States to Australia, the legacy of their Bristol start-up will continue to grow, making the simple act of visiting a festival toilet just a little bit faster, a little bit easier, and a lot more sustainable for everyone involved.