Final call: Find a new use for the British phone box

What do you do with a redundant phone box? The red box is iconic. But also, in the age of the mobile phone, unnecessary.

At least, it is unnecessary as a residence for a telephone.

As a result British Telecom is planning to take them out of service.

So if we don't want to lose this important feature of our landscape we need to think of an alternative use for the boxes. And quickly.

Comment Central readers to the rescue.

Can you provide an alternative use for the great red British phone box?

Comments

[Millbanker]

Put charging points for mobile phones in them for when your phone battery runs out of power. 10p for 5 minutes charging, to be taken directly from the phone...

[Sam]

I've always thought that it is unfair to prevent any legal service from advertising. However, some adverts might offend those who do not want to view them. Since you would choose to enter, these booths would provide a perfect place to advertise, oh, I don't know, prostitution...

[A.Blackmore]

Could they be used as tardis's? Would help cut down on carbon emissions.

[Belinda]

A useful idea would be to turn them into lavatories as there just aren't enough public toilets around.

[Simon]

Perhaps they could be used to advertise the services of workers in what is now referred to as the sex industry. Or has somebody already thought of that one?

[David Pritchard]

The charging point thing is problematic, because you'd need to hang around for a long time, and the phone couldn't process payment until it had been partially charged. Still, OK if it could be made to work.

It's possible to think of several useful things, but probably nothing that would generate enough revenue to justify the maintenance.

Maybe we will have to nationalise them!!

[Simon W]

I agree with Millbanker - they already do this in Japan and other places much more, and it would be good for more urban areas.

As for rural places - some sort of internet point combined with PAYG top-up and more might be an idea

[James E. Petts]

Mobile internet is still expensive, and not everyone has the hardware for it, so pay-per-megabyte kiosk web browsers are still worthwhile things to have (and to put in telephone boxes).

[Veryan]

They'd make fantastic tool sheds on our allotment...

[LO]

Make internet points in those boxes! For a coin people can stop by and send emails, get directions, and find whatever they need online. Mobile internet might be great for some, but I hate using tiny buttons to type messages and a tiny screen annoys many people, so I think red booth internet hubs would be great! They would be especially useful for tourists who would have to face roaming charges if using their mobiles to use internet.

[PK]

Could help ease prison overcrowding... I'm sure you could squeeze 2 or 3 inmates into each one, just drill a hole in the roof to feed them through.

[Dan]

Individual, private use public loos.

[Rae Brown]

Surely not everyone has a mobile phone? These totally-recognisable phone boxes could still house a phone for emergency purposes - perhaps a direct line to 999. They could also do service as a type of information point, and contain maps of the district, and of wider London.

[DN]

Turn them into internet points or electronic Tourist Information points. Would be great to sit in the red booth, check you email, transfer funds onto you bank card (if you are game) or work out where you are and where you need to be!! Charge you mobile / ipod while you surf.

[Tim Morris]

Individual public prisons for local ASBO winners.

[Dave Browne]

How about turning them into public loos ? A lot of them are used for this purpose already !

[Rhys]

Stick a urinal in them, its what drunks use them for now anyway.

[Andy]

I've always fancied sticking one in my bathroomm with a shower in it.

[Riz Khan]

Put in a terminal for Oyster card or mobile phone credit top-up or paying Congestion Charge etc. Any service that needs a quick internet transaction. Or a TFL info point with info screen....

[Elisabetta Guaita]

I'am italian and as such I'm terrified by the idea of loosing one of your most beautiful british icons of all the times.
Why don't you simply turn them into internet points.
You only need a micro computer, getting the connection using credit cards or bancomat....a standing point, just for a quick use.

[coverpoint]

So far as I recall, they used to double up as public urinals. Perhaps that might be made a more "official" role in the future!

[Josh Morris]

I think they should convert them into Internet Kiosks, only you need to pay before the door opens to ensure that vandals do not damage them - it would be so sad to lose these national land marks

[Whitter]

Teleportation devices. That would be handy. Just space, not time as well though: copyright problems on that one.

[Make official their alternative use]

Put some opaque glass in and appropriate sanitaryware and make them into (official) pissoirs - this would make up for all the public conveniences closed by the councils.

[L Hudson]

The phone box would make a good shower cubicle - not sure where you could put it though. Or a hair and make-up touch-up zone with a mirror. You could charge for each. I like the idea of a mobile phone re-charge box.

[Oscar]

Urinals! Think about it. You will never need a phone booth but you see them everywhere. You (or someone somewhere) will always need to go to the loo but you can never find one.

[Martyn Smith]

Just leave them there! We seem to spend time looking for works of art to publically display and here we have these British icons all over the country.

Tourists love them! They are part and parcel of the UK.

I really see no need to have a need for them, other than they look nice.

[Greg Hoover]

Put ATMs with a basic online interface inside. Additional services would include cell phone credit purchase, bill and parking payment, local information and council services such as booking refuse removal.
The cabin should also have a panic button which contacts the emergency services and locks the door for a short period keeping the occupant safe inside.

[adam]

Maybe BT should allow small business and individuals to place cards advertising their services in the phone boxes.

[monica]

Dedicate them to tourism services - you go into one, pay and ring to find out attractions and restaurants within walking distance, + sat nav directions maybe.

Incidentally, I went to Bletchley Park a year or so ago, and they've got an old one outside a 1940s 'local shop' complete with Button A and Button B. I fancied a spot of nostalgia and got more than I bargained for. After all these years of disuse, it still smelled of wee and smoke. And that's their main problem. Ugh ... and I smoke, though I never have in public places except pubs.

[rafbobcat]

Ship them to the US for sale.

[haralambos]

Right - instal web cams and designate them free love boxes - somewhere exhibitionists can nip in for a quickie while voyeurs follow the action on their PCs!!! Remeber where you read it first.

[Edward B Ryder IV]

Put them on eBay; thousands of Anglophiles resident in the USA would buy one or more for decorative purposes around the home. I'd love to have one in the back garden, wired with a phone and light. I'd position it adjacent to the Union Jack that flies in the backyard of my New York home.

[Tom Freeman]

Affordable housing?

[Carlos Muncharaz]

Why not place there a computer to access Internet and check out information, such as Google maps, telephone guides, etc?

[Lindsay]

But where will Superman get changed!?

[Jim Bob]

The Sex Industry worked this one out an age ago: Phone boxes make excellent repositories for leaflets and flyers.

So why not use them to house leaflets on local tourist attractions, restaurants, bars etc.

Perhaps even NHS health leaflets?

And it might even be possible to make a few quid in the process to pay for upkeep.

[AW]

Have them as internet points - places where you can log onto a machine - like they have already, but at least they will show up more!

[Victoria]

Free internet? useful for directions etc, and a heck of lot more convenient than a library.
ATMs? more private than being on the side of the road
Loos? this could be rather tricky as they're quite compact! but there is definitely a shortage of loos in britain.
Tardis? Handy if you escape from prison & need somewhere to hide but perhaps abit risky for unsuspecting tourists.

[tom]

Americans will buy anything put them in a container and send them to to US and sell them for $500.00 each.

[tom]

Americans will buy anything put them in a container and send them to to US and sell them for $500.00 each.

[Steve]

They may as well turn them into Amsterdam style urinals. They have been used for that for years anyway.

[tom]

As anyone who uses them regularly will know, the secondary purpose of these boxes is to provide urinal facilities for inebriates. For a amall outlay, a sign saying 'drunks' could be attached.... much in the manner of those 'men' and 'women'ones which adorn public conveniences.This would preserve an important part of our heritage in the condition we expect to find it.

[Stephen Smith BBC Newsnight]

Hello, Daniel and his readers might care to tune into Newsnight on BBC2 this evening to see a telephone kiosk 'graveyard' in Essex - and learn how the company operating it rehabilitates distressed kiosks and sells them at up to £2,5000 a piece. Customers include a restauranteur in the US who has bought 50 kiosks to create 'Phonehenge'!
It's in a film I'm editing right now for Newsnight's 'Hard Times' season.
Regards,
Stephen Smith (Culture Correspondent, BBC Newsnight)

[William Hanson]

A single toilet, marked for femme or male. Anyone over 20 stone/220lb/127kg. would find it a tight fit though.There is a great shortage of public toilets.

[Jeff]

How about selling them to members of the public. Imagine having a retro phone box attached to your home as a primary buffer to shelter from the rain and get your keys out to enter your home. Brilliant in our weather. I have also heard of them being bought up, moved to peoples homes and turned into showers. That works no?

[Patrice]

Please consider replacing the new see through - horrible, style BT public phone boxes - with the old red phone boxes - especially in your country parts...This would do more for BT's image than anything;- Folks love the old red boxes...You can have direct link to the police - from the phone system installed; if the system suspects vandalism - which is prevalent in the UK...Also, cameras, maybe? So, BT will have to cohort with the security police dept., on this one.

[Tony Collins]

I love Tim Morris's idea of individual prisons for ASBO winners. Just like the old stocks; to give them a bit of harmless humiliation.

[llamas]

There is a private residence on Spencer Road in Brighton, Michigan, USA which has one of these as a garden toolshed. Always reminds me of the UK when I drive by it. I'd buy one for the same purpose. Ship 'em on over.

llater,

llamas

[Nicholas Iles]

We have one as a shower block for our swimming pool

[Sissy]

Turn them into places to get money cards or cash from ATM's -- or travel info for tourists.

[Abdul Majeed]

In response to Belinda (17th July): some people actually DO use them as lavatories!

[Sarsfield's Ghost]

If you've seen the Woody Allen film " Sleeper " , turn it into an Orgasmatron ! Just walk into it and ......

[Jadransko More]

RE-NATIONALISE BT! Then we won't be talking about telephone companies trying to maximise their profits by removing services that aren't cost effective!

[Scott Benowitz]

I like to think that I am pretty far from death at this point and I have not yet selected a coffin for myself, but would it be possible to be buried in one of these when the time comes?

[bob]

put hair straighteners in them, it's all some women think about.

[leyla]

changing rooms by the beach

[peter]

They could be used as bus shelters on lonely roads. Four welded together would be very suitable for the inclement weather. They could also be used for similar purposes in golf courses. They may even have a place as a sin bin in places of ill repute such as public houses, or they could be sold to China who could replicate them as household goods and must haves for the rich and famous in America, They also could replace changing rooms in beach houses in places like Brighton.

[Spanner]

See www.heritagetrading.com to buy one!

[Mark Humphreys]

I think they should be used as umbrella dispensers.....what could be more British than that?

[Nort]

I'm sure someone has already drawn attention to their traditional secondary use as an w.c.

[S.F. Al]

Baby changing rooms

[Nort]

I'm sure someone has already drawn attention to their traditional secondary use as an w.c.

[Hol]

Turn them into vending machines.

[John, UK]

Urinals

[JK]

I think, it could be relic like in Egypt the pyramids.If you are patient - 1000 years, it will be turist atraction!
Don´t underestimate it!Once It will be miliards and miliards pounds, believe me!
What is pyramids in compare with worthy, old and emotive phone boxes?!

[Pat]

What about the obvious. Use them as a quiet place to make a (mobile) phone call. Then you wouldn't have to put a finger in the other ear to drown out traffic noise.

[01264 781714]

I know I shall be accuseed of being something of an unforgiveable philistine here, but I think we should stop being so xenophobic about what is nothing more than some kind of strange 'British' icon. It is simly an inanimate object which is now nothing more than a target for yobs with hammers. Get rid of them!

[james allen]

It's amazing the speed at which gadgets and science progress. We can now text people and send them messages and it has been rumoured that soon you will be able to pick up a receiver and listen to a voice at the other end and then speak to that voice yourself! Whatever will they think of next?
Perhaps these red boxes could be used for this purpose?

[Nick]

Why not put gas burners inside and turn them in to suicide booths, maybe it will stop people from doing it in a more messy fashion.

[Edmund Burke]

Dan is right. Not everyone has a mobile phone, since not everyone wants one, and not everyone can afford one. Let's keep the public call boxes.

[Philip Stobbart]

Charge points for electric cars

[DJ]

I'll have one to house my mini Dr Who collection.

Otherwise... replace the nasty new ones with the old-style exclusively, then rig them up as automated tourist information offices with screen and search facilities.

[Alex Davidson]

Sell them to the Americans!!

I live in Chicago and I seem to be seeing more and more of them nowadays. Mostly outside of pubs..

[Marco]

Rip the doors off and turn them into street vending machines for cigs, chocos, beer or panties. Or ask Damien Hirst to buy them all to make a gigantic art installation on a field somewhere that looks like an army of phone boxes marching as to war. It could be called "Phone war on terror".

[Hazel Carter]

The wonderful old K6 Kiosks should be handed back to the Communities they have served for so long. They could display old history, local walks, places of interest. I have an idea called 'Adopt-a-Box' which I will be exploring. Its not all about money. These are landmark features and an important part of our social history. Hands off BT!!

[Rachel]

I don't have a mobile...can't afford it.

[Curtis Davidson]

Turn them into a dataport. You could access the internet, charge your computer of mobile phone and make a videophone call. You could also be charged for specialized computing services, send a fax, scan a document or watch computerized television. If all else fails, convert them into an ATM.

[Jeff]

Fine payment booths! Joe public can pay all these fines for: speeding, dropping a chip (litter), congestion charges (sorry that's an environmental tax), smoking in public & parking, but then alas we would need a government official for every one!

[Irene Bujman]

We need to preserve these old boxes for when teleportation becomes the norm. Beam me up!

[Raymond Kearns]

Use them as "time out" stations for naughty children. That'll scare them straight!

[machiavelli]

The network should be maintained as an alternative to Gordon Brown's mobile phone, thereby reducing the number of injuries sustained by his staff from objects hurled.

[Elle]

save the phone boxes!!how about turning them into music-box?Elle from Italy

[Sash Newman]

I think the panic box idea is excellant. Connected to the local police and with a lockble door for protection

[Ed Ward]

"....in the age of the mobile 'phone, unnecessary". So, when you want to call the police after having been attacked and had your mobile 'phone stolen, what then?

[Pundit]

Fit locks and bang knife carriers up in them for a day (on the spot sentence). Ridicule can be quite effective...

[Frank Upton]

Just remove them and plant trees instead.

[dougie]

it is the next phase of eradicating britishness. we in britain used to laugh at france and their protectionist ways (both industry & culture) who is laughing now?

[Maggie Snook, Wool]

I would like to see them left as they are- in full working use of course. Tourists still use them.

Parishes want to keep them ,after all they are a historical communication moot point- and they could valued as part of a CONSERVATION area !Understand?

[Simon]

Confessionals.
Install coffee machines in them.
Fill them with formalyn and put dead sharks in them.
Video booths.

[Kevin]

David Pritchard: Here in the states, our phones work the minute you plug them in to a power source... charged or not. maybe you should look into updating your phone. ;-)

[Chris]

Most people have mobile phones, but sometimes a conservation needs to be free of the sound of a London street - ergo these phone boxes could provide a oasis to make that all important call?

[Paul]

Just get rid of all the glass ones with the BT logo and replace them with the traditional phone boxes.

[fernando italy]

i have think somenthing unusual and not in direct connection with the odiern tec like the internet point ,so why not a cafeteria. a coffe`-boy maybe stay outdoor for a while until
came a custumers for the order, and the coffe-boy go inside and make
a fresh coffe` or capuccino and serve a croissant as well

[tim]

turn them into emergency services only. police, fire and ambulance.

[tim]

turn them into flats, you could easily fit 15 romanians into one...

[slade wallis]

Great something else going down the drain !

Soon we really have no British culture or icons except the drab Euronised high streets !

We already have some police forces parading round like car thieves wearing juvenile baseball caps and now this !!!!!

Welcome to drab Britain....

[Ad]

It could be more useful as a toilette.

[MILES FROM SYDNEY]

Give them to the Daleks!

Dont lose them they are quintessentially British!

[red juice please!]

Yet again, trying to wipe out any trace of Britishness. I'd have one. I promise to give it a good home!