1985

The trope of the bridge is extremely useful when thinking about the space of launderettes and the spaces occupied by washing-lines. Waiting rooms and bridges are spaces between. Neither here nor there, they occupy the same emotional realm as held breath, paused clocks, and the decks of ships pointing out to sea. This is part of the pleasure taken in the launderette, a pleasure which has been transferred in modern advertising to the pleasure of the random sexual encounter, clothes to one side, all bets are off, anything could happen.

Mass Observation

"Many people seem unwilling to parade their more personal garments in front of a shop full of people, and, possibly as a result, launderettes have become classed as "gossip shops for lazy people".

Solis Laundrette (no.355 Bethnal Green road)