Spending a penny is a little disconcerting at a cafe with a see-through loo.

But owners of the Inside-Out restaurant in Brighton say they are way ahead of the art world after Italian artist Monica Bonvicini caused a stir with her own version of the idea.

Many diners at Inside-Out have to overcome their embarrassment when they visit the unisex toilet.

It features a window fitted with one-way mirrored glass which looks out into the restaurant.

Anyone sitting on the loo looks straight out at people tucking into brunch or dinner just feet away.

Some visitors are too shy to spend a penny while they can see people eating, even though no one sat at the tables can see in.

A similar idea was presented as an art installation by Ms Bonvicini who made headlines earlier this month when she built a glass cube housing a fully functioning toilet opposite the Tate Modern gallery in London.

Passers-by have been encouraged to defy their embarrassment and use the loo inside the work, titled Don't Miss A Sec.

From the inside, the walls are transparent, so it feels as if the user is sat on the loo in the open air but outside the walls are mirrored.

This means they can see people walking by but those outside cannot see in.

Inside-Out in Gloucester Road said it came up with the idea first as its loo with a view has been in place for two years.

Owner James Parrott said: "We've had every kind of reaction from people. Some don't trust it and refuse to use it.

"Others insist on walking right round to check it is not a trick before locking themselves in.

"Kids love it. It keeps them amused while their parents eat. But it gives a lot of adults stage fright."

Mr Parrott found inspiration for the toilet while visiting a bar in London.

The gents toilet there had cameras fitted around the sinks so the men could see what the women were doing to freshen up and vice versa.

Mr Parrott adapted the idea to design his own see-through WC - although it initially proved to be a wee headache.

He first splashed out on a £250 piece of mirrored-glass but soon discovered there was a problem.

When the light changed at certain times of day it gave diners an eyeful - allowing them to see through the mirror and into the toilet.

A solution was quickly found with the tape used by boy racers on their cars.

Mr Parrott bought a roll of the tape and stuck strips of it over the window.

This preserved the modesty of those inside the toilet while allowing them to spy on the outside world.

He said: "I couldn't believe it. After I had spent £250 on special glass, which didn't work, I managed to fix it with a £10 roll of tape I got at the local hardware store."

The idea has brought dozens of curious diners into the restaurant.

Mr Parrott said: "One couple travelled from Oxford after hearing about the loo via word of mouth."

A spokeswoman for Ms Bonvicini said she was not aware Brighton had its own version of the see-though loo.

She said: "I believe there are other such toilets around but it's not just about the mechanisms of the loo. It's about the specific site."

Ms Bonvicini's toilet will be open daily until March.