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Original poster

Had to leave Costa as breastfeeding was taking too long

257 replies

CalmFawn · 06/04/2025 00:27

Visited Costa last week with my 10 day old baby. Went to meet my best friend and it was my first outing without my husband ( so a bit nervous!)

Sat down and we both ordered a coffee and a cake. Had a good chat and she held baby etc. about 40 mins into seating, I started to breastfeed baby. Coffee was nearly gone but cakes hadn’t been eaten yet. A member of staff came over and demanded I stop feeding my baby as it was ‘too time consuming’ and we’ve been sat here for too long and it was a busy period so we need to leave. We pointed out there were over 10 empty tables and we still had cake but she ignored us and held the door open for us to leave. I was so upset and embarrassed I just stopped feeding baby and rushed out.

whilst reflecting over the weekend I wish I had had said something to her but worried I’ve missed some time frame that Costa allow and overran. Was she right to ask us to leave? Or was she in the wrong?

OP posts:
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Livelaughblocked · 14/04/2025 06:11

CalmFawn · 06/04/2025 00:27

Visited Costa last week with my 10 day old baby. Went to meet my best friend and it was my first outing without my husband ( so a bit nervous!)

Sat down and we both ordered a coffee and a cake. Had a good chat and she held baby etc. about 40 mins into seating, I started to breastfeed baby. Coffee was nearly gone but cakes hadn’t been eaten yet. A member of staff came over and demanded I stop feeding my baby as it was ‘too time consuming’ and we’ve been sat here for too long and it was a busy period so we need to leave. We pointed out there were over 10 empty tables and we still had cake but she ignored us and held the door open for us to leave. I was so upset and embarrassed I just stopped feeding baby and rushed out.

whilst reflecting over the weekend I wish I had had said something to her but worried I’ve missed some time frame that Costa allow and overran. Was she right to ask us to leave? Or was she in the wrong?

This is actually discrimination. They broke the equality act 2010 especially since your baby is only 10 days old. Time to sue!!

Labelledelune · 13/04/2025 10:37

Go onto Costas Twitter page and leave a comment. I find this absolutely disgusting and if I had been there things might have gone very differently.

MarvellousMonsters · 12/04/2025 21:37

CalmFawn · 06/04/2025 00:54

I wasn’t asking about the breastfeeding. I was asking if there was a specific timeframe you were allowed to sit in Costa. (Because according to the staff member that’s what she had an issue with)

Show quote history

People sit in coffee shops and work on laptops, alone and with friends. I have sat in a cafe and crocheted, whilst drinking a couple of coffees, waiting for work to be done on my car. There’s no time limit on this, especially if there were other empty tables. She didn’t like you breastfeeding, and made up an excuse.

Schoolgatelassie · 12/04/2025 20:49

Lawsuit

Jenkibubble · 12/04/2025 20:34

CalmFawn · 06/04/2025 00:27

Visited Costa last week with my 10 day old baby. Went to meet my best friend and it was my first outing without my husband ( so a bit nervous!)

Sat down and we both ordered a coffee and a cake. Had a good chat and she held baby etc. about 40 mins into seating, I started to breastfeed baby. Coffee was nearly gone but cakes hadn’t been eaten yet. A member of staff came over and demanded I stop feeding my baby as it was ‘too time consuming’ and we’ve been sat here for too long and it was a busy period so we need to leave. We pointed out there were over 10 empty tables and we still had cake but she ignored us and held the door open for us to leave. I was so upset and embarrassed I just stopped feeding baby and rushed out.

whilst reflecting over the weekend I wish I had had said something to her but worried I’ve missed some time frame that Costa allow and overran. Was she right to ask us to leave? Or was she in the wrong?

Outrageous - no wonder our BF rate is so low in this country

Id email - head offixe .
Poor !!!!!!

Olive123456 · 12/04/2025 18:58

lauraloulou1 · 06/04/2025 00:59

That staff member needs fired. Please update us when you have made that happen. Let us know how we can help. And your first outing?? Literally fuck that shit. Free coffees for you for life and that fucker fired for breaking the actual law.

You seem nice...

Twinkletoes10 · 08/04/2025 20:48

I'm so sorry that happened to you, it's absolutely appalling. It makes me very sad to think that a tiny baby had to stop feeding because of someone's intolerance and impatience. What is the world coming to,so cruel 😔

Piscesmom22 · 08/04/2025 20:36

They/she were bang out of order!!
They have broken the law and behaved frankly…utterly shamefully 😮 I’m glad you reviewed them on trip advisor to hi light this as a un inclusive and family un oriented environment! Hopefully it will hit them where it hurts!!!! The profit margin !!

I hope you get a positive outcome, but well done for raising it and calling them out!! Given how recently you became a mom and your hormones, you should be really proud of yourself!! 🫶🫶🫶

Funnywonder · 08/04/2025 12:18

MissDoubleU · 08/04/2025 09:00

“We cannot apologise once again that this was not the case on your visit”

Nice to see someone took the time to proof read this.

Show quote history

Yeah, I noticed that too. And it wasn’t the only example of poor grammar. I don’t give a toss if people use poor SPAG on t’internet, but it pisses me off in a formal letter etc.

Blondeshavemorefun · 08/04/2025 10:52

So a poof reply then. No voucher ? Free drink or cake offered.

pretty poor imo

MissDoubleU · 08/04/2025 09:00

CalmFawn · 07/04/2025 16:43

Photo attached. I haven’t read the recent posts but I saw one asking if it was closing time, it wasn’t. It was 11am.

“We cannot apologise once again that this was not the case on your visit”

Nice to see someone took the time to proof read this.

jellyfishperiwinkle · 08/04/2025 02:30

I've sat at a Costa for three hours with one coffee and a sandwich as it was the only place I can work while waiting for my mum's treatment at hospital.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 08/04/2025 02:23

CoraPirbright · 07/04/2025 19:09

Yes!! Stage a boobs-out sit-in!!

I'll come and get mine out in solidarity, and I don't even have a baby!

Oh wait, that would just be indecent exposure. Never mind!

Ethelflaedofmercia · 07/04/2025 23:28

Costa worker here and I also have a baby.
you should never have been treated like that!

At my store we bring over water for breastfeeding mums, I’m truly shocked

CoraPirbright · 07/04/2025 19:09

Yes!! Stage a boobs-out sit-in!!

BobhopeNohope · 07/04/2025 18:59

CoraPirbright · 07/04/2025 18:40

Well done OP. I would return at the same time/day and make a point of feeding your baby….for a nice long time!! The woman who told you to leave can shove it!!

I'd bring all your bf pals as well,she how she likes that.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 07/04/2025 18:52

CoraPirbright · 07/04/2025 18:40

Well done OP. I would return at the same time/day and make a point of feeding your baby….for a nice long time!! The woman who told you to leave can shove it!!

I would too!

ThisFluentBiscuit · 07/04/2025 18:51

MadeForThis · 07/04/2025 18:22

I would expect a voucher to compensate for the lost cake.

Absolutely!

Also, the focus on the lost cake on this thread is pretty funny!

CoraPirbright · 07/04/2025 18:40

Well done OP. I would return at the same time/day and make a point of feeding your baby….for a nice long time!! The woman who told you to leave can shove it!!

doodahdayy · 07/04/2025 18:32

ThisFluentBiscuit · 07/04/2025 17:21

Oh, that's interesting! I spend time in Brighton sometimes, I love it. Which cafe bans laptops?

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It’s called Jolliffes. They have a sign inside saying no laptops

MadeForThis · 07/04/2025 18:22

I would expect a voucher to compensate for the lost cake.

Agenoria · 07/04/2025 17:51

MarkWithaC · 07/04/2025 17:33

But she says there were 10 empty tables.

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And that the staff member specifically demanded that she stop feeding the baby as it was "too time consuming".

Currentquandry · 07/04/2025 17:46

CalmFawn · 07/04/2025 16:43

Photo attached. I haven’t read the recent posts but I saw one asking if it was closing time, it wasn’t. It was 11am.

That’s excellent news. Very glad you followed it up. I hope they are going to give you a voucher for the uneaten cake and offer you a complementary coffee too!

MarkWithaC · 07/04/2025 17:33

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 06/04/2025 01:09

But surely the pont is the OP was being asked to move because she had paid for one coffee and a cake and was hogging a table; not because she was breast feeding.

But she says there were 10 empty tables.

ThisFluentBiscuit · 07/04/2025 17:21

doodahdayy · 07/04/2025 10:19

Op said there were plenty of tables free so there was no excuse. A cafe in Brighton had a sign saying no laptops. That was good. So many people spend a couple of quid and expect to use the premises for most of the day. That was a very high traffic place though.

Show quote history

Oh, that's interesting! I spend time in Brighton sometimes, I love it. Which cafe bans laptops?