Had to leave Costa as breastfeeding was taking too long

I once spent almost 2 hours in a Costa with my daughter breastfeeding, I was having a terrible day and it was so busy, and then went back again. The staff were lovely, and I’ve been visiting that coast regularly now and she’s almost 3, so no there’s defo no Costa policy and that’s also illegal what this person said to you!! I’m sorry you experienced this. Xx

Why did you leave, I'd have laughed in her face and carried on. Never let a twat interrupt your babies meals, next time something like this happens tell them to jog on x

Please don’t cite the equalities act. It doesn’t exist.
Equality Act 2010 is the one you meant.

Should have just stood your ground. Why didn't your friend stick up for you? Probably someone had complained and they took their side not yours, and I would make a complaint with facts in it

Weird how your friend did not say anything? If I witnessed a costa worker trying to eject my friend before she had finished her cake and was bf I would have said something?

If there were 10 empty tables, they certainly weren’t busy. It sounds like a rogue disapproving member of staff who used it as an excuse. Was it a woman?And 40 mins is the minimal time a cafe should expect customers to have coffee and cake. Even in a crowded cafe, I wouldn’t expect to be hassled to leave after that time. That’s probably a spend of almost £20. Cake isn’t much cheaper than a lunch, i.e. sandwich.

In future, I’d go to a cafe that’s happy for mums with babies and toddlers to meet their friends. It’s a big market, so they’d be crazy not to encourage this. But some cafes near businesses or stations mostly have customers who need a quick turnaround. So, may prefer people not to dwell. But with 10 empty tables, it certainly didn’t apply in your case.

Never feel apologetic or demanding to breastfeed in public. It’s perfectly natural. I breasted everywhere, including public transport, cafes, pubs, offices. Most people were unaware I was doing it. It just looked like I was holding the baby. Just pulled my t-shirt up and had a blanket or muslin around them. And that was 20 years ago.

@Fruitytutti223

thats very different, they were samples of the chairs she was selling, just like sitting down in the middle of the dining room tables section of John Lewis, not appropriate whereas John Lewis cafe is fine as long as you have bought something

https://unherd.com/newsroom/costas-trans-mastectomy-advert-is-an-insult-to-women/

I’m boycotting Costa. They don’t seem very into breasts . . .

With Costa they do have time policies in outlets (varies by franchisee though) but it’s discretionary if they are enforcing it. I personally never had an issue anywhere feeding but you learn to start when you first sit down rather than after 40 minutes when they are very tiny as it takes a while. They legally can’t stop you from feeding but if the store has a 45 minute table policy you would have reached that, I’m not sure where that law lies?

Nor mine!!

So sorry this happened to you OP and I hope it doesn’t knock your confidence with feeding in public.

Yep I regularly sit in Costa, Starbucks and elsewhere with a laptop while dc are training.

training sessions are usually 2-3 hours so I’m sat there way more than 40 mins.

usually with one drink. Though starbucks charged me nearly £6 for an iced lime last week which was a bit pricey.

*caveat being if it was so busy people were struggling to sit I’d cut short. Never had to do that though.

Jesus, calm down!

Aah I really feel for you OP. What a terrible experience for your first solo outing, when you do feel a bit nervous generally. Regardless of the law, it is so important that mothers feel supported with feeding in public, it so important for mental health to pop out and socialise together.

I exclusively breastfed both mine for 10 months, and I have never experienced anything like this. Please know that not all places will treat you like this, and I hope this hasn’t knocked your confidence with future outings.

Good luck and I hope you receive an apology.

Yes, Costa bashing threads are not unusual. I wonder if it's a generated by Starbucks.??

I have been in lots of Costas for a long time and never once been asked to move along, and I wasn't even breastfeeding!!

obviously I'd move along if there were no empty tables for other people!!

People sit in Costa for hours with one cup of coffee, on their laptops!! Busy or not.

Also, never feel like an imposition with your tiny baby. Take as long as you need feeding wherever you are.

I’m so sorry you experienced this, I hope you get some compensation, even if it’s just a free coffee and cake!

While not commenting on the believability or not, lots of Costas are franchises so there’s a lot of variation between them.

Why are so many commenters sceptical about whether this actually happened?

My local Costa has lots of visible signs in the place saying something about being supportive of breastfeeding in them. Can’t remember the details but to me indicates staff are well aware to leave feeding mums to feed their babies. When I was on mat leave I often went there and on weekday mid mornings it’s not very busy and lots of people would be there a long time having leisurely catch ups with people etc

This is outrageous. This happened to me in Pizza Hut once but that was nearly 30 years ago. Disgusting.

Call them out publicly. Very publicly. Email the manager. Ensure that person is looking for a new job. I’ve no patience for this sort of misogynistic bullshit anymore! So sorry you experienced that.