Had to leave Costa as breastfeeding was taking too long

[CalmFawn]

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?

Ok.....

The Equality Act 2010 made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport.

I’m not sure why people think it’s not believable. I’ve got better things to do than make it up.

thanks, I did find the equality act on google. I’ve emailed Costa now anyway so hopefully will get a decent explanation from them

Before the Equality Act I was asked to leave a Tesco café because breastfeeding there was considered by the staff to be unhygienic, so I believe you. I’d Tweet Costa if I were you, name and shame the branch.

Thank you.

i have left a trip advisor review but a tweet is a good idea. I’ll do that now

Oh come on, you know the laws on breastfeeding OP.

Is this really a serious question?

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)

With all those empty tables? No. The staff member broke the law and needs training.

Exactly.

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.

Fuck the staff training. The law is clear. Fire the cunt.

I am surprised that the staff weren't trained correctly as it has serious implications for the company, there is no grey area.

Definitely raise a complaint.

It does have serious implications for the company if they aren’t making it crystal clear in training that their employees cannot ask women to leave for breastfeeding their children. I would have stayed right there and carried on breastfeeding, but the OP obviously felt under pressure.

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.

Funnily enough I had this today. Chairs and tables at a fair. Sat down to feed babe. Woman said you can’t feed here. To be fair at this point I realised this woman was actually trying to sell the tables and chairs (even though not a single customer in sight). So I did say sorry and moved. But it did make me wonder after. Never had anyone ask me not to feed before. But it was her private property the chairs.

I told my partner after in a listen to this awkward moment context. He said well fair enough. It would be like you sitting on a sofa in dfs feeding. And I thought I am pretty sure it’s illegal for them to tell you you can’t feed in dfs. So that made me ponder about this ladies garden chairs.

Random musing and not probably not worth a court case to find out 😂

It is standard training.

I'd imagine that a big company like Costa have it covered.

The staff member was a dick who has gambled with losing their job.

Haha I did not have both out on the table 😂

we’d only been sat down for 40 mins. I don’t think she liked me breastfeeding so used the timeframe as an excuse but it’ll see if Costa reply to my email!

Is it your first child? It's always a little daunting the first time

How does she know how "time consuming" it is? Your baby, your boobs, everyone's different. Anyway, that seems irrelevant given that you'd only been there 40 mins and still had cake to eat. For all she knew you were both going to have another coffee after the cake, is there some unwritten costa rule that all patrons must leave after 40 mins and one coffee?
Staff member sounds nuts

lol