My local paper is asking for views on public breastfeeding!

[satine]

There have been a few letters recently in the Chichester Observer as a result of a mother being asked to leave a restaurant because she was breastfeeding.
The editorial bit says:

"Should breastfeeding be allowed in shops and cafes, or is it too embarrassing for other customers? Do you sympathise with shops? Are you an embarrassed customer? Are you a new mum too scared to breastfeed in public?
Let us know what you think!
Email your views to [email protected] "

I've written a two page letter, now I'm handing over to you, wonderful MN ladies!

um... carleton road chich but it is a bit of a dump, or if you want to be a bit more up market you could go for Lavant road chich. Don't have to give a number do you?

They did the same to me. I ghave my name but said I'd rather not give out my address.
(I've never even been to Chichester)

Thankyou so much, ladies! I'm really grateful for all the help.
A few addresses to try:
1 The Broadway, Chichester, PO194BJ
24 Roussillon Avenue, chichester PO19 4BN
2 Hope Villas, East Dean, Chichester PO18 0JA

Actually, Peter Homer has asked for views on public breastfeeding - I don't see why you have to live in Chichester itself to have an opinion.

The restaurant in question is called The Dining Room at Purchases, North Street, Chichester and the owner, Neil Rusbridger, has asked if those who support breastfeeding would contact him. So if anyone happens to be in Chi, do pop in and put him straight!

PS the addresses I've given out don't really exist - although the roads do. So you won't be upsetting any householders!

you don't have to live in Chichester to have an opinion

but you do have to live in Chichester to be of any interest to the local paper

would you buy the Chichester paper for long if it was full of opinions from, and stories about, people who lived somewhere else?

there would be no point

No, I realise that, Cappucino, but if, for example, this Peter Homer bloke is considering running a story on either a) how disgusting to see women getting their boobs out in public when you're trying to have your lunch or b) breast feeding is essential for the health of our chldren and we ought to change our attitude towards it (perhaps with a "List the local restaurants who are mum and baby friendly" sideline), a groundswell of opinion one way or the other might just change his mind! If he thinks no-one cares, he won't bother.

I got an email back saying they were just going to use my name and 'Chichester'!!! Looks like I'm going to be in print

Well done, Compo! Thanks so much.

All newspapers ask for an address before they publish letters. My local paper is often full of letters from people outside the area, sometimes commenting on things they did whilst visiting etc etc.

I would love someone to ask me to leave when I was breastfeeding!

With my 1st DD I admit I was nervous about BF in public, however I was lucky and never got a negative reaction, God help anyone who asked me to stop or leave now.

I agree with an earlier post, someone should name and shame the restaurant and a group BF should be organised - if I was local I'd go!

In a recent survey I read in Metro in a top 10 of most offensive things you could do, public breastfeeding was on no 4 (9%), just after being naked in public (37%), wearing a hoodie (12%), and public displays of affection (11%), but before things like public drinking and farting...
What is funniest about this is that at the time i was reading the article, I was actually breastfeeding ds2 (then 10 months) in the London-Cambridge train.. I guess a number of people there must have felt quite embarressed ...
Personally I would boycot any restaurant that bans me from breastfeeding my son, I wouldn't go back there!

FGS! I can't believe this is even an issue. So what are you going to do if you breastfeed your baby every 2 hours for 6 months or longer? Stay inside with curtains drawn?

Oooh Satine - I go to Chichester a lot. Which restaurant was it?

I sometimes buy the Chichester Observer. The letters page Goodness. What an eye opener. At least if you write a long letter and it gets published, you'll be sure it will be printed in full. They don't ever edit any of the rambling letters in that paper.

I'll go back and read your posts properly and see if it is helpful for me to write a letter too.

or we could all email the offending restaurant directly...!
here

"In response to Mrs Lyons? comments on breastfeeding in my restaurant, if any customers feel that such behaviour is acceptable, please write to me.

I, naturally, regret any offence caused to Mr and Mrs Lyons.
Neil Rusbridger, Proprietor,
The Dining Room at Purchase?s,
North Street, Chichester"

Above from The Chchester Observer's Letters Page

Well, the proprietor has asked people to write to him if they think breastfeeding in public is acceptable......

i just checked the original letter written by holly lyons, and her baby was actually just 2 months old... fgs what was she supposed to do when he got hungry? starve him??
i have had one waitor point at a "no drinks or food other than those bought" sign when i sat down to feed my ds1 in a restaurant once... we left !

OMG Honneybunny - did they expect you to order a cup of tea and a toasted tea-cake for your baby?

Well I don't know about anyone else but I never seem to get the time to write letters (emails never seem to be a problem though!).

I just looked up the restaurant on the internet and found their email address -

[email protected]

for those of us who prefer the quicker way to contact someone.

Would it be ok to turn up with screaming hungry babies then and refuse to feed them? Would the diners appreciate that?

I've not read all the messages so apologise if i'm repeating but in Scotland it is against the law to discriminate against any mother bfing in public. Don't know why that isn't the case in England.

Oh please lets have a mn meetup just outside the restaurant. Are there any benches to sit on close by? I'd suggest inside but then we'd have to give them our custom wouldn't we.

here's the response I got below:

Thank you for your email.
You have indeed misunderstood the situation.
The restaurant, like many others, have a ?no children under 14? policy. This is because this is an adult environment where alcohol is served and is not a suitable place for young persons to be. The lady in question was told on arrival that feeding (breast of bottle) or babes in arms are not permitted. The reason for this is many fold: not only after babies have been fed do they need winding, changing and lung exercises, but other bodily functions take place, which are not suitable in a restaurant.

Also with my years of experience, the lack of parental control in older children makes it also not suitable for them. There are places that cater for children, so everyone, as with for example smoking, has a choice.

On the occasion of the lady?s visit we did offer to allow her to dine as an exception, but she declined and left.

I hope this answers your queries.

Yours truly

Neil Rusbridger

The Dining Room

this has made me chuckle actually. I particularly like the notion of "bodily functions" - trumping presumably.
so, no, not child friendly and in fact children under 14 BANNED until they can jolly well learn to behave and not cause a nuisance to other members of the public.
I also liked the analogy with smoking

I really want to send this e-mail to the restaurant.

"My pelvic floor isn't what it used to be and I can't guarantee that I will be in complete control if my dinner companion tells a particularly amusing joke. Please could you confirm whether it will be acceptable for me to book a table in your restaurant".

PMSL!! Please send that email, it's fab!