I was told to feed my baby in the pub toilet

Sarah Connor, 31, took her 19-day-old baby Lillie May Ablitt to the Elms pub, in London Road, Leigh, to have lunch with her mum, Sandra Connor, and grandmother Lilian Gear.

After finding a table at the pub and getting everyone settled down, Miss Connor decided to feed her baby before the meal arrived, and politely asked the person serving them what the pub’s policy was on feeding babies. To her horror she says she was told to leave the bar. The pub has apologised and said there was a misunderstanding.

Miss Connor said: “I chose that pub because I know they have booths, and I could feed Lillie fairly privately but I asked about the pub’s policy out of courtesy.

“A smartly-dressed man who looked like a manager said very rudely, ‘Do it in the toilet. We don’t want that sort of thing here’.

“I was really shocked that anyone would not allow breast feeding in this day and age.”

Miss Connor, of Woodleigh Avenue, Leigh, also has a nine-year-old daughter Chloe and four-year-old twins, Connor and Matthew.

She added: “If I had been a first-time mum, this would definitely have put me right off breast feeding. It was really disappointing.”

Her dad, Steve Connor, 61, of Bellhouse Road, Leigh, said the family had been very upset by the incident.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it could happen, when mothers are being urged to give their babies the best start in life.

“This is a totally Victorian attitude. It’s disgusting.”

Pub manager, Roy Bigg, apologised to the family over the incident.

He said: “She took me by surprise.

“It’s a bit of a strange thing to ask. I think she misunderstood what I said.

“The wrong wording was used perhaps.

“We apologise. Our policy is they can do it anywhere they feel comfortable.”

Margaret Gray, head of public health at NHS South East Essex, was disappointed with the pub’s stance.

She said: “Breastfeeding is the healthiest and most natural way to feed your baby.

“Women should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed.”