A RESTAURANT owner caused a stir on social media when she criticised a customer complaining about a woman breastfeeding.

Louise Pitt, owner of the Grove, on Belton Corner, Leigh, said she was astonished to receive a call from the wife of the customer complaining he had been left “devastated” by the experience of witnessing one of her customers breastfeed in the restaurant, while with his two teenage grandchildren.

Joking on the Grove’s Facebook page the restaurant was building a cupboard for breastfeeding mothers in the future, the announcement gathered more than 275 comments, most of which were in support of the restaurant’s policy of welcoming feeding mothers.

Louise’s stance has also drawn support from a south Essex breastfeeding support group.

Louise said: “Our opinion is we are a family restaurant which welcomes women and children, so I was aghast this woman said her husband was ‘devastated’ at seeing a woman breastfeed.

“I’ve had this restaurant ten years and I’ve seen hundreds of women breastfeed, they don’t want men or anyone else seeing their boobs, so they’re very discreet.

“Normally I don’t post anything to do with customers on Twitter or Facebook, I keep it private, but I felt I had to with this because it was so shocking, and judging by the number of comments most people seem to agree.

“Interestingly enough, I also got a call from a woman who said she thought the post was about her mother, and she said she was horrified that she had done this.”

Mum2Mum, an NHS south Essex breastfeeding support group, praised the restaurant’s stance.

A spokeswoman said: “This incident is fortunately a rare occurrence. We do not usually hear of mums being discriminated against like this. We are pleased to hear the Grove supported this mum, and we would urge other breastfeeding mums not to be discouraged from breastfeeding in public due to this.

“Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed a baby. The equality act 2010 actually makes it illegal to discriminate against a breastfeeding woman and to ask her leave a public place when breastfeeding. If a baby is hungry in a restaurant, it must be fed, just like if an adult is hungry they would eat.”

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