Mum ‘humiliated’ in cafe
JODIE ASKED IF HER SON, 6, COULD USE THE LOO – BUT THE OWNER SNIGGERED AND SAID ‘IT’S A £5 CHARGE’
A mum-of-two has told how she was publicly humiliated by a cafe owner when she asked if her little boy could use the loo.
Jodie Holmes, 25, of Huddersfield was in the town centre with her two children – a baby girl and her six-year-old son, Jaydon, when he badly needed the loo.
Jodie said: “We passed the Caffe Venecia and I went inside to ask politely if he could use the toilet.”
But she got a shock when its owner allegedly told her: ‘it’s a £5 charge for non-customers.’
Jodie, who says she suffers from anxiety, added: “He was with a male friend and was looking at me like I was the dirt on the bottom of his shoe.
“He and his male
friend smirked and sniggered making me feel very uncomfortable so I said ‘really, £5?,’ (as I was sure he must be joking), he replied: ‘Yes, it is £5, that’s how its always been’ and so loudly too in front of all the customers in the shop.
“I have never felt more embarrassed. I was considering paying £5 for my son to use the toilet. He made me feel so ashamed for asking if my son could use the toilet.
“I almost cried after leaving that shop feeling so low with kind customers approaching me telling me where I could take him to the toilet.
“All the while he was sat with his legs crossed looking at me and my two children up and down in disgust. I have never been made to feel so low by a complete stranger, it was really awful.
“It really took a toll on me, why he felt the need to belittle me clearly judging me because I am young with two children. You could just tell he thought he was skies above me.
“It hurt me, the whole situation, it was just a little six-year-old boy needing the toilet.
“He’s a child, he could have just had some heart and let him go. I would have happily bought some water or something had he not been so nasty and arrogant.”
After the Examiner contacted Tony Singh, owner of the cafe on Market Street, he apologised profusely to Jodie and offered her a free meal.
He said: “I have apologised to Jodie. I got it wrong yesterday and I am sorry for this.
“That day we had a few noncustomers using the toilet facility without asking and leaving the toilet in an unsafe state which the staff have to clean up for our regular customers. This is nothing to do with Jodie.”