Costa Coffee denies woman from using toilets because she didn't buy drink

A woman in Bournemouth claims she was not allowed to use the toilet at a Costa Coffee branch because she didn't buy a drink or a snack.

Amanda Harris was on her way to PC World on March 22 and decided to nip to the bathroom at a Costa en route.

"My thought process was like, 'Fabulous, I'll go to Costa, I’ll have a wee, grab a coffee and then walk across with my coffee into PC World to do what I needed to do'," Amanda explained.

She was then apparently told that the code for the bathroom was at the bottom of a receipt.

Because Amanda was not a paying customer, a barista at the Mallard Road Retail Park branch refused to give her a code to use the loo.

Bournemouth Echo/BNPS

"He looked at me kind of a little bit blankly and, because I use humour to defend myself, I said what do you expect me to do – hold the coffee while I go to the toilet?" Amanda explained.

The barista told Amanda she could leave her beverage or snack on the counter while she visited the lavatory.

Amanda said that going to the toilet is a basic 'human right' and that as a 'lady-of-a-certain age', she gets 'cross-legged' when in need of the loo.

Amanda ended up using the toilet at a nearby Smyths store.

After being approached by LADbible, a spokesperson from Costa Coffee said: “Costa Coffee believes in creating warm and welcoming environments in our stores, including offering customers access to toilets.

Bournemouth Echo/BNPS

"Our toilets, including those with locks on the door, are primarily for our paying customers, however, we do appreciate that there are times and situations whereby team members should use their discretion and make an exception for non-paying customers.

"This is especially true with children and pregnant women.”

Costa then added that they have since spoken with the customer and are happy to say they 'have resolved their complaint'.

The situation follows on from a similar-ish incident earlier this year when an Australian tourist visiting the UK was left baffled at the prospect of having to pay to use a public toilet.

Unfortunately, us Brits are familiar with the idea of forking out 20p, 30p or even 50p to use a public loo - stations and town centres being the most common places with pay-gates.

@shearingshed/TikTok

However, Australian TikToker Shearer, who was visiting Edinburgh, was shocked when he came across the sight after travelling to the UK from the US.

"You're telling me you have to pay - with your credit card - to go to the toilet now? And if you don't it beeps like that? That's ridiculous," he said.

"30p? No thanks, I'll just urinate in the street, thank you very much."