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Café staff told me baby’s pushchair was health hazard

8:29am Monday 5th May 2008

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A WORCESTER mum claims she was left feeling embarrased when staff at a city centre restaurant said her pushchair was too much of a health and safety risk to waitresses.

Rachel Coopey said she felt "embarrased and mortified" that she could not eat at The Lounge WR1, High Street, with her three-month-old son Micah.

However, the restaurant's director Seamus Keane said he did not refuse her custom. He said he wanted her to sit in a particular part of the building because he was worried his waitresses could spill hot drinks over customers when serving tables after a woman recently tripped over a pram in the restaurant and hurt her head.

Mother-of-two Miss Coopey, aged 25, of London Road, went to The Lounge about lunchtime on Thursday, April 24.

"I had the pram quite close to me and my table and there was room to move around it," she said. "Then this man just appeared and said no, you can't sit there. I will find you somewhere else to sit'.

"He couldn't, and started to tell me where other cafés were. I said I knew where a lot of other cafés were but I wanted to go there because it had been refurbished recently and I thought I'd try it out but he just shrugged his shoulders.

"He said it was health and safety and he couldn't have a buggy in because of the waitresses.

"It upset me to be honest. Café shops are the sort of places in town that attract a lot of people with children and I just felt embarrased and mortified."

Mr Keane said his business is child-friendly but, following a £200,000 refurbishment to the premises which used to be Hodgson café, the layout of the restaurant dicates he can only accomodate a limited number of prams.

"I had an incident where a customer tripped over and she gashed her head and that was because a pram was stuck out on the side," he said.

"We are the only restaurant in Worcester where waitresses pour and serve at the table.

"If a waitress comes around and spills hot coffee on their child they are not going to say don't worry', I'm going to get shot."

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Your Say YourWorcester News

carolfarrell, Worcestershire says...
9:10am Mon 5 May 08

Pushchairs are wide now and not very manouverable. The one I push with my grandchild is wide and not suitable to take into cafes. I have no objection to signs NO PUSHCHAIRS. This is fair for all. Safety is paramount. I back Mr.Keane.

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grumpyoldman, worcester says...
10:02am Mon 5 May 08

"If a waitress comes around and spills hot coffee on their child they are not going to say don't worry', I'm going to get shot."


They should be more careful.
Any how, the prices he charges he should be shot for that, daylight robbery in my opinion

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lindylu, worcester says...
10:37am Mon 5 May 08

I quite agree with you Carol. My children were put into a very small stroller specifically to go shopping. The prams these days are huge and can occupy whole aisles in shops and I agree about the Health & Safety issue. Trouble is, parents expect to be able to take their children into every possible place even if it is not suitable for children or indeed the huge amount of paraphenalia parents now cart around with them. No waitress should have to put up with an assault course in their place of work, nor should anyone out shopping.

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cvj, Worcester says...
12:11pm Mon 5 May 08

What a sensitive soul Ms Coopey must be!
They asked her to sit somewhere more convenient and she throws a hissy fit and runs to the press.

Welcome to the world of parenting - now get over yourself!
It's women like you who give mothers a bad name

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mothersvoice, flyford flavell says...
12:58pm Mon 5 May 08

what about wheelchair users? can they use the cafe?

just a thought - I am a mum of 4 and always conscious of where and how I park my buggy (out of general consideration to others more than anything else!) but what about if I took my wheelchair bound mother there?

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smileeee, worcester says...
2:40pm Mon 5 May 08

its a very tight and confined space and i certainly wouldnt want hot coffee poured over a child. surely this could have been dealt with in a better way. The lounge wr1 has a good reputation and i enjoy eating there and have never had any problems!

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varien, worcester says...
3:31pm Mon 5 May 08

It is obvious that Ms Coopey has probably never worked. If she had then she would have had some idea about Health and Safety and the hazard that she was creating.
The restaurant owner took the correct action.
"I had an incident where a customer tripped over and she gashed her head and that was because a pram was stuck out on the side," he said.
Did this customer sue the mother and owner of the pushchair? I would have done.

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Alan2, Worcester says...
3:48pm Mon 5 May 08

This woman with a new baby needs to get some sence and at the risk of, but not intending to be offensive, she expects the rest of humanity to go along with her personal situation and to heck with anyone else. I totally support the owner. I bet had anyone dropped anything on her child, there would have been a different item in the Worcester News and she would have been running off to a solicitor. She wants to grow up and, as cvj says, "you are now a parent."

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uncledave, Worcester says...
6:03pm Mon 5 May 08

Slagging off the mum is the easy way. The fact is that Hodson's used to be a great value family cafe that enjoyed our support for many years. Suddenly, under new management, it goes all posh, hikes the prizes and doesn't want mothers with pushchairs spoiling the ambience. I give em a year.

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cvj, Worcester says...
6:43pm Mon 5 May 08

What prizes?
The owner didntr ask thew women to leave - just move somewhere where her buggy was less likely to cause an accident.
Totally understandable as some HAD been injured by a buggy.
The same foe wheelchairs, certain areas probably more convenient for them than others - unless they put you in a toilet whats the problem?
The mum in question wasnt asked to leave was she?

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Kath, worcester says...
7:50pm Mon 5 May 08

He miss typed `prices` im sure you worked this out cvj, perhaps a poor attempt to undermind his comments. Sadly the manager did refuse her custom - unless he wanted her to stand, he told her the one safe spot he wanted her to sit in was taken, so he went on to explain where other resturants were that do accomodate babies in pushchairs. The buggy in the picture isnt a bulky pram but a slimline pushchair. If the resturant is not fit for pushchairs they should display a notice stating they are not welcome. I would question the health and safety of the resturant before attacking a working mum of two, a sign is needed to avoid futher shame from mums with pushchairs or whealchair users.

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Alan2, Worcester says...
8:09pm Mon 5 May 08

Kath - what has a "working mum of two" got to do with it. What "shame" is involved. Because this young lady is a mother does that absolve her of using commonsence and allow her to prejudice the rights (of customers) and responsibilities (the owners) of others. It doesn't im'e afraid.

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rcoop, worcester says...
8:09pm Mon 5 May 08

cvj wrote:
What a sensitive soul Ms Coopey must be! They asked her to sit somewhere more convenient and she throws a hissy fit and runs to the press. Welcome to the world of parenting - now get over yourself! It's women like you who give mothers a bad name
As the 'sensitive soul' Ms Coopey, I would like to clarify I was asked to leave. Mr Keane has lied to the paper. I have a witness to this and tomorrow I will contact both Mr Keane and the Worcester News to make sure that the readers are made aware of this. I am a good mother, I have worked since I was 16, I am currently working 2 jobs in order to not be a burden on the taxpaper and support my children. I am aware of health and safety legislalation, however this does not stop pushchairs being taken in to a public place. All the people who have called in to question my parenting skills on the basis of me being asked to leave a cafe which the owner claims is 'family friendly' ought to be ashamed of themselves, you don't know me or my children and this story has got nothing to do with that.

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rcoop, worcester says...
8:17pm Mon 5 May 08

Alan2 wrote:
Kath - what has a "working mum of two" got to do with it. What "shame" is involved. Because this young lady is a mother does that absolve her of using commonsence and allow her to prejudice the rights (of customers) and responsibilities (the owners) of others. It doesn't im'e afraid.
Alan,

The 'shame' involved was entering a cafe, sitting down, and then being told, in front of others that I could not stay and having to walk out. Kath refered to me as a working mother no doubt because of the comment above which says I have obviously never worked, this is not true. I was prejudicing no ones rights, there were other routes to all parts of the cafe which could be taken by both customers and waiting staff. I echo the concerns of a comment above, what about wheel chair users? do they pose the same health and safety risk? by entering public places like cafes then surely they are endangering us able bodied people!! they should stay at home then along with all those with children under 3.

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Alan2, Worcester says...
8:39pm Mon 5 May 08

rcoop, you clearly are a concerned young mother but the following are irrelevant to the circumstances albeit they say much for you.
(a) You are a good mother.
(b) You have worked since you were 16.
(c) You are currently working two jobs.
(d) You don't wish to be a burden on the taxpayer.
(e) You are aware of H&E Legislation.
You must also remember, people are entitled to have a view and the indications (though I could be wrong) are, you went public in this paper. They see the facts presented in this paper and some deem you to be in the wrong. It is highly questionable whether a restuarant is a "public place" in the circumstances you mention. You may find the owner has the right of refusal to serve any person at his discretion except those for whom special laws apply, colour, age, infirmity etc. At the risk of sounding patronising which I am not, anyone can see from the photo that both the baby and you look great, well cared for and obviously a proud young mum as you have every right to be. If I were you I would let it lye, put it down to experience and choose a different place in future. Enjoy that beautiful baby.

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rcoop, worcester says...
8:57pm Mon 5 May 08

Alan,

The pieces of information you say are irrelevant have been made relevant by others posting in this discusstion, while I acknowledge that everyone has the right to an opinion they do not have the right to say things which are untrue, for this reason i have corrected them. The manager does indeed have the right to refuse service to anyone, my reason for going to the press was to warn other people with pushchairs that they would not be served in this cafe, to save them them the effort and energy of entering and being asked to leave.

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Alan2, Worcester says...
9:14pm Mon 5 May 08

That's it, now lets have a smile and forget it all. I bet you though, the next time you take that young Micah past that place, he will suddenly scream out at the top of his voice, "I don't want to go in there mum - don't you dare take me in there or I will trip that man up, I ate him". Yes, special ones can talk at 3 months given sufficient reason. You see.

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Turkey Neck, Wuster says...
9:56pm Mon 5 May 08

What's the food like? The menu looks good

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holsmith, worcester says...
2:17pm Tue 6 May 08

If pushchairs are a problem in this establishment then there should be a clear indication of this. I think it is outrageous that a number of the people on this site find it acceptable to say such things about a woman they do not know, have you all nothing better to do? have some sympathy if you even know what that means - how dare you assume she has "never worked a day in her life". More fool all of you for being so narrow minded and spiteful, as far as I am concerned expressing your opinion is one thing - but being cruel is another. You are no better than the cafe owner - discriminating against someone who opposes your own views. And, surprise surprise, when the young lady had a chance to truly get her point across - you all look foolish. This site is available for people to access news and try and improve this city - but are all childish bullies.

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holsmith, worcester says...
2:25pm Tue 6 May 08

cvj wrote:
What a sensitive soul Ms Coopey must be! They asked her to sit somewhere more convenient and she throws a hissy fit and runs to the press. Welcome to the world of parenting - now get over yourself! It's women like you who give mothers a bad name
If were getting personal - you should get over yourself I'm afraid - it's people like you that give mothers a bad name, I dread to think of the attitude your children have - if you even have any. It would be a real shame to think what they're subjected to. What a bitter soul you must be.

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smileeee, worcester says...
8:01pm Tue 6 May 08

Turkey Neck wrote:
What's the food like? The menu looks good
the food is to die for, new morrocan tapas menu with an amazing chef, and presentation is first class. you must go. its a shame this incident brings out so many negatives in the place. go there with an open mind.

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cvj, Worcester says...
10:59pm Tue 6 May 08

I have probably done this mother an injustice and I apologise for that

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cvj, Worcester says...
11:13pm Tue 6 May 08

However,buggies and pushchairs etc Can be a hazard and given the previous incident the owner sited, he was well within his rights to ask for it to be moved
But I really do not see why this is a pressworthy incident

Most if not all eateries in Worcester ARE child friendly but the fact remains that in certain situations buggies etc can be a hazard
And if the owner had concerns it might have been better if he could have pointed them out BEFORE the customer sat down
Had she placed an order before the request to move was made?

As to my childrens attitude - when they were in buggies we rarely ate out or just went to places where they had high chairs and buggy parks - worcester has plenty of them
You find out by word of mouth and experience which ones are REALLY child friendly and those which are not
Its really not a subject that need concern the local press

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rcoop, worcester says...
11:31am Wed 7 May 08

cvj,

yes I had sat down and I was not asked to move I was asked to leave, Mr Keane has lied to the reporter.

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Comments are closed on this article.

Rachel Coopey with her son Micah, aged four months. Picture by Emma Attwood. 18377902 Rachel Coopey with her son Micah, aged four months. Picture by Emma Attwood. 18377902

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