29 March 2023 , 11:11
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A woman who was desperate to use the toilet was refused entry in a Costa Coffee unless she bought a drink beforehand.
Amanda Harris described herself as "a woman of a certain age" and said when she parked up to do a bit of shopping at a retail park in Bournemouth, she realised she needed to urinate.
She popped into the coffee shop intending to use the lavatory before grabbing something to drink but was met with a key-coded door and after enquiry with staff was refused entry.
Ms Harris said: "I was heading to PC World but I needed a wee and I'll be totally honest, I'm a lady of a certain age and sometimes we get a little bit cross-legged and desperate.
Amanda Harris was in need of the toilet whilst out shopping when she decided to pop into the Costa Coffee (BournemouthEcho/BNPS)"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.
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"I went in and both toilet doors appeared to be locked and I couldn't work out whether somebody was in them; there was a man stood by and he told me you need a code on the bottom of the receipt.”
Despite explaining to staff she would buy her drink once finished, rather than taking her cup into the bathroom with her, but she was once again told no.
She tried to laugh it off and ask is she should hold her coffee while going for a wee, but was shocked her "basic human right" was denied by the chain.
She eventually went over the road to PC World, where she was able to use their customer toilets.
A spokeswoman for Costa said the situation has been resolved with the customer, adding: "Costa Coffee believes in creating warm and welcoming environments in our stores, including offering customers access to toilets.
"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."