Costa Coffee — Restaurant in Epping Forest

Prior to COVID-19 my family and I enjoyed using the facilities at this location even recommending others to go because of how family oriented and warm the environment was. Being from a minority background it is important to feel welcome and safe when in public spaces, so with COSTA being within a favourite store it was an added bonus. However, I will no longer be going there or indeed any of their stores for the simple fact that my experience today with my child was unconscionable.

I was attempting to make a return of items to NEXT when my eldest daughter told me she desperately needed to use the toilet. As we have used the facilities at COSTA before, we knew where to go and proceeded observing the social distancing signage throughout. When we arrived at the Toilets we noticed they were locked and read a sign stating that you needed to speak with a manager to gain access. Before we could move we were greeted by a man who informed us that the facilities were closed because Costa was preparing to re-open tomorrow. I advised him that my daughter needed to use the bathroom and at this stage she was visibly distraught and using her hands to cover her private parts, frantically willing herself not to go. In response he stared blankly at me and repeated verbatim what he had said only moments ago, adding that Gregs and Aldi have toilets that can be used. Being in a state of complete shock and sheer disbelief that this individual was not affected in anyway by the state my child was in, I momentarily became speechless.

While I, as every other responsible individual is aware of this global pandemic and how it has changed the way we live our lives. Each and every policy requires interpretation and consideration given each and every context. Usually children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with visible disabilities are granted privileges. We were not, she was not, she was made to feel as though she had done something wrong and undeserving of using a toilet, one that she had previously used. After I regained my composure, I gathered my children, stated my disbelief in how we had been treated and promptly exited, with my child having to endure a 15 minute drive in this state frantically crying and upset at...

3 female staff in front didn't acknowledge me standing in front with my daughter waiting to order coffee for 10min, then they see a white lady before me. Finally when I order my coffee then waiting at the table for 15min no coffee then went to the staff at the front and said "when am I getting that coffee? " lady said "you didn't pay" she clearly saw me sitting at the table with my daughter shouldn't she say "sir you need to pay first" wasted 25min waiting around, staff says finally to pay but I wasn't interested buying coffee from here anymore after 25min waiting around. Some dumb bunch of ladies can't even do...

Went today and the server was so rude, was given my sausage bap asked for sauce it was thrown on the counter with a dirty look. Asked for my drinks in a take away cup given in mugs when I said something I was again snapped at, so I just left them in the mugs. Toilets were being cleaned so I waited went in after the staff member came out and the toilet was full of paper! First...