Solicitor who was breastfeeding her twins in Nando’s claims she was mocked by ‘Barbie and Ken’ couple who demanded to be moved as a result of they have been so ‘disgusted’

A solicitor who breastfed her young twins in Nando’s has claimed that a ‘Barbie and Ken’ couple demanded to move as they were so ‘disgusted’ by her feeding in public.

Victoria Soltani, 29, was feeding her nine-month-old sons Phoenix and Amari when she spotted a man and a woman who she described as ‘looking like Ken and Barbie’ mocking her.

Ms Soltani, a solicitor, had just finished a meal at the Squire’s Gate Nando’s in Blackpool on January 12 with her husband and three-year-old son Elias, and made the decision to breastfeed her babies before she drove home.

However, she alleged that she noticed ‘straight away’ that a couple had entered the restaurant and appeared to be whispering and laughing at her. 

She added that the gentlemen then appeared to approach a waitress to complain about her breastfeeding in public and asked if they could be moved.

Praising the ‘wonderful’ staff at Nando’s, Ms Soltani said that the man involved was informed that they should ‘sit where they want’.

The restaurant manager later apologised to Ms Soltani for her unpleasant experience and even offered to ban the ‘Ken and Barbie’ couple from the restaurant, but Ms Soltani refused the kind offer.

Describing the entire ordeal as ‘ridiculous’, the Blackpool-based mother said: ‘As soon as they came in, they gawped at me and started laughing.

Victoria Soltani (pictured), 29, was feeding her nine-month-old sons Phoenix and Amari when she spotted a man and a woman who she described as ‘looking like Ken and Barbie’ mocking her

Ms Soltani, a solicitor, had just finished a meal at the Squire’s Gate Nando’s in Blackpool on January 12 with her husband and three-year-old son Elias, and made the decision to breastfeed her babies before she drove home

‘I noticed straight away. I’m not new to this, but it’s not nice to be laughed at and sniggered at and spoken about.

‘They would stare, then they’d say something to each other and they’d laugh. If my husband wasn’t there, I’d probably want the ground to swallow me whole.’

The mother-of-three added that the waitress confirmed a complaint had been made by the couple about her and that the pair had ‘upped and moved to the furthest table away from us’. 

Describing how she was left ‘disgusted’ at the manner in which the couple behaved, Ms Soltani said that the man involved even ‘ran off’ to the toilet when her husband tried to confront him.

She said: ‘I was disgusted in the fact they were disgusted in me – just for feeding my children. I shouldn’t be made to feel like that just because I breastfeed.

‘As we were leaving, my husband approached the table to speak to them – but the man ran off to the toilet.

‘The woman couldn’t even look at us. It’s quite sad that she didn’t speak up and say it was out of order.

‘Women should be empowering women. How would she feel if she was breastfeeding a child?’

The mother-of-three added that the waitress confirmed a complaint had been made about her and that the couple ‘upped and moved to the furthest table away from us’

Pictured; the Squire’s Gate Nando’s in Blackpool. The restaurant manager later apologised to Ms Soltani for her unpleasant experience and even offered to ban the couple from the restaurant

Reflecting on the distressing ordeal, the young mother said that it has shown her how ‘uneducated’ people can be about public breastfeeding.

She described how ‘nerve-wracking’ it is for first-time mums to breastfeed in public – and said she would happily front a campaign for restaurants to encourage it.

‘People are so uneducated on breastfeeding, it’s ridiculous. At the end of the day, I’m feeding my children and that’s all that matters,’ Ms Soltani added.

She said: ‘Realistically, no one would have a problem if I shoved a bottle in their mouth. But if the babies were screaming uncontrollably because they were hungry – then they’d have a problem.

‘When I had my eldest son, it was the most nerve-wracking thing in the whole entire world to breastfeed in public because of the staring and the unkind comments, and because men sexualise women’s bodies.

‘There should be a campaign for restaurants to put signs in the window saying they support breastfeeding – I’d run the campaign!’

Indeed, in 2024, a restaurant in Cheltenham owned by French chef Raymond Blanc went viral online after the manager put a sign outside welcoming breastfeeding mums.

The chalkboard sign, which received global attention, read: ‘Breastfeeding mums – pop in and have a free cup of tea if you need a pit stop… no need to eat, no need to ask – please relax.’

The Daily Mail has approached Nando’s UK for comment.