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Mothers have condemned a north London tea shop for its alleged rude treatment of their children.

Treacles Tea Shop in Winchmore Hill has received several complaints from customers who claim staff asked parents with babies to leave and told children off for touching objects.

The cafe’s Facebook page is littered with posts from mothers who say they felt unwelcome. But owner Eileen Potter has defended her actions, saying the cafe “is not a family establishment”.

Lidia Kettenis, 37, from Chingford, visited the cafe on Wednesday with her son Stefanos, three, and described her experience as “absolutely disgusting”.

According to Ms Kettenis, a full-time mother of three, Ms Potter ordered her son not to touch anything.

Ms Kettenis said: “It’s not a bar or a club - it’s a tea shop, for goodness’ sake! I felt so uncomfortable.

“I have been to many coffee shops in my time and never been treated this badly. She told me children are not welcome in the shop.”

Treacle Tea Shop 6 show all Treacle Tea Shop 1/6 More tea? Eileen Potter, Treacle Tea Shop owner Glenn Copus 2/6 Range Some of the teas on offer Glenn Copus 3/6 Cakes Children "are not welcome" at the Treacle Tea Shop Glenn Copus 4/6 Proud owner Eileen Potter outside the Treacle Tea Shop in Winchmore Hill Glenn Copus 5/6 Ornate Ms Potter does not want children to damage the items in the shop Glenn Copus 6/6 Angry Lidia Kettenis, 37, from Chingford, said Ms Potter was rude when she visited the shop with her three-year-old son Stefanos 1/6 More tea? Eileen Potter, Treacle Tea Shop owner Glenn Copus 2/6 Range Some of the teas on offer Glenn Copus 3/6 Cakes Children "are not welcome" at the Treacle Tea Shop Glenn Copus 4/6 Proud owner Eileen Potter outside the Treacle Tea Shop in Winchmore Hill Glenn Copus 5/6 Ornate Ms Potter does not want children to damage the items in the shop Glenn Copus 6/6 Angry Lidia Kettenis, 37, from Chingford, said Ms Potter was rude when she visited the shop with her three-year-old son Stefanos

Ms Potter said she had spoken to Stefanos in a reasonable way. “I asked him not to dismantle our letterbox or the salt and pepper on the glass table-top,” she said. “I asked him very nicely.”

She added that she had nothing against children but her shop catered for “ladies who lunch”.

“All the other main chains don’t have items on the tables,” she said. “It’s not the run-of-the mill Costa or Starbucks. I can’t afford to replace everything.”

The area is popular with mothers and children and there are three primary schools nearby.

Linden Cooke said she had visited when she was pregnant and had a pleasant experience but when she returned after giving birth she was told to take her crying baby outside.

She posted on Treacles’ Facebook page: “This place positively rejected us. As a new mother, I hope people understand that babies sometimes make noise. Obviously, not here.”

But Ms Potter said: “I just don’t want my fixtures and fittings broken. It’s not aimed at families; we are not a family establishment.”