Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine champions new campaign aimed at mothers as her Manchester tearoom becomes first ever to be awarded 'breastfeeding friendly' mark

By Jason Chester for MailOnline

Published: 18:51 EST, 12 August 2017 | Updated: 23:29 EST, 13 August 2017

Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine has won praise from fans after turning the café she opened with her restaurateur husband into the world’s first breastfeeding friendly tearoom.

The popular actress, 33, best known for her role as Fiz Brown on the long-running soap, opened Manchester based Annies as a joint business venture with husband Chris Farr in 2012.

She has since turned the Bank Street café – described as a ‘chilled out tearoom and comfort food diner’ – into a world first for mothers by placing the newly launched ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ sign on its door.

Scroll down for video 

Popular move: Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine has won praise from fans after turning the café she opened with her restaurateur husband into the world’s first breastfeeding friendly tearoom

Popular move: Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine has won praise from fans after turning the café she opened with her restaurateur husband into the world’s first breastfeeding friendly tearoom

The initiative was devised by members of the Manchester Health and Care Commissioning (MHCC) in response to criticism of women breastfeeding their babies in public.

And Jennie – herself a mother to two-year old son Albert – is fully supportive of the move.

‘The breastfeeding friendly mark is such a great and welcome idea,’ she told Mancunian Matters.

‘We at Annie's will be proudly displaying ours. As a mum, finding a place where you can feed your baby in what you know are comfy and welcoming surroundings is so important. Well done Manchester!’

 Pioneering: She has turned the Bank Street café – described as a ‘chilled out tearoom and comfort food diner’ – into a world first for mothers by placing the newly launched ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ sign on its door

 Pioneering: She has turned the Bank Street café – described as a ‘chilled out tearoom and comfort food diner’ – into a world first for mothers by placing the newly launched ‘Breastfeeding Friendly’ sign on its door

Leading the way: The initiative was devised by members of the Manchester Health and Care Commissioning (MHCC) in response to criticism of women breastfeeding their babies in public

Leading the way: The initiative was devised by members of the Manchester Health and Care Commissioning (MHCC) in response to criticism of women breastfeeding their babies in public

The sign, a circular sticker that can be placed on doors or windows, costs nothing for business owners to obtain. 

Jennie, who made her Coronation Street debut 16 -years ago, and restaurant manager Chris were together for five years before Albert came along on in November 2014.

In her first interview since becoming a mother, Jennie said her son left his mark by being sick over the show's producer during his first visit to the Corrie set.

Partnership: The popular actress, 33, best known for her role as Fiz Brown on the long-running soap, opened Manchester based Annies as a joint business venture with husband Chris Farr in 2012

Partnership: The popular actress, 33, best known for her role as Fiz Brown on the long-running soap, opened Manchester based Annies as a joint business venture with husband Chris Farr in 2012

She told The Mirror: 'I took Albert in and everyone was fussing over him,' she said. 'Then he went to our producer Stuart Blackburn, so I said, "Come on, Albert, this is your first audition."

'But as soon as Stuart held him he did every bodily function that a baby could do... trumps, sick and then cried all over Stuart. The audition did not go well.' 

The actress also revealed that her son is a mainstay at Annie's, adding: 'It is just a 10-minute walk for me to bring him into the restaurant. 

'It is like he has never not been here. We can’t imagine life without him – he is just the one we ordered.'

Little bundle of joy: The couple are proud parents to two-year old son Albert

Little bundle of joy: The couple are proud parents to two-year old son Albert

Comments 106

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.