Owner in Tears After Negative TikTok Review
Gemma Metcalfe, owner of Herdwicks in Coniston, was left in tears after a TikTok reviewer posted a video criticizing the cafe's £13.95 large breakfast. The clip, filmed with Meta glasses, sparked a wave of nasty comments and fake reviews, prompting Metcalfe to plead for support on Facebook.
Overwhelming Positive Response
The response was stunning. Customers flocked to the cafe, leaving hundreds of positive reviews on Google, where the family-run establishment now boasts a 4.8-star rating. Metcalfe said, 'We have been inundated with people coming and trying out the cafe and met some really lovely people. I am blown away.'
Our Visit to Herdwicks
We visited the cafe to try the breakfast ourselves. Despite the negative review, the place was packed inside and out, with motorbikes and dogs everywhere. The cafe is pet-friendly, with water bowls, dog snacks, a Dog Wall of Fame, and a new Dog Wash station.
The Breakfast Experience
Breakfast is served until 11:30 am. We ordered two Big Breakfasts (£13.95 each) with a latte and tea. Despite a queue, service was quick, though we were warned of a 40-minute wait. Drinks arrived in 10 minutes, and the breakfast came in 30 minutes, piping hot. It included two slices of bacon, two sausages, tomatoes, mushroom, beans, eggs (fried or scrambled), and two pieces of toast (white or brown). The quality was excellent, and portion sizes were generous, keeping us full for the rest of the day.
Owner's Gratitude
Metcalfe added, 'The only negative has been a couple of people leaving one star reviews that clearly haven’t been, one suggesting food was burnt and cockroaches running around, even though health and hygiene rated us 5 stars just this week.' She thanked everyone for their support, saying, 'We are looking forward to a busy summer and meeting lots more lovely people.'
