A MACHYNLLETH café owner has labelled it “ridiculous” after her business was criticised on TripAdvisor because staff spoke in Welsh.

A TripAdvisor review, since deleted, from Simon P – who moved to live in Dolgellau from England – slammed Caffi Alys at Canolfan Owain Glyndwr in Maengwyn Street for being “unwelcoming” after its staff and customers chose to speak in Welsh.

He claims he quickly realised he had “wandered into a haven of the Welsh language” after sitting down for a coffee at Caffi Alys (seen above) last weekend, and said it was the first time he had “not felt welcome” since moving to the area.

Simon P’s review said: “The coffee served was ok but nothing special but there was no welcome.

“We realised quite quickly that we had wandered into a haven of the Welsh language.

“We chose to make Wales our home some years ago and enjoy the fact that the language is being brought back to life, but this is the first time we have not felt welcome somewhere.”

Café owner Gail Jenkins said that Welsh speakers are “used to these kind of things”, and that reviews like that “anger her”.

“It is the kind of place where a lot of locals come in, so we do talk to each other in Welsh,” she said.

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