A popular Pembrokeshire food content creator has defended his work after criticism posted in a local community Facebook group sparked a debate online.
The post, shared on Tuesday morning, questioned the credibility and impartiality of local reviewer and social media personality, Go West With Marc.
The comment alleged that businesses were expected to pay through his website or provide free meals and stays in order to receive favourable coverage.
The author wrote that, in their opinion, Marc's reviews were "neither honest nor impartial" and claimed there were concerns that businesses could face negative reviews if they declined such arrangements.
The post also argued that Pembrokeshire's hospitality sector had built its reputation through years of hard work and did not need online reviewers to validate what the county had to offer.
"We don't need some unqualified reviewer telling us our businesses are 'blown away' as we have done exactly that for many decades," the post concluded.
The comments prompted a response from Marc himself, who later published a lengthy statement on his own Facebook page rejecting the allegations.
"Firstly, I do not threaten businesses with bad reviews if they don't pay me or offer a free meal or stay. That claim is simply untrue," he said.
Marc explained that during the summer he was visiting multiple restaurants, cafes and hotels every day and had introduced an option for businesses who contacted him directly to cover travel and editing expenses in exchange for prioritised visits.
"If they couldn't or didn't want to, they went onto my list to visit when possible," he wrote.
"A list that's now hundreds deep. They didn't get a bad review for saying no."
Addressing criticism that his content was often overwhelmingly positive, Marc said this was often a conscious choice.
"I get criticised for being 'blown away' too often, but apparently I'm also threatening everyone with bad reviews. I'm struggling to keep up!"
He added that personal preferences did not necessarily determine the overall quality of a venue or meal and said he tried to give viewers a balanced picture of what businesses offered.
Marc also agreed that Pembrokeshire's businesses did not need his approval to succeed.
"Pembrokeshire's businesses absolutely don't need me to validate them," he said.
"Our county has incredible food, accommodation and hospitality long before I picked up a camera.
"Those reputations belong to the people who've spent years building them."
The content creator said his role was simply to help more people discover local businesses, claiming some of his videos reached hundreds of thousands of viewers.
He also outlined plans for his website, describing it as a travel guide designed to help visitors and residents find places to stay, eat and explore while encouraging more local bookings.
"I've never claimed to be an expert food critic," Marc said.
"I'm sharing my experiences and giving you a peek inside places you might otherwise walk past, helping you decide whether you'd like to try them yourselves."
Concluding his statement, he thanked supporters and critics alike for engaging with his content.
"My content won't be for everyone, and that's absolutely fine," he wrote.
"But every day, hundreds of thousands of you show me that you enjoy discovering our weird and wonderful businesses and that's what keeps me going."
Go West With Marc's Facebook page has grown to more than 20,000 followers in just over a year.
During that time, the page has attracted more than 100,000 views every day and consistently generates more than 3.4 million views a month, highlighting its growing popularity among audiences across Pembrokeshire and beyond.
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