A British tourist has shared his shock after learning the truth behind a cheap cafe he visited in the Blue Mountains, just outside of Sydney.
Tom Hammond, 28, enjoyed a surprisingly thrifty breakfast at The Yellow Deli Cafe in Katoomba on Friday, only to later find out it was run by a controversial religious cult.
Mr Hammond, who lives in Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia he wanted to help warn others who, like him, thought it was just a regular cafe.
The self-employed landscaper came across The Yellow Deli Cafe after looking for recommendations on Blue Mountains' breakfast spots on TikTok.
'The venue itself is really pretty, it reminded me of the Cotswolds in England,' he said.
Mr Hammond said he 'grabbed a chair by the fireplace' but instantly felt 'something wasn't right' as the waiter was far less welcoming than the friendly service he's become used to in Australia.
The waiter explained that the café was staffed by volunteers, which is why the prices were low.
Mr Hammond didn't think that was anything out of the ordinary.
Tom Hammond (pictured) visited the cafe during a trip to the Blue Mountains
What the vast majority of customers don't know is The Yellow Deli Cafe is run by a controversial religious cult (customers pictured)
'I've been backpacking, I know there are places that you work a shift or two and in exchange you get a room,' he said.
The Brit ordered waffles and eggs, adding: 'The venue is really good, the food is really nice, it's cheap - it's a great spot.'
However, the waiter had little interest in making conversation but was a lot friendlier with other customers.
'It wasn't until later on in the evening after a hike, I was at another restaurant and there was some bingo going on. One of the locals asked 'Why would you go there?' And they told me who it was run by,' he said.
It turns out the café is run by The Twelve Tribes, which was founded in Tennessee and expanded to Australia in the 1990s.
Those working in the café live in nearby Balmoral House while the rest are at a farm near Picton, about 90 minutes south-west of Sydney.
The cult has been accused of child abuse and child labour as well as forcing its members to live by authoritarian rules. It is not suggested there is any truth to the accusations.
Mr Hammond (pictured) said he 'felt guilty' for 'accidentally supporting a cult'
The Yellow Deli Cafe is a popular spot on Katoomba's main street (customers pictured)
In 2019, Andrew McLeod, who then managed the cafe and is an original member of the Australian branch of the group, said allegations of child abuse and child labour were untrue.
'We want our children to have a well-balanced life and what we do and our beliefs have somehow been taken out of context to portray us as a fundamentalist cult that bashes our children, which is just not true,' he said.
'It's sad that so many people are gullible enough to believe what they believe without looking into it themselves.'
Mr Hammond shared a video on TikTok about the encounter, admitting he 'felt guilty' for 'accidentally supporting a cult'.
'Went into the Yellow Deli in Katoomba thinking, “Wow, what a wholesome little café — handmade furniture, herbal tea, peaceful vibes…,” he captioned the clip.
'Turns out it’s run by The Twelve Tribes, which is less “hippie commune” and more “actual cult with some seriously wild beliefs.”
'I was just out here vibing with my sandwich, meanwhile unknowingly funding the end times. Honestly though… great eggs 9/10. Would escape again.'
The viral clip was flooded with comments from locals and visitors who had also innocently come across the establishment.
On reflection, Mr Hammond suggested his tattoos may have caused his less-than-friendly reception, having since heard similar experiences of others who have visited the cafe.
The expat said he 'can't complain about the food' but would not return to the cafe as 'it's not something I would support'.
The cafe declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
What is the Twelves Tribes?
The cult began in 1975 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when former carnival showman Gene Spriggs broke away from the First Presbyterian Church after finding services were cancelled for the Super Bowl.
He and his wife Marsha earlier opened the first Yellow Deli a few years earlier and were living communally with a small group from 1972.
Twelve Tribes practices a hybrid of pre-Catholic Christianity and Judaism mixed with teachings by Spriggs.
The group's stated aim is to bring about the return of Jesus - whom they refer to by the Hebrew name Yahshua - by reestablishing the 12 tribes of Israel.
Twelve Tribes practices a hybrid of pre-Catholic Christianity and Judaism mixed with teachings by its founder, Gene Spriggs
All members are forced to sell their possessions and give to proceeds to the cult and are assigned a Hebrew name discard their old ones. Spriggs himself is known as Yoneq.
These tribes would include 144,000 'perfect male children', which accounts for the group's obsessive and controversial child-rearing practices.
The Sabbath is observed in line with Jewish tradition, along with conservative dietary rules and abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
Birth control of any kind is banned, as is much modern medicine - they instead rely largely on homeopathy and 'natural' remedies.
Marriage outside the cult is forbidden and couples must go through a series of supervised talks to get to know each other. Only after marriage can they even kiss or hold hands.
These tribes would include 144,000 'perfect male children', which accounts for the group's obsessive and controversial child-rearing practices
Children aren't allowed to play with toys, engage in make-believe, or any of the normal childhood activities, and must be supervised at all times.
They must be strictly obedient and are beaten with a 50cm rod for every infraction by any adult watching them, not just their parents.
All children are homeschooled and do not attend university as it is considered a waste of time and not a good environment.
Instead, children work in the community from a young age, sparking accusations of child labour.
Estée Lauder and other businesses cut ties with the organisation after finding children were involved in making their products.
The few boxes of pamphlets would be easily missed or glossed over by the vast majority of visitors
Members don't vote and are not allowed to watch TV or any other media as 'the crazy box robs your time and pollutes your soul'.
Twelve Tribes has 3,000 members and operates in the U.S., Canada, France, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Germany and England, arriving in Australia in the early 1990s.
Members live in Balmoral House in Katoomba, Peppercorn Creek Farm near Picton, and a small number in Coledale, north of Wollongong.
Numerous businesses include a network of cafes in every country, all called the Yellow Deli or Common Ground, and bakeries, farms, and furniture, construction, and demolition businesses.
These are believed to be very profitable because none of the workers need to be paid.
