As winter approaches we thought we'd highlight the coolest hangouts in Falmouth to get away from the inclement weather.
The expansion of the university, while not popular with everybody, has brought a plethora of creative talent into the town.
This is reflected in the large number of creative festivals being created in the past couple of years, including the Falmouth Book Festival, the music festival WanderFal, brainchild of the Cornish Bank (more of them later), an arts festival and even a comedy festival. This month the Cornwall Film Festival also celebrated its 21st year.
Along with the festivals there are a number of cool places to hang out from bars to cafes, bookshops, record shops and music venues. Here are our favourites.
The Poly, Church Street, Falmouth
Starting with The Poly in Church Street which has been the hang out of arty types for many years since its founding as The Cornwall Polytechnic Society in 1833.
The inspiration of Anna Maria and Caroline, the teenage daughters of Robert Were Fox of G.C. Fox & Co, a prominent Falmouth firm of shipping agents, and joint owners of the Perran Foundry, the venue has become something of a Falmouth institution.
The live arts venue, arts cinema, galleries, community pottery and makers guild is in a beautiful historic venue in the heart of Falmouth.
The venue is the home of the Cornish Film Festival and recently had a successful fundraiser to complete vital repairs to the stage area of the Grade II listed building.
The Cornish Bank, Church Street, Falmouth
A much newer venture literally in a former bank complete with its own vault, The Cornish Bank seems to have captured the hearts of the music and arts community, and we're not just talking about art students here.
Since its launch The Cornish Bank on Church Street has been awash with music gigs every night with some really big names indie such as Gruff Rhys, Gwenno, Katie J Pearson, First Aid Kit and Squid.
Rufus Maurice and Will Greenham established of the Cornish Bank music, arts, bar and eaterie on Church Street in 2021.
Since then it's gone from strength to strength with bands from all over the world making a beeline for the venue with incredible bands on almost every night.
They have guest food producers, art exhibitions a cool mezzanine and a hang out round the back overlooking the harbour. They also venture out to unusual venues such as The Lizard and Trefusis estates for mini-festivals supporting good causes. This year they also launched the music festival Wanderfal. We don't know where they get their energy from.
Rubicund Bookshop, St George's Arcade
Rubicund is a radical bookshop, vegan cafe and lending library in St George's Arcade, Falmouth.
Don't let the radical put you off, this is a cosy cafe set up by by Irene and Lee who wanted to create a space that housed the type of books that they liked to read and was a good place for exchanging ideas.
As well as amazing selection of books you won't find anywhere else. They say their mission is to offer literary resources to our town that are not available in mainstream outlets. Not only that they make a damn fine cup of coffee. Check them out.
Beerwolf Books, Bell's Court
Born out of the old Falmouth Working Men’s Club and a market bookstall, Beerwolf Books is a genius idea that we are amazed that no-one had thought of before.
Nestled in Bell's Court the building itself dates back to the 17th century and has been used as a customs house, packet ship station, post office, working men’s club and the house of Captain Bell and his family.
Inside you go up the central staircase into the cosy bar and seating area and the ‘bookshop’ itself immediately in front of you.
Here you can play games, listen to occasional band or just sit in front of the cosy fire with a pint and a book from the huge collection in the book area, so highly stacked you have to use steps to get to them. Perfect.
Verdant Brewery and Taproom, Kernick Industrial Estate Set up by three friends, Verdant Taproom is a new edition to the cool list, and it’s not even in Falmouth but is on an industrial estate in Penryn.
That’s not very cool you may say, but how wrong you are. As well as serving amazing pizzas they also, of course, pour their own beers directly from the brewery next door which you can see operating through a huge plate glass window.
They also have live music and vinyl nights curated by Lucky’s Records from Redruth as well as big name DJs such as Justin Robertson and Richard Norris. They also hold film nights and restaurant takeovers and even comedy acts. Ultra-cool.
Dills, Well Lane, Falmouth
Dills is a newly opened café and store whose salad boxes are already legendary. Karen Narramore is a former animator who has worked on blockbuster films. Her imagination and talent comes through in her social media channels where she posts delightful animations and illustrations.
The café in Well Lane just off the main drag is small but perfectly formed serving delicious vegetarian food on a daily basis, delicious homemade cakes and locally sourced fresh local produce.
Since it opened a couple of months ago, the cafe has already garnered a great reputation and has started hosting small gigs by local jazz bands which are proving extremely popular with people spilling onto the pavement outside. And look out for the pink flamingoes!
Warehouse, Commercial Road, Penryn
The Warehouse in Commercial Road is part of the revival of this area of Penryn started with the construction of Jubilee Wharf and the redevelopment of the old Anchor Warehouse site.
The warehouse is a thriving café is the perfect place for hanging out and is often full of students thanks to is free wi-fi and generous plugs or local groups meeting for a get together.
Obviously situated in an old riverside warehouse, the café is owned and run by Origin Coffee, based in Porthleven.
It serves original vegetarian breakfast and lunches and delicious cakes and pastries as well as of course great coffee, but those looking for a full English should look elsewhere
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