Falmouth's newest restaurant has arrived in the town - quite literally.
While La Peniche may not be opening for customers until the middle of this month, the 38-metre long French barge is berthed in the harbour and ready to become a floating restaurant.
She can be found along the inside wall of North Quay, which sits to the west of Custom House Quay, and diners will access the restaurant via a pontoon adjoining the Falmouth Haven marina.
Owners Tony and Kate Elliott-Cannon have been working with Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, the statutory body responsible for managing Falmouth harbour, for a number of months now to find the best place to moor the vessel and make their dream of a floating restaurant a reality.
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The barge arrived earlier this week, ready to open as a vintage café and bistro serving breakfast, light bites and patisserie during the day, and fine dining with a French twist by night.
Heading up the chef team will be Luc Wallace, who while new to Cornwall has previous experience cooking both British and European dishes while spending the last two years working at the Magdalen Arms in Oxford and before that The Kensington Arms, owned by Josh Eggleton of Great British Menu fame.
The restaurant can be found at Falmouth's North Quay. Photo: Tom Theo Nuttall-Smith
He has promised a menu featuring seasonal produce, meaning it will change depending on what is available from local farmers and fishermen - and will also include foraged items.
Chief executive Captain Mark Sansom said: “We are delighted to welcome La Peniche to Falmouth harbour and support a new business, particularly in these difficult times.
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"As well as boosting the vibrancy of North Quay, it will help in the recovery of Falmouth town centre by providing additional dining capacity and attracting visitors to the advantage of business generally.”
Before mooring in Falmouth, the 1938 Delta barge offered dining cruises along the waterways of Burgundy, France and spent its early years as a WW2 gunboat.
The restaurant can seat up to 50 guests but will offer reduced capacity upon opening to enable social distancing.
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