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Original poster

Moving to Penzance

73 replies

confused232 · 05/12/2020 08:26

What is it like as a place to live? Is it full of holiday homes or is there an actual community?

Also (and very importantly) what are schools (both primary and secondary) like? We have a two year old DS so it’s a massive consideration for us.

OP posts:
Fressia123 · 05/12/2020 08:31

I live in Truro, so no direct experience but I've heard/read that Penzance is a bit "rough".

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-cornwall-49837050

CountessFrog · 05/12/2020 08:33

I don’t think it’s a tourist destination, so you shouldn’t be put off by that. It sounds like you’ve never been?

I think it probably has a great community, Cornish places often do

TheTeaFairy · 05/12/2020 08:48

It’s a great place to live!

Depends what you like to do... if you enjoy walking, swimming (check out the Jubilee Pool), quirky shops, restaurants and art galleries, there’s plenty going on.

Of course, there are areas of deprivation, like almost anywhere in Cornwall - watch Simon Reeves’ recent two-part TV documentary - but there’s also loads of creativity, social enterprises and some brilliant new ventures (check out the gin bar @45queenstreet on Instagram).

I’ve been in PZ for a few years and have found it fantastically community minded. PM me if you’d like more info Smile

SlightDrizzle · 05/12/2020 08:48

Are you contemplating a move to somewhere you’ve never been?

I’m not from there but have spent time in the vicinity, and I would characterise it as somewhere surrounded by lovely coastline, and with real character an things going on, but also remote, with considerable poverty problems, and incredibly congested in high season.

SlightDrizzle · 05/12/2020 08:49

And yes, I only caught a few minutes of the Simon Reeve Cornwall documentary, but felt it captured some things about Cornwall well in a way I haven’t often seen on tv.

TheTeaFairy · 05/12/2020 08:57

*Reeve Blush

CountessFrog · 05/12/2020 09:03

I watched that, too. I also listened to a radio 4 programme made about Cornwall (The patch) which made me quite sad.

We are in the process of buying a holiday home in Cornwall, I lived there as a child and I’ve always been drawn back. We are considering retirement there. These two programmes really weigh heavily on me. I can’t stop thinking about what we could do to put something back into the community. I wondered about doing something regularly for the local primary school, either an annual donation, or annual use of my skills (I have skills that a school could use).

PresentingPercy · 05/12/2020 10:29

Cornwall has plenty of well off retired people. Probably too many. It also has pockets of deprivation. It has a huge tourist economy which, at times, it seems to take for granted because the richer folk don’t need it. Plenty of others do and the seasonal economy is big.

Penzance - we have friends nearby. They like it but never go anywhere else. They are Cornwall hermits. Neither are from Cornwall but seem to think they are now Cornish. To fit in. Trying to be Cornish when you are not seems odd to us but we are not living there and simply wouldn’t consider it. Too far from what we want out of life. To get work done at Cornish prices, you have to become Cornish or you pay London prices. I’ve found service and workmanship average at times for high prices but I just holiday there.

People love that it’s far away from anything and then moan about not having the services others get close by. Don’t expect to see many ethnic minorities either. I also think that’s why some people like it.

jambeforeclottedcream · 05/12/2020 10:45

I live nr penzance went there a lot as teen

Worst thing is the fact that's it's the end of the line. Once you get to Cornwall you think great almost home. Nope still got potentially 2 hours of a30 to go

Positives a lovely sized town with lots of quirky shops and community feel.

It is the local driving test centre so be prepared for lots of learner drivers.

Good ammenities a relatively new leisure centre, cinema, lovely town hall which does productions.

Good transport links in the fact it has a station and buses

There's several primaries don't know my about them. and the two secondaries are mounts bay and Humphrey Davey. I think mounts bay is the better out of the two.

I think I'd prefer to live in penzance over Falmouth as houses I think are cheaper and it's less touristy

Original poster
confused232 · 05/12/2020 10:50

To get work done at Cornish prices, you have to become Cornish or you pay London prices.

This is another big thing I’m worried about - always being seen as an outsider! Is it even possible to make friends in a place like Penzance if you’re a “newcomer”?

I’ve never been to the town but DH has been doing a ton of research and thinks it’s the place that ticks most of our boxes.

I did watch the Simon Reeve documentary and it did put me off moving to Cornwall. I’m worried it’s not a good place for our DS to grow up. DH has a lot of convincing to do!

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Original poster
confused232 · 05/12/2020 10:51

Thanks @jambeforeclottedcream. Is it a rough place would you say?

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Fressia123 · 05/12/2020 10:53

I've been here for 6 years and most of my friends are expats and non Cornish folk. But I think that's my luck. Cornish people are really sweet

Original poster
confused232 · 05/12/2020 10:53

@jambeforeclottedcream The reason I ask is because I’ve read there’s a big drugs problem in the area - and that’s something else that scares me!

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TheTeaFairy · 05/12/2020 10:53

Of course it's possible to make friends… as long as you're friendly!

It's just like anywhere else in that respect Smile

jambeforeclottedcream · 05/12/2020 10:55

Sorry I can't be much help answering that, I think there is a drug problem but to what extent I'm not too sure

I think like any town there are nice parts and rougher parts

itchyfinger · 05/12/2020 10:58

I would visit if I were you OP. Have you been to Cornwall at all? Personally I think it would be quite a hard place to live unless you were from there.

jambeforeclottedcream · 05/12/2020 10:59

Wouldn't say that Simon Reeve programme was the best show to solely base a judgement like that on. You really need to come down and get a feel for yourself. Perhaps in the spring when the weather is nicer but not too busy.

Visit some schools, contact a local estate agent. Visit the local supermarket and just wonder around causeway head. And just soak it up and see if you like it

LightasaBreeze · 05/12/2020 15:53

DF lives there, he moved there after he separated from DM years ago.
We visit occasionally but it is quite difficult as a PP said it is the end of the line, so we book a holiday at a touring caravan site about 50 miles away and just pop down for the day. It seems OK and DF loves it there but he is elderly, I wouldn't fancy living there mainly because of the distance to go anywhere but Cornwall.

Dazedandconfused28 · 05/12/2020 17:02

I love Penzance - it is a bit rough round the edges, but that makes it a more real community to live in, if that makes sense? There are some stunning properties. Also fantastic places to eat. It is pretty underrated in my opinion!

Dazedandconfused28 · 05/12/2020 17:05

@confused232

To get work done at Cornish prices, you have to become Cornish or you pay London prices.

This is another big thing I’m worried about - always being seen as an outsider! Is it even possible to make friends in a place like Penzance if you’re a “newcomer”?

I’ve never been to the town but DH has been doing a ton of research and thinks it’s the place that ticks most of our boxes.

I did watch the Simon Reeve documentary and it did put me off moving to Cornwall. I’m worried it’s not a good place for our DS to grow up. DH has a lot of convincing to do!

I think if you are living there as your permanent residence then you have little to worry about. I'm from Cornwall & it's the second homes that are hard to stomach - only because it really pushes prices up for locals, emphasises the deprivation of many & sucks the life out of communities Sad
Dazedandconfused28 · 05/12/2020 17:06

[quote confused232]@jambeforeclottedcream The reason I ask is because I’ve read there’s a big drugs problem in the area - and that’s something else that scares me![/quote]
Yes - like any town, but if that's not part of your life, it's unlikely to impact you really.

LightasaBreeze · 05/12/2020 17:21

DF feels very much part of the community and he is not originally from there but he seems very much one of the locals now

Original poster
confused232 · 05/12/2020 19:07

I'm from Cornwall & it's the second homes that are hard to stomach - only because it really pushes prices up for locals, emphasises the deprivation of many & sucks the life out of communities

I agree with all this. But I worry that even though we’d be living there full time, we’d still be seen as newcomers and outsiders and would struggle to make friends.

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Original poster
confused232 · 05/12/2020 19:08

DF feels very much part of the community and he is not originally from there but he seems very much one of the locals now

That is encouraging!

OP posts:
blue25 · 05/12/2020 19:12

Serious drug problem & can feel unsafe at night. One of my least favourite places in Cornwall.

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