Falmouth mid-week break in late Jan - will anything be open?

[nongnangning]

Suddenly a small window of time when DC is away has opened up, during the week, late Jan. So, me and DH could go on a mini-break (within UK).

DH fancies Falmouth. I think it would be potentially nice too. But - if there is anyone Cornish reading - will everything be closed for the winter, will shops only open Weds/Thurs-Sun etc? TIA for any advice.

As a Falmouth resident, shops open as normal, the same as any other town. What shops you think Falmouth has, may come as a surprise.

What kind of things are you expecting Falmouth to have? It's just a normal town by the sea.

Oh and the weather is generally shocking in January. Looking out of my window now, it's hammering down with rain and about a force 7 gale, same as the previous days this week.

It's cracking in the summer though.

Things will be open! Falmouth has a lot of students and, as HelpMe says, is a normal town, not one that shuts down for winter. There are shops with Cornish-type stuff and lots of nice cafes / bars / restaurants as well as regular shops.

The weather will probably be awful but if you're up for rainy walks on windy beaches it might be fun.

Or if not up for a "bracing" walk on the beach, there is always the Maritime Museum to kill a couple of hours.

Or a trip over to St Mawes on the ferry to check out how the other half live. 😁

Thanks very much for the replies. Yes, on weather, it would be better in the summer for sure. But January is when we have the opportunity. So we will bring big coats.

What sort of shops/place was I expecting? Well, I don't know as the last time I was in Falmouth was maybe 1978. But the advice is very helpful. It sounds great.

Beacon coffee is good to warm you up!

Beacon Coffee [writes down] - thanks for the recommendation

We actually had a lovely break in Falmouth in late December a few years ago. Most of the restaurants & shops were open. We walked on the beach, got the ferry to walk around St Mawes, visited Pendennis castle. Enjoyed an evening in a good rum bar. It was great. We were quite lucky with the weather though.

Plenty of bars/pubs and restaurants to visit and they'll be open. It's certainly changed since 78. Beaches are the same, but all the seafront hotels (bar 2 or 3) have now gone and are either retirement flats or apartments.

It's on our list for a winter holiday and we want somewhere overlooking the sea so we can stormwatch.. We were last here in August and the better restaurants we struggled to get into. I suspect that will be easier in the winter

Penryn just down the road is nice and good for a rummage, and the chip shop - Mariner's - is great. There's also a good coffee shop opposite the charity shops on the main road that runs along the river in Penryn too.

Been there once and it was beautiful. Worth every penny.

Thank you very much for the replies, advice and recommendations. I'm about to book - see you there! I will be the one at Beacon Coffee scrolling MN and the weather on my phone 😎

Weather is perfect today, not a cloud in the sky, chilly though.

We walked through town to get a taxi early evening on New Years Eve as we went out for some afternoon drinks (Quayside Inn, give it a try 😁).

I hadn't been into town for ages and did say, it's actually not half bad here really is it. Was quite a nice atmosphere at that time of day.

Falmouth resident here! Most things will be open - the odd restaurant/cafe owner will shut for a break in January, but as others have said it's a 'normal' town and will be business as usual. Lots of nice pubs and restaurants and coastal walks; I think you could have a very happy winter break here.

Weather will likely be rubbish, but we do get the occasional crisp, blue winter day, and they are pretty lovely. All the beach cafes have blankets/hot water bottles etc for sea-watching on chilly days.

I will be the one with the hot water bottle! Sounds great - all booked and paid now and here we come soon

Another Fal resident - I think you’ll find me in there doing similar 😀

I meant to quote your post about sitting in Beacon scrolling through Mumsnet…

Coming back to this thread on the train on the way home from my lovely trip to Falmouth. Thank you Falmouth MNers for your advice. We were really lucky with the weather and did many of the things recommended on here including:
*walked to the castle - and right on the headland there was a little coffee truck rattling out cappucinos
*took the ferry to St Mawes to see how the other half live (blimey what steep lanes - the other half must have great glutes) and saw some dolphins on the way
*went to Beacon Coffee as suggested and bought some to bring back home too
And spent all my holiday money in lots of shops and cafes
What a cool place! I found it really buzzy. Can't wait to go again!