Thriving food and drink businesses have made Falmouth in Cornwall a truly tasty place to call home according to the Sunday Times, with the town taking the top spot in the South West in the newspapers, Best Places to Live‟ list 2016.
The sector’s success story was highlighted as a vital part of „attracting younger families in search of a perfect work/life balance‟ in what the newspaper called the “finest blend of rural and urban in the West Country‟.
Falmouth took the top spot over fifteen other locations in the South West based on the best quality of life for the widest number of people, with a positive community spirit, diversity of business and services, and attractive outdoor spaces playing a key part in the town taking the crown.
The annual in-depth lists also combine data and statistics such as house prices, crime rates and school performance, aligned with the local knowledge and expertise of Sunday Times journalists to compile the definitive top places to live in the UK.
The Sunday Times report said: “There’s a salty buzz about Falmouth that shows no sign of abating, so it’s on our Best Places list — again. The sea views, beaches, marinas and open countryside are a constant, but at the same time, thriving new industries — creative and digital, marine and renewable — are attracting younger families in search of a perfect work/life balance. And that life is the finest blend of rural and urban in the West Country.”
The report credited the success of the food and drink industry as a key part of the town’s desirability, saying: “There’s a young, lively feel, thanks to the ever-growing university presence and the harbour side development of shops and restaurants, but the energy has become self-perpetuating, with quirky book shops, cinemas, art galleries, bars, cafes and restaurants springing up.”
Falmouth has been described as the small town with the big food scene. With no shortage of award-winning restaurants, cafes and cocktail bars, and stunning from the sea quite literally on its doorstep, Falmouth’s larder is well stocked with great places to eat and drink.
With constant inward investment, Falmouth has been on a culinary journey in recent years with a number of tasty new ventures laying out their wares for visitors and locals alike.
These include the reopening of the legendary Cornish pub, the Star & Garter by couple, Elliot and Becca Thompson last year. The much loved pub is on its way to becoming one of the West Country’s premier food destinations.
Other fantastic food and drink offerings in Falmouth include Olivers Eatery, which serves locally sourced and foraged foods, a modern Mediterranean establishment, Hunky Dory, and for an authentic taste of Spain, Provedore.
Richard Wilcox, Falmouth BID Manager, and Richard Gates, Falmouth Town Manager, who oversee Falmouth’s Town Team, said: “We are so proud of the food and drink scene in Falmouth and how it has contributed to us being in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live list again this year. “We are out and about communicating with the businesses daily here, and there are some absolutely fascinating characters that have come from all over to set up business in Falmouth within the food and drink sector.”
The Mayor of Falmouth, Cllr John Body added: “I am immensely proud of my town, Falmouth truly is a wonderful and vibrant place to live and work. Our environment and townscape is recognised nationally of being of high quality and we receive accolades for the way in which the Town Council engages with its residents and consults with them. There is a tangible sense of community spirit here.”
Commenting on The Sunday Times Best Places to Live, Home Editor Helen Davies said: “Each place truly deserves its inclusion on the list, as we carefully consider each one, combining key statistics with our writers‟ informed knowledge to produce a truly authoritative guide.”