Ben Pratchett – 01326 574842 ben.pratchett@levenmediagroup.co.uk
Chairman & Founder
Andy Forster – 01326 574842 andy.forster@levenmediagroup.co.uk
Cornwall Living is published by: LEVEN MEDIA GROUP LTD
Holbrook, The Moors, Porthleven, Cornwall TR13 9JX www.levenmediagroup.co.uk
Welcome
From the Editor
to the latest edition of Cornwall Living!
Cornwall has never been easy to define. It is a county of startling contrasts; ancient moorland meets contemporary design; working harbours host world-class restaurants; and communities rooted in centuries of tradition emit a creative energy that feels entirely of the moment. What unites it all is something harder to articulate: a quality of place, a particular light, a sense that here, life is lived a little more deliberately. That is what Cornwall Living exists to celebrate and this issue does so in finer style than ever.
In this month’s cover feaure (from page 15), Jamie Crocker explores some of Cornwall’s finest attractions that offer wonderful days out beyond the beach. We then turn our attention to the emerging story of West Carclaze, a remarkable new Cornish village taking shape near St Austell, where considered architecture, sustainability and community have been woven together from the ground up. It is the kind of development that makes you rethink what modern Cornish living can look like. Turn to page 25 for the full story.
Come June, Cornwall’s agricultural heart beats loudest at the Royal Cornwall Show from 4th to 6th June, a highlight of the county’s calendar and one of the great British country shows. This year, among the exhibitors you will want to seek out is Wadebridge Dental (from page 32), whose stand is well worth a visit, offering expert advice and some great show offers.
From page 35 we head west, as our Explore Penwith supplement uncovers some great places to visit, alongside a host of unique Cornish makers. For the food-lovers among you, we have two unmissable features. From page 48, we report back on Sharp’s Brewery Chef Conversations at the Porthleven Food Festival, where some of Cornwall’s finest chefs shared their inspiration and insight in an intimate setting. Then from page 50, Martyn Odell, AKA Lagom Chef, ventures to Inkie’s Smokehouse, a discovery well worth following if you are a lover of BBQ food cooked low and slow. Finally, don’t miss our competitions on page 54. As ever, the prizes are worth pausing for. Enter online at www.cornwall-living.co.uk for a chance to win!
....happy reading!
DO YOU LOVE OR OWN A CORNISH BUSINESS?
2026
The annual Cornwall Living Awards, as voted for by our readers, followers and subscribers, are set to take place in October 2026. Nominations are now open!
The ceremony will celebrate outstanding businesses from the Duchy, across 12 categories.
AWARD CATEGORIES
Hotels and Guest Houses
Restaurants, Bistros and Cafés
Holiday Cottage Companies
Homes and Interiors
Pet-friendly Businesses
Artists, Galleries and Designers
Cornish Retail
Estate Agents and Developers
Adventure and Attractions
Health and Wellbeing
Architects and Interior Design
Food and Drink Producers
Visit www.levenmediagroup.co.uk/awards to nominate now, or scan the QR code! Nominations are open until the 30th June 2026.
ST AGNES HELSTON
& views News
Re-loved Cornwall launches this summer
A new design-led vintage marketplace will launch in Cornwall this summer, bringing together a carefully curated mix of mid-century furniture, pre-loved fashion and interiors specialists.
Re-Loved Cornwall will take place on Saturday 25 July at the Royal Cornwall Showground and is being created by the team behind Casta Blue, the mid-century furniture and interiors shop in St Columb Major, known for its carefully restored British and Scandinavian pieces.
The event has been conceived as a curated marketplace celebrating well-made objects with character and history. From vintage furniture and lighting to pre-loved clothing and design-led interiors, the emphasis is firmly on re-loving what already exists rather than producing something new. A growing line-up of vintage specialists from across
Cornwall and the South West is already taking shape, with traders selected for the quality and individuality of their collections. The aim is to create an event that feels cohesive, visually inspiring and distinctly design led. For visitors, Re-Loved Cornwall promises something a little different from a traditional antique fair or flea market. The focus will be on pieces with provenance, craftsmanship and longevity, reflecting a wider shift towards repairing, restoring and re-using well-designed objects.
Alongside the vintage traders, visitors will also find carefully chosen street food vendors and a relaxed atmosphere, creating an all-indoor event that feels as much like a summer destination as it does a marketplace. For more information, follow on @reloved_cornwall or visit www.relovedmarkets.co.uk
How to garden for the future
Plant lovers, curious souls and canine companions are warmly invited to explore the gardens at Trevince, the country estate in Gwennap, as the promise of spring turns to the bloom of summer and its heritage landscape undergoes a period of change. Owners, Richard and Trish Stone, are opening the estate gardens on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays until 27th September, from 10am to 4pm, and encouraging visitors to discover how Trevince is evolving under their guardianship.
As part of this, a programme of enlightening talks and demonstrations by horticultural experts will be offered throughout the season. On Sunday 24th May at 2pm, Katie McBride will talk about Planting for Pollinators. With a horticultural career spanning 14 years, Katie has gained wide-ranging experience in floristry, education, displays, tropical and temperate.
As rehearsals gather pace, Miracle Theatre prepares for another summer on the road, bringing outdoor performance to audiences across Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and beyond. Now in its 47th year of rural touring, the company continues to take theatre into shared spaces, returning to the gardens, greens and historic sites that have long formed the backbone of its work. This season, Miracle turns its attention to Peer Gynt, reimagining the well-known tale with its own blend of storytelling, music and a cast of unlikely creatures. The production is shaped with a broad audience in mind, inviting both regular theatre-goers and those encountering live performance in their own communities for the first time.
Founder Bill Scott reflects on the enduring appeal of these gatherings, describing the simple pleasure of watching audiences arrive and settle, whether in a castle setting, a
garden or on a village green. That sense of shared experience remains central to the company’s approach, underpinned by strong local support. Venues and volunteers play a practical role in each performance, helping to create events that draw together families, neighbours and visitors.
The tour opens at Minack Theatre on 8th June and concludes at Enys Gardens on 29th August, with 34 locations on the itinerary, including St Just, Liskeard, Falmouth and Helston. Further details and ticket information can be found via the company’s website.
For more information, visit miracletheatre.co.uk/shows/peer-gynt/
Sweet Pea, Looe’s gentle corner
In the heart of Looe, Sweet Pea brings together books, crystals and thoughtful resources focused on emotional wellbeing.
Founded by Claire Hall, a practitioner with more than 25 years’ experience supporting children and families, its work draws on a background in early education and psychology, giving the business a clear sense of purpose and credibility. Alongside the shop, Sweet Pea has developed an online offering that includes the Inner Healing book series and carefully designed courses aimed at helping people recognise patterns, strengthen self-worth thereby instilling confidence.
It is also home to the Emily pony stories, original children’s books written and set in Looe, shaped by recognisable streets, coastal scenes and lived experience. Popular with local families and visitors alike, the series offers young readers a warm connection to the town. Through both its physical shop and digital presence, Sweet Pea serves as a considered resource for the community.
For more information, visit looecrystals.co.uk or email sweetpeaholistichealing@gmail.com
Where history feels alive and the welcome is warm
Just a ten-minute drive from Wadebridge or Bodmin, Pencarrow House and Gardens offers a countryside escape with ample parking. Home to the Molesworth-St Aubyn family for nearly 500 years, this Georgian house sits within 50 acres of Grade II woodland and gardens, ideal for relaxed walks with family and dogs. Inside, discover elegant rooms, a library with a secret door, and collections of porcelain, antique furniture, and portraits. Outdoors, towering conifers, magnolias, camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, and summer blue hydrangeas
line the mile-long drive. Explore an ancient Celtic cross, a 2,000-year-old Iron Age hill fort, a Victorian lake and icehouse, a grotto, Italian gardens with a fountain, and a dramatic rock garden. The lively events programme includes an Abba tribute night, while the Peacock Café welcomes all for coffee, homemade cakes, cream teas, and light lunches using local produce. Open Sunday to Friday, 30th March to 30th October 2026.
For more information, visit www. pencarrow.co.uk or call 01208 841369.
The Perfect Serve
As cinema found its voice and the world embraced the glamour of the Roaring Twenties, a Cornish chauffeur named Norman Trevethan was crafting his own masterpiece; a classic ‘bathtub gin’ inspired by London’s historic gin palaces. Nearly a century later, that original 1929 recipe has been revived, refined and reimagined by chemist-turned-master distiller John Hall. Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin, is an awardwinning Cornish gin, distilled using the traditional London Dry method. It balances ten botanicals with precision and poise; juniper, coriander and angelica forming its classic backbone, layered with orange and lemon peel, cassia, cardamom and vanilla. Locally foraged Cornish elderflower and gorse flower lend a soft floral elegance, bringing warmth and romance to every sip.
John’s advice for the prefect serve is: “Add the gin first! As a distiller, and if you’re interested in the chemistry of gin, then you’ll know that tonic water and gin have
very different density levels. If you pour gin over ice immediately, you’ll shock the botanical oils within the gin and this will destroy the balance of the drink. If we put the ice in first, then the tonic, stir, and then the gin in last, what will happen is the gin will cool a lot more slowly. As the gin cools, the lighter density of the gin starts to slowly match the density of the tonic. The slower cooling is much less of a ‘shock’ to the gin. This way you’ll get a much more balanced drink – the best G&T you’ve ever tried, with the flavour shining through.”
For more information visit www.trevethandistillery.com
Looking for something different to do this summer?
Why not explore the Museum of Cornish Life? Located in Helston’s historic market buildings, this fascinating museum has been welcoming visitors since 1949, telling the story of Cornish life through the ages.
Within this vast space, spread over three floors, you’ll discover a rich collection of Cornish artefacts, covering aspects such as farming, archaeology, school life, local industry and sports.
This summer, their exhibition looks at the museum’s extensive costume collection. With the aid of each piece of clothing, you can find out more about the stories behind significant events such as the Torrey Canyon disaster, Gorsedh Kernow and Flora Day, among other things.
Admission to the museum is free from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, with craft workshops through the summer focusing on fashion, fabric and stitch on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
For more information, visit museumofcornishlife.co.uk or call 01326 564027.
Beyond the BEACH
Discovering some of Cornwall’s finest attractions.
Words by JAMIE CROCKER
Eden Project
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Here we explore other ways to engage with what the county has to offer, from adrenaline-filled zip wiring to places that make us question our received view of this country’s history, all providing an alternative source of engagement to what nature has already gifted.
The Eden Project
In its 25th year, the Eden Project continues to draw visitors as a focal point of regeneration interest, though it resists traditional definition, underscoring it as a place of thought-provoking engagement. Set within a former clay pit, its vast biomes house the humid tropics and the Mediterranean, each illustrating how climate shapes cultivation, pollination and consequently daily life. What began as an innovative and improbable intervention has matured into something more probing: part experiment, part provocation. Exhibitions explore food, materials and the systems that sustain them, inviting not just passive observation but reflection upon what lies ahead for all of us. Families can find space to roam freely, dine on regional produce, while those with a keener interest in environmental practice will appreciate the depth of interpretation with ongoing work in education and regeneration. It remains one of Cornwall’s most compelling and thought-provoking destinations.
Beyond the biomes, Hangloose at Eden adds an adrenaline-fuelled twist, offering high ropes, a zip wire and the UK’s highest giant swing above the iconic site. It is a place that captures both the imagination and the spirit of modern Cornwall, making it an unmissable day out for visitors of all ages, with panoramic views across Cornwall’s coast and countryside, reinforcing the site’s status as a landmark attraction. www.edenproject.com www.hanglooseadventure.com
Newquay Zoo
Newquay Zoo can be enjoyed as a whole day out for all the family, mixing conservation and education, set within sub-tropical gardens, a short walk from the town centre. Operated by Libéma since January 2026, marking an exciting new phase of development for habitats and visitor experience, it houses species from across the globe, with an emphasis on threatened animals and carefully designed enclosures that reflect their natural environments. Visitors can move at their own pace between habitats, encountering lemurs, red pandas, penguins and big cats, alongside reptiles and birds. Talks and feeding sessions offer clear, informative insight into animal behaviour and the pressures facing wildlife, while younger visitors are well served by play areas and interactive exhibits that strengthen the zoo’s educational aims. Every ticket sold contributes to conservation projects in the UK and overseas, giving the visitor a sense of purpose that goes beyond leisure, resulting in a lasting impression in the knowledge that they have contributed to conservation and animal welfare. www.newquayzoo.uk
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Celebrating 25 years of the Eden Project
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Animal magic at Newquay Zoo
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The Cornish Seal Sanctuary provides a vital lifeline for sick or injured seals
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek cares for injured grey seal pups (around 70 each year) from around the Cornish coast, offering rehabilitation with the aim of release back to the wild when possible. Operated by the Sea Life Trust, it combines rescue work with public access, allowing visitors to follow each animal’s progress through treatment pools and recovery areas. Talks and feeding sessions explain diet, behaviour and the threats posed by plastic and fishing tackle, with an emphasis on rehabilitation and conservation. Woodland paths link enclosures for resident seals, sea lions, penguins and farm animals, giving a varied, well-paced route for families. Admission supports the ongoing rescue programme, and each season brings new arrivals, making return visits worthwhile for those interested in coastal wildlife and responsible tourism. www.sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org
Bodmin Jail Attraction
If you fancy something a bit macabre, then the Bodmin Jail Attraction is for you! This former Georgian prison has been reworked into a detailed visitor experience that draws directly on its 18th- and 19th-century records. Built in 1779, the jail once held debtors, petty criminals and those awaiting transportation, and its restored wings now house immersive exhibits that follow real inmates through arrest, trial and punishment. Digital installations, projection and sound design have been incorporated into the experience, lifting it above the usual museum visit. There are also tours led by knowledgeable heritage guides, where you’ll be taken through key areas of the jail as they bring its past to life with historical insight via powerful storytelling, tracing stories of incarceration alongside wider Cornish history. The on-site restaurant and bar complete the scene. For those interested in social history, law and the mechanics of justice, it offers an interestingly different but informative day out in Cornwall. www.bodminjail.org
é ABOVE & BELOW ê Bodmin Jail Attraction, where history meets intrigue
Explore our lifestyle collection of thoughtfully curated, ethically sourced finds. From handcrafted homewares and recycled accessories to organic wellbeing and carefully chosen jewellery.
Above our Truro store, you’ll find our welcoming café, where our spring menu is bursting with fresh flavours, seasonal dishes, and homemade treats, the perfect place to pause and unwind.
Truro | Falmouth | uneeka.com
Traditional Scandinavian Saunas from Market Leaders Kernow Springs
Kernow Springs Saunas are hand made by their experienced craftsman right here in Cornwall. This means the team can bespoke build your Sauna to suit your exact specification right on site, at your location.
Available in either BOX, CUBE, BARREL, ARCH, OVAL or ROUND HOUSE designs, from 2 person to 25 person with either wood burning or electric stoves and a whole host of optional extras.
Prices start at £4,850.00 + vat including free delivery & installation.
‘Kernow Springs - Hot & Cold Immersion Specialists since 2013’
25% off of your first visit! Apply discount CLV5634 on check out.
National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Based in Falmouth, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall lays out the county’s seafaring past. Leading off from the main atrium, which has an array of seagoing craft to inspect, galleries incorporate local boat building to global exploration, supported by working displays and regularly changing exhibitions that keep the experience dynamic. The Tidal Zone and The Lookout offer a chance to witness the ebb and flow of the tide as well as the workings of the estuary and docks. To keep you energised during your visit, there is a café that benefits from views across the harbour as well as a gift shop selling locally sourced maritime gifts that will remind you of your visit. For those who want to add more depth to their visit, there is a programme of lectures and films throughout the year. It is a museum that treats maritime history as a living subject, relevant to Cornwall’s past and present, making it definitely worth a visit. www.nmmc.co.uk
The Story of Emily
Step into the life and legacy of Emily Hobhouse at this beautifully restored attraction in St Ive, near Liskeard, where two worlds are set deliberately in contrast. Begin in the original Rectory, where her parochial Victorian Cornish upbringing is evoked with reverential intimacy, revealing the expectations and domestic certainty of her early life in rural Cornwall. From there, move into the War Rooms, a striking counterpoint that transports you far from St Ive to the turmoil of South Africa and the Boer War.
In this immersive space, each room builds the narrative of conflict and conscience, with installations that draw you deeper into the realities she confronted and the moral journey she undertook. The experience is both atmospheric and thought-provoking, shifting perspective as it unfolds. Conclude your visit with South African-inspired dishes in the welcoming on-site restaurant, a fitting echo of the story you’ve just travelled through.
www.thestoryofemily.com
Land’s End
At Land’s End, the westernmost point of mainland Cornwall, visitors encounter a striking segregation between granite cliffs and Atlantic waters, carefully shaped into a well-organised visitor destination. The site brings together a variety of exhibitions and experiences alongside the familiar signpost that continues to draw attention for photographs and reference points. Walking routes follow the headland, opening out onto broad coastal views and frequent wildlife sightings, while family attractions and seasonal events add variety throughout the year. On-site cafés and food outlets offer refreshment stops, with retail spaces supporting regional producers. Clear viewpoints extend towards the Isles of Scilly on good days, reinforcing the scale of the setting. It remains a lively, accessible destination that ticks at least one box on most people’s bucket list.
www.landsend-landmark.co.uk
The National Lobster Hatchery
A fascinating marine conservation, research and education venue based in Padstow. www.nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk
Lappa Vally
An attraction that transports families on an exciting, nostalgic train ride into a secret world of fun and family adventures. www.lappavalley.co.uk
PK Porthcurno Museum
Find out how this quiet valley of Porthcurno became host to the past, present and future of worldwide communications. www.pkporthcurno.com
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The lure of Land’s End
DON’T MISS OUT!
Simply scan the code below on your smart device to subsribe to our Cornwall Living email newsletters. The Ultimate Lifestyle by the Sea has never been closer to hand...
This desirable waterfront home offers an exceptional standard of modern family living, perfectly suited to those with a passion for sailing and life on the water. Carefully updated in recent years, it combines contemporary style with practical convenience and uninterrupted river views.
Entered from North Street, the open-plan living room immediately impresses, with a generous bay window framing the outlook across the deck to the boats beyond. Wooden flooring, built-in storage, and a wood burner set on a slate hearth create a welcoming yet refined atmosphere, while stairs rise to
the upper floors and descend to the lower ground level.
On the first floor, a well-appointed family bathroom sits alongside a spacious principal bedroom, where another bay window captures the river view, complemented by an en suite shower room. The second floor provides a single bedroom and an elegant guest suite, complete with an en suite bathroom, plantation shutters, and French doors opening onto a balcony with far-reaching waterside vistas.
Below, the lower ground floor reveals a bright kitchen and dining space, with patio doors leading onto a substantial composite deck designed to maximise the setting. A spiral staircase continues down to a highly practical level offering a utility area, extensive storage for boating equipment, and a further bedroom suite.
Externally, the property is exceptionally well equipped, with ample space for dinghies and ribs, a boat crane, davits, a slipway, and direct access to the foreshore and mooring.
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VILLAGEA new Cornish
A former clay landscape reshaped for modern, low impact living.
In the clay country just outside St Austell, a landscape shaped by industry is beginning a new chapter.
West Carclaze Garden Village isn’t simply about new homes, it's about rethinking how a place can feel and how people might live when everything is designed with care from the ground up.
Set across 500 acres, this is Cornish land with a past, now thoughtfully reshaped for the future. Around 1,500 homes are taking shape, each one designed to do more than stand still. Here, every home is carbonpositive in operation, producing more clean, green energy than it uses over the course of a year. Solar panels, battery storage and intelligent systems work in the background, meaning day-to-day living comes with the reassurance of zero energy costs across the year*.
However, what defines West Carclaze isn’t simply what happens inside the walls, it’s how life flows beyond them. Streets are made for walking and green space isn’t an afterthought, it’s part of the landscape. Former clay pits, now lakes, bring colour and calm, while a network of paths weaves its way through the village, linking homes with schools, shops and shared spaces. Everything feels within reach and all feels connected,
making it a place shaped around everyday life. A primary school, nursery and local amenities are built in, making it easier to stay close to what matters and closer to each other.
There’s an ease to living here as homes are warm, efficient and thoughtfully designed, with technology that simplifies rather than complicates. The result is not just lower impact, but a lighter way of living, financially and environmentally.
Then there’s the setting... with the Cornish coast close by, life naturally spills outdoors, morning runs, after-school swims, weekends shaped by sea air and open space.
West Carclaze Garden Village offers something more considered; a place where heritage and forward-thinking sit comfortably side by side and where homes give back, landscapes are respected and community comes naturally. This is a new kind of village, thoughtfully built and effortlessly lived in. *based on EPC assessment.
ECO
BOS
West Carclaze Garden Village, Carluddon, St Austell PL26 8GP 01208 74888
Prices for a three-bedroom home start from £290,000. All properties are sold ready to move in to, so your home can start working for you from day one. Scan the QR code to find out more.
Heart of the South Care offers its clients kind, patient and genuinely caring support workers. Our support workers are professional with relevant experience and extensive on-going training.
Uniquely, we offer continuity with familiar faces for as long as you need them, reducing stress, building trust and enhancing what can be achieved to ensure every person is living the life they enjoy safely.
Our Carers show up on time, follow routines and achieve safety, happiness and our clients’ personal goals. We produce individual care plans tailored to the client’s needs, preferences and lifestyle.
We are able to adjust hours, care levels, or types of support as needs change. 6-24 hours offered. The clients we care for include those with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, high clinical needs, life-limiting illnesses, brain trauma, life-changing injuries, Autism and learning disabilities.
Outreach
You can be reassured that our support workers are vetted and safe to have in your home.
All of our support workers have high health and safety standards with infection control, medication management and emergency preparedness, which are just some of the aspects of the training.
Heart of the South believes in Communication and Transparency. We holistically support the whole family where needs be, through illness, life-limited prognosis and day-to-day issues, with advice and presence.
We have a 24 hour on call service, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and are always there to answer any questions or concerns and resolve them.
Heart of the South has transparent costs with no hidden fees, clear contracts and flexible service options. We have a Domiciliary care contract with Cornwall Council. We are registered with CQC with a good rating.
Upgrade your entertainment and experience this summer’s epic sporting events in style, with the latest televisions and home cinema from HBH Woolacotts.
This summer we’ll be treated to some of the finest sporting events on the planet. The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on 14th June, closely followed by Wimbledon, Women’s T20 World Cup, The Open and the Commonwealth Games to name just a few. With many of these hosted around the World the vast majority of us will be enjoying these events from home. With some of the strongest offers all year, now is a great time to upgrade your entertainment to enjoy these events in style.
Renowned for innovation, Sony continues to deliver market leading products. Their current flagship product, the Bravia 8 Mark2 is a Quantum Dot OLED TV that has won multiple awards over the last 12 months and combines a blend of true blacks, improved brightness and next generation processing to deliver a breathtaking picture that is perfect for watching sport or films. Available in 55” and 65” sizes – and with up to £700 off in May and June – this is one of the best televisions on the market at its lowest ever price. While the picture is important, sound is half of the experience, and to complement their televisions Sony have a selection of Dolby Atmos-enabled Home Cinema products including soundbars, sub woofers, additional rear speakers and multi-zone systems. Sold in modular form, customers can build up a package that suits their budget, space and requirements. This summer, until 21st July,
Sony Atmos packages are available at 50% off when bought with a television.
LG have been the market leader in OLED TV for over a decade and one of the World’s largest brands in televisions and home entertainment. OLED TVs represent the pinnacle of their technology with unrivalled black levels, cinematic picture and next-gen AI Processors, and are available in sizes ranging from 42” to 97” starting from around £700. Furthermore, LG’s budget friendly televisions now have Q-NED or Nanocell technology that delivers a crisp and clear picture and these are available from as little as £250 for a 43” 4K Smart TV.
Finally, Sonos is the undisputed market leader in wireless home audio and has a product range that includes soundbars, subwoofers, portable speakers and headphones that work together seamlessly to bring great sound to any space, whether that’s a designated home cinema or a simple bedside speaker. To celebrate the ‘Summer of Sports’ Sonos is promoting selected products at up to £200 off for a limited time this May and June.
So, whether it’s a new television, home cinema system or portable radio, bring this year’s sporting events to life with exclusive offers and promotions at HBH Woolacotts.
HBH WOOLACOTTS
01288 3522690
www.hbh-woolacotts.co.uk
Find more like this: www.cornwall-living.co.uk
DID YOU KNOW?...
HBH Woolacotts is Cornwall & Devon's local electrical retailer and, as one of the largest independent electrical retailers in the UK, is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary Year.
HBH Woolacotts has exciting showrooms across the South West, including three superstores in Barnstaple, Plymouth and St Austell, along with an online store. With a locally based team of friendly staff and free, next day delivery, HBH Woolacotts' promises to be 'Happy to be Hepful' with all things electrical.
Future-proofing HOMES
A Cornish installer helping households reduce bills using renewable systems today.
Across the South West, household energy use has become a real concern rather than an abstract one. Rising electricity and heating costs, older oil and gas systems still in circulation, and uncertainty around future pricing have placed pressure on how homes are run day to day. In response, many property owners are reassessing the way their homes are heated and powered, with a growing shift towards systems that generate and manage energy on site.
GreenGenUK operates out of Cornwall and works across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, focusing on renewable energy installations for domestic properties. Its work centres on air source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage, delivered as individual home systems or combined energy setups. Over the past year, the company has completed hundreds of installations across the region, reflecting steady demand from households seeking to reduce reliance on oil tanks, gas supplies and the wider grid.
The company’s workload places it among the more active renewable installers in the South West, with recognition extending beyond local activity. It has received industry awards and is regularly positioned alongside larger national firms in performance assessments. Its standing in relation to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has also drawn attention, with the business ranking among the UK’s leading installers for voucher redemptions. That position is tied to how grant applications are managed and processed through completed installations, where accuracy and timing play a direct role in household take-up of funding.
At the centre of GreenGenUK’s operation is its design process. Each property is assessed individually before any installation is agreed. In-house design staff review existing heating systems, insulation levels, roof orientation and household energy use patterns. From this, a specification is produced that determines whether a heat pump system, solar PV array, battery storage unit, or a combination of technologies is appropriate. The emphasis is
on fitting systems to existing buildings rather than applying standardised packages.
Air source heat pumps form a major part of its work. These systems draw heat from outside air and convert it for domestic heating and hot water. When installed correctly and matched to a suitable property, they can reduce dependence on oil and gas heating systems. Government support through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently provides a grant of £7,500 towards installation, which has influenced uptake across rural and semi-rural homes where oil heating remains common.
Solar PV installations provide another layer of energy control. Panels fitted to rooftops generate electricity during daylight hours, which can be used directly within the home or stored in battery systems for later use. Battery storage allows households to retain surplus energy for evening use, reducing the need to import electricity at peak times. For many households, this combination alters daily consumption patterns, particularly where electric heating or vehicle charging is part of the energy profile.
The integration of these systems is a core part of GreenGenUK’s approach. Rather than treating heat, power generation and storage as separate elements, systems are designed to work together. A heat pump may draw power generated by solar panels, with excess stored in a battery unit, forming a single operational cycle within the home. This configuration is intended to reduce exposure to fluctuations in grid pricing while maintaining a consistent supply.
Installation work is carried out by in-house teams who manage both fitting and commissioning. Once systems are installed, they are tested and calibrated to ensure they operate within expected efficiency ranges. Homeowners are then guided through system controls and monitoring tools so that energy use can be tracked over time. This ongoing visibility is a feature many households use to
adjust habits around heating schedules and appliance use.
The company’s growth across the South West reflects a wider shift in how domestic energy systems are being approached. Rather than replacing a single appliance, installations now often involve multiple technologies working together in one property. GreenGenUK’s role sits within that change, delivering systems that respond to current energy costs and the physical characteristics of individual homes.
For households considering renewable energy, GreenGenUK offers initial home energy surveys to assess suitability and potential system design. These assessments form the starting point for installation planning and grant eligibility checks, providing a structured route into renewable heating and electricity generation for properties across Cornwall and surrounding counties
GREENGENUK
Unit A Ruston House, Wheal Vrose Business Park, Helston TR13 0FG 01326 564513 enquiry@greengenuk.com www.greengenuk.com Find more like this: www.cornwall-living.co.uk
Highlighting the best events across the Duchy, from festivals and markets to exhibitions, theatre, music and family days out. Whether you call Cornwall home or are visiting this vibrant county, there’s always something happening just around the corner...
TUNES IN THE DUNES
5th – 7th June
PERRANPORTH BEACH, CORNWALL
Tunes in the Dunes is a three-day, family-friendly live music festival held directly on the golden sands of Perranporth Beach in Cornwall, UK.
Known as one of the UK’s largest beach festivals, it brings major international acts to a backdrop of scenic dunes, with a bar and after-parties hosted by The Watering Hole, one of the UK’s only venue directly on a beach.
The 2026 lineup includes Basement Jaxx, The Wombats, The Proclaimers, Ministry of Sound Classical and Professor Green.
Also on offer are a variety of food stalls, local Cornish craft ales/ciders along with a host of family-friendly activities.
01872 572888 | www.tunesinthedunes.co.uk
THE COMPASS LIVING METHOD™ HELFORD RIVER WORKSHOPS WITH @HELLOREALIGN
Fortnightly through Summer 2026, Starting May 1st BUDOCK VEAN HOTEL, FALMOUTH TR11 5LG
A two hour reset on the river to help you pause, reset and realign with a life that lights you up. The Reclamation Retreat is for those moving through change, burnout, transition, or discontent. Through guided reflection, creative healing, meditation and grounded ‘aha moments’, you’ll reconnect with what truly matters. Think calm reset, mindset, wellness and life purpose. This is Zen, with an edge of life-enhancing truth.
www.hellorealign.com/reclamation-workshops
What’s on?
COMING UP AT HALL FOR CORNWALL June 2026
HALL FOR CORNWALL, BACK QUAY, TRURO TR1 2LL
At Hall for Cornwall, audiences are invited to discover everything the arts can be, through a bold, independent programme that entertains, challenges and connects across music, theatre, dance and digital platforms. As a charity and social enterprise, it champions creative talent, supports communities and nurtures the next generation through initiatives spanning performance, education and industry. It’s June performance programme includes Mama Mia! (Tuesday 2nd –Saturday 13th, Various Times), Barry Steele’s The Roy Orbison Story (Thursday 18th June, 7:30pm), The Ultimate Classic Rock Show (Friday 19th June, 7:30pm), The Archers: Live at 75 (Saturday 20th June, 7:30pm) and The Carpenters’ Story – Live & Symphonic (Sunday 28th June, 7:30pm) 01872 262466 | www.hallforcornwall.co.uk
THE MORVALA FESTIVAL OF ARTS
25th – 28th June
MOUNT EDGCUMBE COUNTRY PARK, RAME PENINSULA, TORPOINT PL10 1HZ
Set within the sweeping grounds of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, the Morvala Festival of Arts is a new four-day celebration of music, culture and wellbeing. Created by local musicians and the team behind Kernowfornia, it champions a noncommercial, community-led spirit, with five live stages, workshops and a strong focus on Cornish heritage. Expect performances from Embrace, Ash, Hawkwind and Dawn French, alongside wellness experiences in the Gwel an Hebask village. Familyfriendly and plastic-free, it promises a thoughtfully curated, immersive festival atmosphere. www.morvalafestival.com
OLLIE’S SPRING LAMB BANQUET
Friday 29th May 2026
THE ALVERTON, TREGOLLS ROAD, TRURO, TR1 1ZQ
Head to The Alverton on Friday 29th May for an unforgettable spring evening as Head Chef Ollie Wyatt presents a spectacular celebration of Cornish lamb. Set upon one grand table on the sundrenched terrace, this exclusive banquet promises an elegant yet lively dining experience. Arrive from 6.30pm for a welcome drink as the gardens settle into golden hour. At 7pm, beautifully curated platters will be delivered to the table – abundant, seasonal, and designed for sharing – with the lamb course plated and served to add a touch of theatre to the banquet. For £40 per person, expect the finest local produce, exquisite flavours, and warm Alverton hospitality.
For more upcoming events hosted at The Alverton, visit thealverton.co.uk
01872 276633 | events@thealverton.co.uk
THE GREAT ESTATE FESTIVAL 29th – 31st May
SCORRIER HOUSE, SCORRIER, REDRUTH TR16 5AU
Set within the grounds of Scorrier House, The Great Estate Festival returns for 2026 with its signature “unorthodox garden party” spirit. Expect a lively mix of music, theatre, comedy and immersive installations, with headline sets from Kaiser Chiefs, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Skunk Anansie as well as actor (and DJ) Simon Pegg. Wander between woodland stages, cabaret dens and hidden corners, from the offbeat Madame Wong’s House of Wrong to the laid-back Secret Gin Garden, plus wellness sessions and familyfriendly happenings throughout the weekend. Weekend camping is available, making it a full three-day escape into one of Cornwall’s most eccentric festivals.
www.greatestatefestival.co.uk
THE ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW 4th – 6th June
ROYAL CORNWALL SHOWGROUND, WHITECROSS, WADEBRIDGE PL27 7JE
The Royal Cornwall Show returns, showcasing Cornwall’s biggest celebration of farming, food and rural life. Attracting more than 120,000 visitors, highlights include jousting and stunt displays by The Knights of Middle England, new cookery theatre demos and world-class livestock competitions. Visitors can explore food and farming pavilions, rural craft stands, family facilities and accessible, well-organised showground amenities. Day tickets are available via the official website, with gates opening from 8.30am, offering a full day of entertainment, shopping and Cornish countryside culture for all. www.royalcornwallshow.org
The Alverton, Truro
ABOVE é Experienced Invisalign dentists
Dr Andrew Taylor and Dr Philippa McNee
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Wadebridge Dental is able to treat adults, teenagers and children with Invisalign. Book a free consultation today and put yourself in the hands of Cornwall’s most experienced Invisalign providers. From only £79 a month and with free teeth whitening, OPG X-ray, removable and fixed retainers, the Wadebridge Dental Invisalign package includes everything you need.
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Show-stopping
SMILES
Meet the Wadebridge Dental team at the Royal Cornwall Show from 4th to 6th June on stand 342 and discover how world-class cosmetic dentistry is now closer than ever.
When it comes to Invisalign and restorative dental treatment in Cornwall, it’s easy to see why Wadebridge Dental stand out. As the most experienced and reputable providers in Cornwall there’s never been a better time to meet their multiaward-winning team. For those considering Invisalign or restorative dental treatment, the Royal Cornwall Show presents the perfect opportunity to meet Cornwall’s most experienced Invisalign, restorative and Implant dentists in person.
Alongside meeting the dental team and offering a wealth of information there is an additional £550 saving for those going ahead with Invisalign following the show. Principle Dentist Dr Andrew Taylor, who not only has a diploma in Restorative Dentistry, but many years of experience and training with dental Implants, Invisalign and large and complex restorative cases, will be present alongside Dr Philippa McNee, who has completed her Diploma in Clear Aligners and has many years of experience with Invisalign. Dr Zoe Rogers, who is studying for her restorative masters
degree and has several years of experience with Invisalign will also be on hand. With over 25 years of combined Invisalign experience and their additional restorative training, this is a team that can provide the full Invisalign package and a fantastic cosmetic outcome.
Wadebridge Dental’s excellent Patient Coordinators Lauren and Caitlin will be there to answer any questions you may have, and would be your point of contact throughout your treatment journey. At the show you will be offered the opportunity to see a 3D digital simulation of how your teeth will look after your Invisalign treatment, with the newest compact and comfortable Lumina i-tero scanners, the latest in teeth straightening simulation technology.
Those interested in Invisalign’s discreet, comfortable and removable teeth straightening solution will be able to have a more detailed insight into what to expect after Invisalign treatment with their very own complimentary post-show consultation at the practice. Completely free of charge and the best way to start your Invisalign journey, this free consultation will give you all the
confidence you need to know you’re in the safest and most skilled hands.
A year since joining the practice, distinguished cosmetic dentist, Dr Jason Smithson continues to bring over 25 years of experience and a reputation for delivering stunning, natural-looking results to Wadebridge Dental. Dr Smithson’s work combines precision with artistry and his special interest lies in composite bonding, a non-invasive treatment that transforms smiles often without drilling or damaging natural teeth. The result? A brighter, more confident smile in just one or two appointments.
Highly regarded across the globe for his expertise in composite bonding and minimally invasive smile makeovers, Dr Smithson is a name trusted not only by patients but by dentists themselves. In fact, many dental professionals travel great distances to attend his lectures or to be treated by him personally. For patients considering cosmetic dentistry, this is a rare opportunity to access caring, World-class treatment right here in Cornwall. Whether you’re looking to close gaps, even out your smile, restore chipped or worn teeth or looking for cosmetic well-fitted dentures, Dr Smithson offers the kind of results that are usually reserved for celebrity clinics in London, without the travel or the premium price tag.
Known for his meticulous technique, calm chairside manner, and eye for aesthetic detail, Dr Smithson is considered one of the leading figures in his field. He has delivered lectures and hands-on training across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, teaching other dentists how to achieve excellence
in cosmetic bonding. His treatments are designed to enhance your smile in a way that looks completely natural. Unlike traditional cosmetic procedures that may require drilling away healthy enamel or placing veneers, composite bonding preserves the tooth structure and achieves immediate results with minimal discomfort.
Multi-award-winning Wadebridge Dental is well-equipped to help patients achieve their dream smile and are committed to setting some of the highest standards in the industry. The positive feedback from satisfied patients is testament to the quality of care and the standard of dentistry work provided by the expert team. With dedicated treatment coordinators to support patients throughout their treatment journey, it’s no wonder they have received over 1500 five-star Google reviews praising the quality of their Invisalign and restorative dental work alongside winning multiple national dental awards.
Don’t wait any longer to achieve the smile of your dreams – visit the Wadebridge Dental Team at the Royal Cornwall Show and take the first step.
WADEBRIDGE DENTAL CARE
8 Park Place, Whiterock Road, Wadebridge PL27 7EA 01208 813816
07508 268714 (WhatsApp message only) treatmentcoordinator@wadebridgedentalcare.co.uk www.wadebridgedentalcare.co.uk Find more like this: www.cornwall-living.co.uk
SAVE £550!
If you sign up to Invisalign with Wadebridge Dental while at the Royal Cornwall Show, you will receive an additional discount of £550!
é ABOVE
Dr Jason Smithson explaining the treatment process
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You could have a brighter, more confident smile in just one or two appointments. Scan the QR code to discover more about Dr Jason Smithson.
barbican bistro is a family run restaurant led by local brothers Jack & Jay Liddicoat.
“…specialises in freshly caught sh from local suppliers including the owner’s dad.” - e Sunday Times
Open 12pm-10:30pm - 7 days a week.
Barbican Lane, Penzance, Cornwall @barbicanbistro
Lunch deal: Any 3 plates for £30 - 12-3pm.
Happy hour: Selection of drinks from £5 - 3-5pm.
Welcome to
Penwith
There are places in the world that seem to exist slightly outside of time, where the ancient and the contemporary occupy the same space, but where the past is never quite buried and the present feels all the more vivid for it. Penwith is one of those places.
At the far western tip of Cornwall, where the land finally surrenders to the Atlantic, something extraordinary has always been happening. Long before the rest of Britain had cities, this peninsula had ceremony. Bronze Age settlements, Iron Age hillforts and the mysterious standing stones of Mên-an-Tol still draw pilgrims and the curious in equal measure. The engine houses that punctuate the clifftops are a more recent testament to Penwith's restless ingenuity: monuments to the tin and copper mining that once made this corner of England the industrial envy of the world.
For centuries, mining was at the heart of Penwith's culture, providing an identity and a way of life passed from father to son in the dark fathoms beneath the moor and the sea. At its Victorian peak, Penwith's mines ran beneath the Atlantic itself, their shafts extending miles out under the ocean floor. The men who worked them, the bal maidens who dressed the ore on the surface and the engineers whose expertise was so prized it was exported across the globe, built communities of fierce pride and remarkable resilience. When the industry finally collapsed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it left behind not only the iconic engine houses that still define the landscape, but a deep cultural memory that continues to shape Penwith's sense of self to this day. That heritage is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a reminder that what happened here was a part of world history.
The sea, of course, has always been central. In Newlyn, one of Britain's busiest fishing ports, boats still land their catch at dawn; a tradition that feeds not only families but some of the finest kitchens in the country. That relationship between ocean and plate defines the food scene here.Then there are the makers. Penwith has drawn artists for well over a century, from the St Ives School to the potters, sculptors and jewellers working in studios across the peninsula today. Something in the quality of the light, the rawness of the landscape, the sense of being at the edge of things, keeps the creative community returning and replenishing.
…happy reading!
www.benjaminelliottphotography.com
Penwith
A garden with purpose
Trewidden Garden presents a considered study in planting and stewardship. Established in the mid-19th century by Thomas Bedford Bolitho, following its purchase by Edward Bolitho, it remains in family care today. The grounds hold a notable range of magnolias, camellias and tree ferns, alongside the National Plant Collection of Rhododendron Kurume Azalea Wilson 50, offering structure and seasonal variation. Paths lead visitors through sheltered planting and open stretches, with references to West Cornwall’s mining past embedded in the setting.
Families are well served by the Woodland Trail, which provides a clear route for younger visitors while adults take a broader
What the hand knows
This month, Milieu gallery in St Ives is celebrating intuitive expression through seven artists whose practices are grounded in instinct and material sensitivity. The exhibition, What The Hand Knows, unifies the wonderful work of Sophie Wake (pictured), Frankie Thorp, Stacey Gledhill, Ruby Bateman, Jessica Tremaine, Amabel Barraclough and Victoria Fowle with a collection that spans both painting and ceramics.
Across the exhibition, there is a shared notion of working from the instinct of touch, led by the hand and guided by gesture, repetition and inherent material
circuit. Trewidden rewards attention to detail rather than spectacle, its planting decisions grounded in knowledge and continuity. There is a sense of intention within the layout, where collections can develop without excessive intervention, maintaining cohesion across the garden.
For more information, visit www. trewidden.co.uk or call 01736 364275.
qualities. Together, the works speak to a softer, embodied intelligence. Milieu is open seven days a week from 9:30am to 5:30pm.
For more information, visit www.milieustudios.co.uk
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Low-cost co-hosting availableyou keep control, we manage the rest.
Method meets art
At Sea Moor Gallery, artist and designer Stevie McCrindle invites visitors into a world where art begins at sea and continues far beyond the shoreline. Using the ancient Japanese practice of Gyotaku, each piece starts with locally landed fish, printed nose-to-tail, before being transformed through contemporary embellishment. Nothing is wasted. The fish are eaten, their forms reimagined into exceptional artworks, then translated into textiles, lighting and interiors. Even the bones and skin find their way into raku ceramics, completing a truly circular journey. The gallery itself, a “rock pool of curiosities,” brings together Stevie’s evolving collections alongside carefully curated guest artists, each chosen for their shared ethos of craftsmanship, sustainability and story. This is more than art – it’s a living, breathing narrative of sea, place and purpose. Follow @seamoorgallery on Instagram for all the latest news and updates. For more information, visit www.seamoorcornwall.co.uk, email stevie@seamoorcornwall.co.uk or call 07766 501686.
A new DAWN
EAs one chapter comes to an end, a new and exciting one is about to unfold.
asy to reach but impossible to forget, the Isles of Scilly are a world away from everyday life. These spectacularly beautiful islands, situated just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, are surely the jewel in the UK’s crown. Wild and unspoilt, each of the five inhabited islands that make up the archipelago has its own touch of magic.
The Isles of Scilly offer something that’s increasingly hard to find. Space, pace, and a sense of perspective that begins the moment you leave the mainland behind. With day trips starting from £35 return on Scillonian III, or £25 for Cornwall residents, it’s far more within reach than many realise.
For more than 100 years, Isles of Scilly Travel has been connecting Cornwall to the islands, with journeys that have become
part of the experience itself. For generations of passengers, travelling on board Scillonian III is a familiar ritual. The gathering on the quay in Penzance. The call of the horn. The steady shift from harbour to open water as the mainland slips away.
Some settle inside with a coffee, others head straight for the open deck, watching the horizon stretch ahead and scanning for seabirds or the occasional dolphin. It is unhurried and, for many, deeply familiar.
In 2026, that journey carries a different significance. This is the final season for Scillonian III, after five decades of service linking the mainland and the islands. For many, it’s a chance to experience those crossings again. For others, it’s an opportunity to be part of something that has shaped travel to Scilly for generations.
Looking ahead, a new chapter is already on the horizon. Scillonian IV is set to arrive in 2027, continuing that vital connection for years to come. For now, though, this season belongs to Scillonian III.
Skybus offers a different perspective. As the islands come into view beneath you, scattered across the Atlantic, it’s a sight that never quite loses its impact. The colours, the clarity, and that first glimpse of the islands from above are all part of the experience. Fly+Sail day trips combine both journeys, bringing together air and sea in a single visit.
You step onto St Mary’s and, within minutes, everything begins to slow. People disperse, paths open up, and the islands quickly find their own rhythm. You might find yourself on a boat to an off-island without much of a plan, or simply walking until you reach a stretch of coastline with no one else in sight. For dog owners, it’s an experience to share. Dogs are welcomed on board Scillonian III and across the islands, where open spaces and quiet
beaches make for easy exploring. It’s a kind of freedom that feels increasingly rare.
A day trip offers just enough time to understand the appeal. A walk through Hugh Town, lunch by the water, a swim if you’re tempted, or simply time to pause and take it all in. It doesn’t take long before the mainland feels a little further away. Then, at the end of the day, the return journey. There’s a moment as you leave the islands behind when you realise why people return time after time, and why one visit rarely feels like enough. With Scillonian III now in her final season, there’s a significance to making that journey this year. Not just to reach the Isles of Scilly, but to experience a crossing that has meant so much to so many, for so long.
ISLES OF SCILLY TRAVEL
sales@islesofscilly-travel.co.uk 01736 334220 www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk Find more like this: www.cornwall-living.co.uk
ABOVE é
Handmade in the HEART OF PENZANCE
A quarter of a century making jewellery that has led to a workshop in the heart of Penzance.
The bustling seaside town of Penzance is home to many independent shops and creative businesses. Among them, hidden in plain sight, behind a double-breasted green door marked with a modest copper plaque, you’ll find Justin Duance Jewellery. Once a solicitor’s firm, the beautiful Victorian building is now a busy workshop, handmaking contemporary fine jewellery for customers around the world. New to the local high street, but by no means new to making jewellery, this year Justin and the team mark their 25th anniversary and have some exciting plans to celebrate.
Justin started straight out of university, making wood inlay rings from his bedroom. He soon returned to Cornwall and has gradually built his team and jewellery collection, now best known for their sandcast
jewellery – where molten precious metal is cast into beach sand, creating organic textural pieces with a sentimental connection to place. As a unique way of personalising your jewellery, the team invite you to choose the beach sand your piece is cast in. It's that personal touch that makes Justin’s jewellery stand out from the crowd. There is so much scope to make your piece unique to you, from a simple band cast in sand from your favourite beach to a remodelled heirloom designed especially for you.
Visiting the new workshop in Penzance is the perfect way to choose your jewellery, and is an enjoyable and laid-back experience. You book an appointment through their website or over the phone and are welcomed into their little showroom from where you can see the jewellers at work.
It’s a place for ideas to blossom and inspiration to grow. Their core jewellery collections are laid out for you, and that really is the best place to start. Trying different pieces on and getting a sense of what makes your heart sing.
Choose a design from their collection to be made especially for you or find a treasure to take home on the day from the exciting ‘Off the Bench Peg’ box; an ever-evolving collection where Justin has given the team free-rein to explore new ideas, resulting in one-of-a-kind jewellery, often showcasing unusual gemstones and new techniques.
You may feel inspired to commission a piece of your own, and you couldn’t be in better hands. The team can take you through the process of designing a piece of jewellery, expertly pulling together the elements you are most drawn to. There are boxes of gemstones to choose from, and a myriad number of personal touches can be brought into your design.
They have remodelled family heirlooms, cast gold in loved ones’ ashes, added secret engravings and gemstones. The meaning that jewellery holds to the wearer is the most amazing thing and the team at Justin Duance work out little ways of making it even more so.
This June is not only their 25th anniversary, but it also marks their first year on Alverton Street. To celebrate the team will be hosting an Open Day on Saturday 6th June welcoming the community and customers, old and new, to look around their newly renovated building as well as to see the jewellery collections in a more informal setting.
While some of their celebration plans are still under wraps, we do know that there will be a short film touching on 25 years of Justin Duance Jewellery and a limited-edition pendant, with all profits donated to Surfers Against Sewage. Do sign up to their newsletter to get the latest details and any surprise announcements.
JUSTIN DUANCE
3a Alverton Street, Penzance TR18 2QW 01736 367254 www.justind.co.uk Find more like this: www.cornwall-living.co.uk
Victoria Sewart marks 20 years of trading with a group exhibition at Victoria Sewart Contemporary Jewellery Gallery that draws together the makers who have shaped her programme. Opening on June 6th and running until July 4th, the show brings more than 60 contemporary British jewellers into dialogue, each invited to submit a piece that reflects a personal connection to the gallery. The result is an exhibition built from individual histories: early works, pieces made for past shows and new responses created for this occasion.
Victoria trained at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham, graduating in 1991, before establishing her own practice in the South West. A return to Birmingham for an MA in 2005 led to a more sculptural, concept-led approach and, in time, to the opening of her
Plymouth gallery. Since then, she has presented the work of hundreds of independent UK designers, building a programme that ranges from fine precious metalwork to experimental, material-led pieces.
The anniversary exhibition reflects that breadth. Gold and silver sit alongside resin, glass and aluminium, with works varying in scale and intent. Victoria notes the strength of response from past exhibitors, many of whom have reconnected for the show, “I set about organising the exhibition to mark the milestone of the gallery’s trading history. What I was not expecting was the heartwarming response from the jewellers whose enthusiasm for the show and support of the gallery has been quite overwhelming.”
The first 20 visitors on opening day will receive a small commemorative piece made by Victoria, a gesture that acknowledges the gallery’s audience as much as its makers.
For more information, visit www. victoriasewart.com or call 01752 220011.
Simeon Stafford solo exhibition
This July, much loved British painter Simeon Stafford celebrates his 70th birthday with a landmark Solo Exhibition at Whitewater Contemporary, Polzeath. Simeon has lived and worked in Cornwall for 30 years and his relationship with the gallery goes back to 2019, when he presented the first of his annual Featured Artist collections inspired by Polzeath and the North Cornwall coast. This special birthday exhibition continues his North Cornwall series of works and captures the colour and vibrancy of the beaches in
high summer, and the lively activities of resident and seasonal visitors. The show also extends to many more of his favourite subjects: Cornish miners, fishing crews, scenes of central London, sports events and still life paintings all feature in this collection, giving a broad survey of Simeon’s ongoing inspirations. This exhibition gives collectors the chance to acquire definitive works by one of the UK’s most celebrated artists. For more information visit www.wwcg. co.uk or email art@wwcg.co.uk
As far as the eye can see
New Craftsman Gallery St Ives presents a new collection by painter Neil Davies, which takes us to the remote edge of the Cornish Peninsula. Beginning with the closing days of last winter, Neil’s paintings take us through the emerging season to marvel at the views revealed by the clear skies of spring and early summer. Lifting our eyes and our spirits in expansive artworks soaked with colour, these paintings reach for the distant horizon, hinting at the joy of possibilities ahead.
Neil Davies is known for his spectacular paintings of Cornwall’s starkly beautiful landscape and works at his studio above the coastal town of St Ives in Cornwall.
Accompanying Neil’s show is a collection of still life paintings by Rob Pittam. Rob’s work explores the way Cornwall’s pure northern light envelopes and gives a heightened status to his subjects
Neil Davies – As Far as the Eye Can See with still life paintings by Rob Pittam runs from 4th to 31st July 2026 at New Craftsman Gallery.
For more information, visit www.newcraftsmanstives.com
1 STEPHANIE SANDERCOCK
On Display
Stillness Between Wishes by Stephanie Sandercock Soft ribbons of texture drift across the surface of Stillness Between Wishes, moving like cloth caught in a gentle breeze. Bands of 24ct gold rest at the edges, opening gently to a sky-blue centre -– a moment of breath between gestures, like curtains parting to reveal open air. The work reflects the pause that exists between wishes: the space where intention has been offered and the world begins to listen. Created through slow layering and delicate mark-making, the painting holds both motion and calm, echoing the ancient ritual of tying hopes to the elements. Stephanie is a full member of Penwith Society, St. Ives.
A professional artist for over 20 years, John creates work with a timeless quality. His layered surfaces and enigmatic subjects pose more questions than they answer, often recalling a distant flash of memory.
His inspiration comes from patient observation of the people and places that intrigue him; he follows curiosity, and it shows in pieces that feel quietly narrative, their stories just out of reach. He frequently studies the old masters to absorb mood, composition and technique. John is often found painting en plein air around Fowey and on the moorlands, and his work is available at The Old Bank Gallery, where new pieces are regularly exhibited throughout the year.
Cornwall artist Dean, who can be seen regularly painting at The Old Bank Gallery in Fowey, is an abstract expressionist. He explains, “There have been three major influences on me artistically. The art of Picasso, Pollock and De Kooning. However, the thing that has had the greatest effect on me overall has been music. From blues rock to R&B, but especially the emotive guitar of the late great Jeff Beck, who could make a grown man cry with the virtuoso sound of his guitar.”
Represented by The Old Bank Gallery since 2025, Dean’s solo exhibition runs from 10th to 23rd May, then into Cornwall Open Studios until 31st May. Preview evening 12th May 5pm to 7pm. deanabstractartist@gmail.com | www.deanabstractart.com
4 BESPOKE SURF
Handcrafted Home Décor by Michael Jenkin
Michael Jenkin, owner and founder of Bespoke Surf, channels the Cornish sea and undeniable surf culture into functional, hand-crafted pieces to live in the home of any wave lover.
From coffee tables to full-size decorative boards, candle holders, wine caddies and even shelves and mirrors, there is something for everyone at Bespoke Surf. Have a look at his selection to find something for your home!
07856 594414
www.bespokesurf.co.uk
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Showcasing local artists and art galleries. 6
5 LIZARD ART
Wild Flowers and a Wild Sea Dollar Cove by Simon Jewell
For Simon, painting is a process of building layers to create texture and depth. The rugged Cornish landscape and surrounding sea naturally suit an impasto approach. Working mainly in oils, he uses a palette knife, his fingers and found objects to shape thick, expressive surfaces. His work seeks to capture the mood and intensity of land and sea, translating energy from coastal environment into paintings that explore the interplay of light, water and atmosphere.
Mark Lord is a Cornish linocut printmaker, influenced and inspired by the beautiful coastline and traditional harbour life of his home county. Working from his printmaker’s studio just outside Falmouth, Mark’s prints celebrate his deep connection to his Cornish heritage and are always handcrafted from start to finish, using simple artisan tools and time-honoured techniques. Mark also offers a range of cards, gifts and homeware featuring his most popular designs, all of which are available online.
@linolordpress | linolord.com
in focus Art
SUSY WARD
A pair of stoneware tankards. Wheel-thrown using local clay.
Susy Ward has worked with clay since the late 1990s, creating distinctive ceramics and since 2015 in her studio at Krowji in Redruth. With a background in Ceramic Design and Technology and a Distinction in her HND, followed by study at Falmouth College of Art, her technical expertise underpins each piece. Through rigorous testing of materials and surfaces, she crafts refined short series and one-off works defined by confidence and thoughtful experimentation.
Studio G10, Percy Williams Building, Krowji, West Park, Redruth TR15 3GEW 07855102598 | www.susywardceramics.com
In CONVERSATION
Shooting the culinary breeze with some of the stars of the recent Porthleven Food Festival.
Walking along the harbour front on one of the first proper full-on sunny days of the year, we weren’t sure what to expect.
We’d been invited to attend an intimate event on the first day of the Porthleven Food Festival entitled The Chef’s Table – Scales, Tails, Hops & Chops, instigated by Sharp’s Brewery and hosted by their very own beer sommelier, Ed Hughes.
All we knew from the pre-event information was that Henk de Villiers Ferreira and Stephane Delourme would be in attendance, both big-hitters in the world of Cornish cuisine.
South African-born Henk is well known in Cornwall for his exceptional steaks, drawing upon a sound knowledge of beef inherited from his cattle-farming grandfather and refined through expert butchery and ageing techniques. After building a loyal following at Trevose Golf and Country Club, he now runs Trevisker’s Kitchen near Padstow and The Halfway House near Wadebridge, where he serves unfussy, high-quality food inspired by North Cornwall’s coastal and rural way of life. Stephane, widely regarded as one of the country’s leading seafood chefs, spent 25 years at the helm of Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant
in Padstow, building a reputation grounded in classical French training and a lifelong passion for exceptional ingredients. Now stepping away to begin an independent chapter, he is focusing on private dining, pop-ups and culinary collaborations that bring his refined, globally inspired cooking closer to people and place.
Armed with a glass of Offshore and Atlantic Pale Ale, two of Sharp’s stalwarts, we are welcomed by Ed before taking our seats with other curious souls. The occasion had the intimacy of a local pub where no topic felt off-limits. In fact, Ed was keen to emphasise that we should feel comfortable having free rein with any questions that came to mind and not be inhibited by being in the presence of a pair of culinary luminaries! He added that it was intended as an adjunct to the more formal demonstrations that would be taking place over the weekend at the festival. It was within this relaxed environment that we found out that Stéphane’s favourite film was The Shawshank Redemption, and a revelation from Henk on the duty on petrol and the general impact of taxation on hospitality. It really was that unshackled and tangential.
Some more grounded and pertinent conversations couldn’t help but surface as the event took shape. One of which was the issue impacting the traditional offshore industries at the moment – the ingress of Mediterranean octopuses into lobster pots. This surge has been driven by significantly warmer sea temperatures, marking the highest such increase since the 1950s. Octopuses are increasingly entering pots and devouring high-value crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs and scallops, often leaving only shells behind. While some crews profit from sizeable octopus catches, others, particularly lobster specialists, face serious losses, with many pointing to bylaws mandating escape holes for juvenile shellfish as inadvertently enabling the predation. As a consequence, this eight-legged
mollusc is starting to feature more and more on the menus of restaurants up and down the peninsula. However, as Stéphane went on to explain, it is not just a question of placing it in the pan and heating it up, expecting it to be edible the moment it hits the plate. His method, honed over years in professional kitchens, begins with freezing the octopus for at least 24 hours before allowing it to defrost slowly in the fridge. It is then gently simmered (never boiled) in a pot of water with aromatics such as onion, carrot, celery and peppercorns until tender, typically after 45 to 60 minutes. To finish, he recommends grilling or cooking it on a hot plancha with a little olive oil for a smoky, crisp exterior, noting that cooling it fully in its cooking liquor helps preserve the skin.
From the land, there is also another species that is overabundant – deer. Henk believes venison should be treated with the same respect as high-end beef, prioritising flavour over tenderness, noting that while loin is soft, it can lack the depth found in cuts such as the haunch, and that sourcing from wild-stalked animals produces a cleaner, more refined taste than park-reared deer. He also stresses the importance of proper resting after field care, at least 24 hours before butchery, to avoid toughness, and approaches the craft as an art form, transforming every cut from mince to prime steaks into restaurant-quality dishes.
The combination of the calibre of the participants and the relaxed informality of the whole affair, made for a wonderful event; one that provided an opportunity to find out a little more about the people behind the dishes, encouraged in no small part by Ed’s welcoming entreaties (and the beer!).
SHARPS BREWERY
Rock, Wadebridge PL27 6NU 01208 862121
www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk
Find more like this: www.cornwall-living.co.uk
é ABOVE
Food festival chefs enjoying a well-earned Sharp's beer
ABOVE é
Getting up close with an Octopus!
Martyn Odell
A cabin in THE WOODS
Enjoying life low and slow
at Inkie’s Smokehouse.
AKA Lagom Chef
Words by Martyn Odell
If you’ve read anything I’ve written before, you’ll know that my favourite places to eat are never the ones that are easy to find. There’s usually a gravel track, a questionable signal and at least one moment where you wonder if you’ve made a terrible mistake. Inkie’s Smokehouse ticks all of those boxes and then adds a waterfall for good measure.
Inkie’s is tucked away at Golitha Falls on the edge of Bodmin Moor, a cabin in the woods is how they describe it and, honestly, they’re not wrong. It’s the kind of spot that feels like it shouldn’t exist. You’re threading through some of the most dramatic landscape Cornwall has to offer, the sort of place where the trees are ancient and the air smells of nothing but damp earth and possibility and then suddenly there’s smoke rising, something extraordinary is cooking low and slow, and you realise the drive was absolutely worth every wrong turn.
The smokehouse is where Inkie’s whole moonshining adventure began, which tells you everything you need to know about the people behind it. They didn’t open a venue first and bolt a story onto it the food and the fire came first. The moonshine followed. This is a place built by people who actually care what goes into the pot, the glass, and the smoker. That order of events matters more than it might seem.
has been rescued with sauce at the last minute.
The menu reads like it was written by someone who has genuinely thought about what belongs together. Breakfast runs alongside lunch, which makes perfect sense for a place you might drive 40 minutes to reach on a Wednesday morning. You’re not going to rush that. The setting alone demands that you sit down, slow down, and actually eat your food like a human being for once.
care what goes into the pot, the
Now, I’ll be upfront, proper low and slow a become a bit of a fashion statement
a worrying number of people are
Now, I’ll be upfront, proper low and slow BBQ is one of those things that gets talked about a lot and delivered on far less. It’s become a bit of a fashion statement in food circles. Everyone’s rocking a smoker, everyone’s got a rub and a worrying number of people are describing a slightly overdone pork sandwich as ‘world class’. Inkie’s is not that. What comes off the smokers here is the real thing; brisket that has spent the kind of time it needs to; pulled pork that falls apart because it’s earned it, not because someone’s been impatient with a fork. The bark is right, the smoke ring is there and nothing
What I keep coming back to with Inkie’s is that the location and the food are completely in sync. Low and slow BBQ is the cooking equivalent of Golitha Falls you can’t rush either of them,and they’re both better for it. There’s something almost poetic about sitting in one of the most ancient, unhurried corners of Cornwall, eating meat that’s been cooked with the same patience the landscape demands of you. Whether that was intentional or a happy accident, it works. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am to 4pm, no booking required, all year round. That last bit matters more than people realise as too many good things in Cornwall are seasonal. The fact that Inkie’s is out there through a Bodmin winter, keeping the fire going, suggests a commitment that goes well beyond a summer side hustle.
4pm, no booking required,
as too many good things in Cornwall
If you’re looking for somewhere that isn’t trying to be anything other than exactly what it is a smoke-filled cabin in a beautiful wood, serving proper food made with care then Inkie’s has you covered. Go hungry, take cash just in case and don’t be put off by the road getting smaller. It always does before somewhere worth finding.
LAGOM CHEF
LagomChef www.lagomchef.com
INKIE’S SMOKEHOUSE
inkiesbbqjoint www.inkiesmoonshine.co.uk
Find more like this: www.cornwall-living.co.uk
ESCAPES Coastal
Our choice of Cornish coastal getaways
Beautiful stays in Portreath and Luxulyan.
Dippers Cottage, Luxulyan
Tucked away in the tranquil Luxulyan Valley near St Austell Bay, Dippers is a riverside retreat that perfectly blends comfort and sustainability in a stunning location. Designed with both families and couples in mind, the cottage sleeps up to six guests in flexible, stylish accommodation. With a king-size bedroom and additional cleverly designed beds, it offers versatility that appeals to a wide range of holidaymakers.
Guests love waking to the sound of the river, walking straight out into ancient woodland, or driving to some of Cornwall’s south coast beaches and attractions. The interior is bright, welcoming, and practical with thoughtful eco-credentials and all the essentials for a relaxing stay, including private parking and dog-friendly facilities. Whether it’s a family break, a couple’s escape, or time with friends, Dippers delivers both comfort and adventure in equal measure.
Dippers demonstrates the qualities that drive strong bookings: striking design, flexible sleeping arrangements, a desirable yet peaceful location and year-round appeal. The combination of riverside charm and accessibility makes it stand out in today’s competitive market.
01208 895354
www.corncott.com
Carvannel Cottages, near Portreath
Carvannel Cottages is a superb base for a classic Cornish coastal escape. Sleeping up to five guests and welcoming dogs, this charming retreat near the village of Portreath blends traditional Cornish character with modern comforts, making for a relaxed break by the sea, with prices from £902 per week.
Inside, the property offers a cosy and welcoming layout, with a comfortable sitting room with wood-burning stove. A well-equipped kitchen and dining area provide everything needed for laid-back meals together, while three inviting bedrooms offer flexible sleeping arrangements. The enclosed garden offers a safe space for children and dogs, with outdoor dining, a barbecue and a private hot tub.
Portreath’s sandy beach and harbour are just a short walk away, with a choice of cafés, pubs and coastal paths nearby. Keen walkers can explore hidden coves and dramatic clifftop trails, while surfers and sea swimmers will appreciate the easy access to the Atlantic coastline. Further afield, St Agnes, St Ives and Truro all make fantastic day trips.
Whether you’re planning an action-packed seaside holiday or a peaceful coastal retreat, Carvannel Cottages provides comfortable, well-located accommodation close to some of Cornwall’s north coast highlights.
01326 336773 cornishcottageholidays.co.uk
Win four tickets for Miracle Theatre
Miracle Theatre take to the road once again for a summer of outdoor performances, touring the South West from June to August with over 50 dates. This year the classic tale of Peer Gynt is given a magical twist –expect entertainment that is full of drama and laughs for everyone. Enter here and you could win four tickets.
Worth £80 (based on adult ticket £20 each)
Win a year’s subscription to DRIFT Journal
Featuring art, food, property, interiors, interviews and more, from across the South West, DRIFT is a journal for the discerning. Receive 12 volumes per year and be part of an exclusive editorial society, with copies delivered to your door so you never miss a volume.
Worth £120
MYLOR | SOUTH CORNWALL | GUIDE PRICE
ST MAWES | SOUTH CORNWALL | GUIDE PRICE £795,000
BETWEEN FALMOUTH & TRURO | SOUTH CORNWALL | GUIDE PRICE
THRIVEWhere girls
A World class school for high performance learning, shaping confident, capable young women in Cornwall.
In an educational landscape often defined by broad claims, Truro High School for Girls makes a clear and measured case for the benefits of single-sex learning. With a history spanning 146 years, the school has developed an approach that focuses on academic rigour alongside personal development, grounded in the belief that girls perform best when free to define themselves on their own terms.
Classrooms here are structured to encourage participation and leadership. Without the social pressures that can arise in mixed settings, pupils are more inclined to contribute, question and take intellectual risks. This isn’t just theory; research from bodies such as the Girls’ Schools Association and UCAS indicates that girls in single-sex environments are more likely to pursue subjects traditionally dominated by boys, particularly in STEM, and to achieve strong examination results.
Teaching methods are tailored accordingly. Staff place emphasis on discussion, collaboration, and problem-solving, adapting lessons to suit how girls engage most effectively with material. The result is an academic environment that feels progressive and where achievement is
supported by encouragement rather than being driven by competition alone.
Equally significant is the culture beyond the classroom. The school promotes a close community in which pupils are encouraged to support one another’s ambitions. Friendships formed here tend to be lasting, built on shared experience. Leadership roles, whether in sport, science, or the arts, are occupied by girls as a matter of course, reinforcing a sense that these paths are open to all.
For families considering the next stage of their daughter’s education, the school offers an opportunity to see this approach in practice. Its forthcoming open event provides a chance to meet staff and pupils, and to understand how a focused, all-girls setting can shape both academic outcomes and personal confidence.
