My partner and I bought The Front Room cafe in Penzance in March 2019, when neither of us had a background in hospitality. I had spent my career as a senior manager in the NHS and Chris had spent 30 years in transport. We both wanted to do something completely different!

We have different roles in the business. I manage the front of house and business side and Chris is in charge of the bar, is the chief barista and keeps the cafe well maintained – a full-time task in a Grade II listed building.

The building is hundreds of years old and lies in the heart of Market Jew Street in Penzance, Cornwall. It has previously been a home, a record shop, a bakery and in recent years, a cafe and bar. As it’s so old, it’s a bit wonky in places. The walls and floors aren’t smooth and certainly not straight, so it’s a challenge to keep it heated and draught free in the winter!

We love what we do, our staff are fantastic and we make sure we look after them. We pride ourselves on the quality of food and drink we serve, using local independent suppliers wherever we can. We make everything from scratch and our menu is cooked freshly to order.

We have extra seating upstairs for a few people and a beautiful, sheltered garden. Please get in touch if you’d like to make a reservation. We look forward to welcoming you to The Front Room cafe in Penzance, a business which we’re so passionate about!