Our Favourite Independent Shops in Falmouth
Not just another store
At Cornish Holiday Cottages, we are huge fans of independent stores. The smaller and more curated, the better. Original, innovative and a pleasure to browse in, they are the soul of our high street.
It is a real treat for us to stroll through Falmouth town and pop into our favourite boutique shops to peruse products and meet the owners, who are often at the heart of local culture.
Falmouth’s shopping scene may be compact but it is certainly not short of impact or creative flair. Visiting Cornwall’s independent shops is a wonderful way to see first-hand the inspiring community at the heart of Falmouth. Not only are they filled with an incredible selection of locally-sourced produce but they also offer an opportunity to immerse yourself into the inspiring work of local artisans. See our below list for our favourite independent shops in Falmouth.
Based on Church Street, Falmouth Bookseller is one of the leading independent bookshops in the UK. Their shelves are packed full of books to cater for everyone – from fiction to natural history, children’s books to current affairs, and a selection of local-interest books. If you’re seeking something specific, their friendly booksellers will jump at the chance to chat about their favourite reads, and are always happy to help find what you’re after.
As you walk towards the town centre along Arwenack Street it’s extremely difficult to pass by Willow and Stone without noticing their consistently gorgeous window displays. Situated just off of Falmouth harbour, their brick-and-mortar store has been open for nearly 15 years selling traditional architectural ironmongery, classic homewares and fittings, stylish stationery, posters, and unusual gifts. Owned by illustrator and experienced antique-seller, Sarah, the concept of Willow & Stone was born while she commuted to and from London. Since its beginnings, the shop has developed into a stunning double-fronted space that has been lovingly restored. Inside, visitors will find a stylish and exciting shop with corners full of unique treasures, books, illustrated stationery, wonderful lighting, and ironmongery displays.
With a focus on handpicked womenswear, accessories, gifts, and homeware by independent British & Danish brands, Parade is an emporium of wearable treasures. Based on the historic Old High Street in Falmouth, where you can also find our magical Maker’s Loft apartment, the store’s arched windows which are always populated with stylish clothing combinations, are hard to miss. Owner Helen greets browsers with a warm smile, an eye twinkle, and lots of helpful outfit inspiration. For those who love pattern, colour, and high-quality materials, pop into Parade for a local and lovely wardrobe update.
Started by Jodi Skelton in 2004, Uneeka’s Falmouth store sells unique furniture, lighting, throws, sofas, rugs, cushions, home accessories, handbags, jewellery and gifts. Their products are ethically sourced and often one-off or limited edition pieces. With our wide collection of inspirational designers in the South West, they strive to source locally before looking further afield, supporting the Cornish community is important to all of their dedicated team.
Old Rope’s ethos centres around reworking the home and wardrobe through purchasing high-quality products that are made from waste materials. They showcase local upcycle makers alongside other products and bring tutors in to teach specialist workshops in different disciplines.
No stranger to upcycling, founder Claire Rondel has always had a passion for creating. After graduating with a First Class degree in Fashion and Textiles and being shortlisted at Graduate Fashion Week in London, she wanted to create positive change one garment at a time, creating collections and bespoke garments using recycled fabrics. Her dream, to create a Retail Boutique focused on sustainability, delivering low-impact gifts and homeware alongside workshops for the environmentally conscious, has become a reality in this wonderful new Falmouth store. In the future, Claire also intends to create fully-funded courses so that skills and learning can be accessed by all, helping to up-skill the community.
A team favourite, Stones Bakery simply cannot be missed when visiting Falmouth. We’re constantly raving about this special place based on The Old High Street.
Stone’s Bakery started life as a stall at the Falmouth Moor Market, and while owners Rosie and Oliver Kingdon sat outside through the harsh, cold Cornish winters they dreamt of a warm place to bake and sell their goods. And so in 2009, they opened their own shop and bakery on the High Street in Falmouth.
Stone’s don’t use any artificial preservatives as their bread keeps naturally. They don’t use any artificial additives, flavourings, or improvers; only natural ingredients such as nuts, fresh and dried fruit, veg, herbs, and spices. All of their doughs have a long fermentation period which improves the flavour and keeps the quality of the bread.
Focusing on quality ingredients and using traditional fermentation techniques, artisan bakery, and coffee, this store is a must-visit for all of those who adore buttery pastries, blooming sourdough bread, and moreish savoury bites.
Pop into Stones and delight in devouring anything from gooey hazelnut and cherry brownies, Dulce de Leche doughnuts, squash, chard, feta and salsa verde tart, and orange and hazelnut praline swirls.
Sitting underneath our charming and creative Maker’s Loft apartment, Inspire Makers is a small business supporting and championing small creative businesses. Showcasing the work of over 50 local Cornish artists and makers, each one represents a different style or technique within their craft to highlight the vast diversity of creative expression possible. Each artist is fully promoted with their story so people can understand what goes into their craft. Owner, Vicki, knows that most purchases will be treasured for a long time. There is also a gallery area for short-term art exhibitions, a workshop space for classes, to encourage people to get creative themselves, and a jewellery studio.
