The former Custom House in Falmouth could be transformed into a new bar and restaurant if plans currently with Cornwall Council are approved.

Richard Cooper, of the Dorset-based Stable Bar and Restaurants Ltd, has applied for planning and listed building consent for a change of use of the building in Arwenack Street from office to A4, restaurant/cafes and drinking establishments.

The submitted plans show a main dining/seating area on the ground floor with a terrace opening out onto Custom House Quay. On the first floor the Long Room restaurant/bar is proposed along with a snug, private seating and kitchen.

The scheme will go before Falmouth’s planning committee on June 3 when it is expected to receive the support of councillors. A recommendation being put forward to the committee is that the council strongly supports the plans as it feels they will enhance and preserve a historical building, but only if the Cornwall Council’s conservation officer is in favour.

The original customs and excise building was based at Penryn up till 1650 when it was moved to Falmouth near Market Strand. The quay at Penryn where it was based is still named Exchequer Quay
to this day.

The first collector of customs in Falmouth lived at Market Strand where there stood the large house and garden of Mr. Ambrose Jennings. The reason of Mr. Jennings' comfortable quarters is easy to understand, he was the first Collector of the Customs in Falmouth and when Sir Peter Killigrew succeeded in removing the Custom-house from Penryn, he granted to him land on a lease of a thousand years on the spot known long after as Mulberry Court.

The customs house remained there until 1785 when it was moved to Admiralty House at Bank Place. The reason for the move was that most of the maritime business was happening at that end of Falmouth. It was relocated to Arwenack Street in1814 and Custom House Quay which can be found at the rear of the building was renamed from Town Quay.

Falmouth Customs has been involved in many incidents throughout the years, confiscating contraband spirits and tobacco, which both were destroyed from a small compound at the back of the building on Custom House Quay. The tobacco was burned in the Kings Pipe, a brick chimney which is still there although unused for many years and the spirits were literally poured down a drain which leads directly into Custom House Quay basin.

Perhaps the most infamous occurrence that the officers were involved in was the Mignonette cannibal incident in 1884 when the yacht Mignonette sank. Four people survived and drifted in a life boat before one of them, the cabin boy Richard Parker, was killed by the others for food.


The Arwenack Street customs building closed its doors for the last time by Trevor Brookes, the last serving customs official for Falmouth on 30th March 2012 due to government cost saving measures.

Historical information and picture with thanks to Falmouth Harbour Commissioners.