Falmouth’s second annual Splash Festival drew to an end at the weekend and has been heralded a great success although its name proved appropriate for one venue which suffered a water leak only hours before an event.

The festival, which is funded and organised by the Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID), saw events at a variety of venues across town, including Dolly’s Tea Room where it was all hands on deck after a central heating leak led to water running down through the premises and settling in the Falmouth Bookseller below.

“The water came down through our hallway between the kitchen and the dining room so it didn’t affect the kitchen or main restaurant,” said Dolly Makin.

“We were able to clear up and it was business as usual.”

That business included hosting a talk by Robin Harris, Margaret Thatcher’s former speech writer and biographer, that took place that evening. The bookshop below “took the brunt” of the flooding, but was able to open by 11.30am.

Dolly’s, The Poly, Falmouth Art Gallery, various shops and the streets of Falmouth provided the backdrop for the festival which included exhibitions, talks, performances and workshops based around art, literature and film.

Richard Wilcox, Falmouth BID manager, said: “I’m delighted with how Splash has gone. In only its second year, with great help from Falmouth Bookseller and Falmouth Art Gallery, we have managed to expand the festival to now offer a week of literary events with high profile authors, chefs, artists and poets, street theatre and dance throughout the town with quirky events.

“The event has helped to further raise Falmouth’s profile with some very good regional and national media coverage, attract new visitors and interest in our town and of course celebrate Falmouth’s creative spirit.

“We’ve already got some ideas, names and schemes in place to make 2014’s Splash Festival even better.”

Falmouth Packet:

Falmouth Packet:

Falmouth Packet: