A new cafe and arts business is opening in Helston in what is fast becoming the town's "arts quarter."

The Crafty Cafe is coming to Church Street, in the same building where The Craft Box use to run and just down the road from CAST in Penrose Road and the Museum of Cornish Life.

It will offer pottery painting for children and adults - including plates, clocks and child-friendly models such as unicorns and dinosaurs - as well as a range of crafts such as decoupage and other skills.

Prices start at £3 for the pottery painting, on a rising scale depending on the size and complexity.

There will also be a small cafe attached, primarily serving vegetarian food such as quiches and pies.

Falmouth Packet:

Behind the new business is Rufus Craze and his partner Madeleine Thurley, who grew up in the town.

They now live in Gweek with their two children, four-year-old Eli and 18-month-old Casper, where Maddy runs the local playgroup Gweek Seals.

Maddy trained as an arts and crafts primary school teacher while Rufus favours more "rugged crafts" such as woodwork, pyrography and arm knitting, which he hopes to bring some of into the cafe for special sessions.

Opening such a business is something they've been trying to do for more than two years, since the last business closed down. Recently they approached the landlord to reopen negotiations and were delighted when it all came together.

Rufus said: "We have thought about it for a while. We have got two small children as well, so we want to do something a bit more family orientated."

The couple have planned their launch to coincide with Helston's Christmas lights switch on next Friday, November 29, opening at around 10am and then staying open all through the day until after the display has been lit.

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To mark the opening they will be giving every 20th customer a free hot drink of their choice. Painting and crafts will be available as normal, along with a selection of food.

Normally the cafe will be open from 10am until around 4pm or 5pm, every day except Mondays.

Although in no way affiliated with the previous business, Rufus and Maddy are offering to honour a percentage of any gift vouchers that were sold and unclaimed before The Craft Box closed.

"We will honour 50 per cent of the value of them as a gesture for the community. A lot of children probably had those vouchers," explained Rufus.