A vibrant 1950s-style café based in the heart of Redruth will open its doors for the first time next month.

Ginger’s Diner will begin to welcome customers on Easter Sunday, March 31 between 10am and 4pm.

The coffee shop and milkshake bar based on Bond Street in Redruth is the brainchild of 24-year-old Ashley Sweet, otherwise known as his drag queen alter ego ‘Ginger’.

Falmouth Packet: The diner is owned by 24-year-old Ashley Sweet The diner is owned by 24-year-old Ashley Sweet (Image: Supplied)

“Opening and owning a café, and a coffee shop, is something my family and I have always wanted,” said Ashley. “It’s always been a bit of a joke.

“I lost one grandparent before Covid and one just after, so that kind of spurred me on a bit, and I decided I wanted to do something.”

With this in mind, Ashley decided to start looking into the possibility of opening his own café.   

Whilst visiting Disneyland in June last year, Ashley came across a 1950s-style restaurant which gave him an idea. He said: “The whole front door was a jukebox – it was incredible.

“That’s when I thought ‘that’s it, that’s the vibe’.

“The style of Ginger is very 1950s housewife and I thought it could go quite well.”

Falmouth Packet: Cornish drag queen, 'Ginger'Cornish drag queen, 'Ginger' (Image: Supplied)

Ashley, who was born and raised in Redruth, picked up the keys to the shop in November and started planning and renovation works to make it into a vibrant café straight away.

In a nod to the 1950s, the interior of the café is coloured pink and blue and has a checkerboard floor. There is also a refurbished jukebox which features popular songs from musicals such as Grease and Hairspray among other hits.

The menu will feature a variety of cakes for those with or without dietary requirements, including gluten-free and vegan. There will also be light lunches of bagels and pasta salads available.

As well as this, customers will be able to choose their favourite milkshakes at the Milkshake Bar.

Falmouth Packet: The colourful cafe is a space for people of all genders, age, and sexuality The colourful cafe is a space for people of all genders, age, and sexuality (Image: Supplied)

Ashley told the Packet that he wants to make sure all ingredients are locally sourced. He said: “I want to keep suppliers as local as possible.

“We have Moomaid Ice Cream providing all the ice cream, Rodda’s for the cream as well as BB's Gluten Free Bakery in Redruth.”

With just over a month until Ginger’s Diner officially opens its doors for the first time. Ashley wants the café to be a space for everybody regardless of their sexuality, gender, and age.

He said: “I want to make it a safe space for anybody.

“Any sexuality, gender, and age – people are more than welcome.

“I am a real supporter of LGBTQ+ and Cornwall pride, but it's not just for everybody in that community, it’s just for anybody who wants a little bit of an escape from everything, and I think that is so important, especially nowadays." 

More information on Ginger’s Diner can be found on its Facebook page.