While the Castle Beach Cafe team are currently having some down time after a busy summer, from mid-December they will welcome the crowds back for delicious hot drinks, cakes, and their ultimate Christmas toasties. The team - made up of local, fun-loving people of all ages and backgrounds - are led by Emily, a Falmouth girl whose love for her town and community is shown through initiatives to bring people together. 

Having lost her mum Diane to terminal cancer three years ago, Emily knows all too well the feelings of grief at Christmas time. With this in mind, she wanted to take some time out of her Christmas Day to provide a safe, welcoming space for people in the community who might be struggling with grief or loneliness. 

She told Falmouth Life: “It all began because of the grief of losing mum. I’ve had Christmases before where I’d much rather be at the cafe, even though I love being with my family, because it is an escapism for my grief. 

“I wanted to extend this to people on their own. I have a particular fondness and empathy for older people on their own, so they can come and have a chat and a hot chocolate. It’s a few hours out of my Christmas Day. My mum was an incredibly kind person, so I guess I want to take that with me; I’ll often think, ‘what would mum do?’ 

“I just know if she was here, she’d be getting stuck in with me, making sandwiches and chatting to customers.”

In addition to opening the cafe for Christmas, Emily is organising an event to bring people together, which was incredibly popular last year. Local couple Tessa and Shaun will be back at Castle Beach Cafe with their rescue donkeys on Sunday 15th December, ready to receive plenty of attention and spread some festive cheer. The event is completely free to attend, though Tessa and Shaun will be collecting for Brooke Donkey Sanctuary, which supports working donkeys in various parts of the world. 

While you’re there, don’t forget to take advantage of the incredible Castle Beach Christmas sourdough toasties. With the choice of turkey and pigs in blankets or veggie sausages, piled high with roasted veg, cauliflower cheese and stuffing, and served with a pot of hot gravy for dipping (our mouths are watering just writing this), these toasties take Christmas eating to the next level. 

Castle Beach Cafe will be open from 9am until 1pm on Christmas Day, serving hot drinks and cakes. In the run-up to Christmas, Emily is also putting together some food parcels for those who need it, which will include some festive treats to enjoy. If you are interested, pop over to the cafe, or while the cafe is closed, drop the team a message on their Facebook page, ‘Castle Beach Cafe - Falmouth’ - no questions asked. 

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