Up close in Falmouth with La Peniche: The restaurant on a boat with food that will knock your socks off

By Joseph Macey

21st Oct 2021 | Local News

Falmouth Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs sports groups, and more.

We have been profiling some of these businesses and organisations regularly in a feature called 'Up Close in Falmouth'.

This week we spoke to the owners of La Peniche, Falmouth's only restaurant on the water tucked away at North Quay. Tony and Kate Elliott-Cannon discuss what life is like on the water, the challenges of running a restaurant on a boat, what's new onboard, and the future.

Tell me a bit about the business, and how you got started?

La Peniche is a fine dining restaurant, it was meant to be a cafe bistro, and then somehow the direction changed by virtue of our chef.

Vincent has to be the best chef in town, we just thought we would be a cafe bistro doing pretty much the same thing as other eateries. However, it has morphed into something spectacular.

I tried our new Camembert Croquets the other night, I thought it would be nice, but it kept me awake during the night just thinking about the flavours. I have never experienced anything like that.

We have two bed and breakfast rooms, primarily our idea was to have a hotel ship.

We used to live on a ship on the docks, it was a 1929 coaster that Tony brought across from Holland with a view to starting a small cruise line. That didn't happen but whilst living on the ship we all thought it was a perfect lifestyle.

We have had lots of adventures, but in the back of our minds has always been to have a restaurant/B&B on the water.

Eventually, after exploring further Tony started seeing Peniche coming through on the computer. The boat felt like it was more achievable, easier to moor, a sensible size. It began from there.

How would you describe the food here?

Sensational, initially my thought was to describe it as tasty food, beautifully presented and carefully sourced but it is so much more than that.

When we are in service Vincent is like a conductor, keeping everything moving, and totally in control.

The food is stunning to look at, people really enjoy it. We have a small hard-working team and they create some really tasty dishes.

What has been the highlight of your time here?

It has been a hell of a ride, the two years of hard work have been a lot of fun.

Highlights are the things that necessarily didn't feel like it at the time.

We had to hire a van to take a whole load of wood to France to board up all the windows and doors ready for the crossing. Only to receive a phone call whilst we were in the channel tunnel telling us it wasn't a good idea to come and board up.

Turns out she had got a hole in the bottom on her way up from Burgundy, and they were going to have to dry dock her in Paris.

We were racing around France looking for her and trying to work out how we were going to get wood onboard. That was kind of fun when you look back on it.

Going along on her last cruise in Burgundy has to be up there. It was a gorgeous day going up the river Saône with the owner telling us all about the history and showing us what she could do.

I won't forget the times working with family and friends painting her, sanding her down, designing the interiors, we have had a lot of good fun.

It is a totally different business to have a normal restaurant, what are the challenges that come with having a restaurant on a boat?

We are less focused on the restaurant, we have to leave a lot of that to the chef and the front-of-house manager.

Every day you have got to be aware of moorings. You have to think about the integrity of the boat, rust, there is so much more maintenance than a normal building.

On the health and safety side of things, our risk assessment book is huge. We have to think much more carefully than other people would.

The boat side of things is what makes it so fun and unique though.

What does the future hold for the business? What does the next year look like?

If we can get through until Easter I think we will be good, the holidaymakers that have come have loved it. We have got to keep Falmouth fresh and interesting because we all depend on that.

Getting through the winter is going to be tough unless people come down and see how wonderful it is.

Our amazing trip advisor reviews helped holidaymakers find us with ease.

However, we've been called Falmouth's hidden gem, and there's truth in that. We're still raising awareness amongst locals that we're here. So come on board Falmouth!

What offers have you got on this month?

At the moment we have a like and share competition on our Facebook page. Somebody will get a chance to win a lovely bottle of pinot noir.

For the next two Wednesdays people can have a free glass of wine when they book and come onboard.

La Peniche is open Tuesdays-Saturdays at their home at the bottom of Quay Hill, near the Chain Locker.

Find the top gates to the Marina and walk down where you'll see the boat gangway to the left.

Click here to see more from La Peniche, and how to book your spot on the water.

[H3] See the latest news on our Twitter and Facebook pages. [.H2]

     

New falmouth Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: falmouth jobs

Share:

Related Articles

Local News

Small business event for Falmouth

Hardwicke Circus is currently on a nationwide tour, bringing their original sound to Stonegate pubs all over the UK. (Credit: Ben Shahrabi)
Local News

Hits a GoGo: Hardwicke Circus releases a tongue-in-cheek bid for chart victory - listen to the single

Sign-Up for our FREE Newsletter

We want to provide Falmouth with more and more clickbait-free local news.
To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following.
Help us survive and sign up to our FREE weekly newsletter.

Already subscribed? Thank you. Just press X or click here.
We won't pass your details on to anyone else.
By clicking the Subscribe button you agree to our Privacy Policy.