Living in Cornwall

Entertainment

Music

Falmouth has a thriving live music scene. In fact, live music is pretty much an integral part of any night out in the town.

The Front

Offering everything from folk music and Cornish dancing on a Monday to live jazz on a Sunday, with lots more in between.

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob’s Ladder has seen the likes of both student bands and local legends. Open mic night happens on Wednesday, there’s usually a live band on Thursdays and Saturdays, and don’t forget Songwriters' Sunday! Jacob’s Ladder has a creative vibe, with a warm and friendly atmosphere; a lot of people that come here simply love music.

Finn McCoul's

Finn McCoul’s is Falmouth’s only Irish pub and a venue for most kinds of music; just take a stroll down and check the board to find out what’s going on. It’s the place to be on a Thursday when it becomes one big jam fest known as ‘the Melting Pot’. Just clear it with the owners and then come down and jam with other musicians - from guitarists, drummers, and saxophone players to the didgeridoo dude!

Gylly Beach Cafe

On the beach, the Gylly Beach Cafe has the most picturesque scenery in Falmouth. With fantastic local food as well as great live music and a warm atmosphere, they offer 15% off with an NUS card, plus buy one get one free for meals on Thursdays from 6pm.

Princess Pavilion

Falmouth’s theatre-style venue has seen recent gigs from Seth Lakeman, Kaiser Chiefs, Rizzle Kicks and Ruarri Joseph. 

Cinema and theatre

If you fancy a traditional cinema experience, the Phoenix in Falmouth – a modern cinema in a beautiful, converted old Drill Hall – offers big box office hits every day of the week.

For more live action entertainment head to the Hall for Cornwall in Truro, with its varied and exciting line up of touring theatre, dance, comedy and big-name gigs. Past shows include Elbow, Coldplay, Jimmy Carr, Derren Brown, Morrissey, Eddie Izzard, Rambert Dance Company, English Touring Opera and loads more besides. (There are generous student concessions on some shows here, it’s always worth asking).

For an experience not to be missed, the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno never fails to astound, with panoramic views out to sea from an amphitheatre hewn from the cliff. Cornwall’s own Wildworks, Miracle and Kneehigh theatre companies also put on spectacular (and nationally and internationally acclaimed) outdoor productions every summer; don’t miss the opportunity to watch plays in castles, subtropical gardens or even down an old mine, or in Kneehigh’s semi-regular summer home, the amazing Asylum.

Art galleries

Living in an area with a big student art population guarantees loads of exciting art events all year round, and a wide variety of art galleries on your doorstep.

The Falmouth Art Gallery is conveniently located on the Moor. It’s the ideal venue to spend a lazy afternoon browsing some of the most captivating pieces in Cornwall; from British Impressionists to contemporary Cornish art. Gallery 49 on the High Street is also a great bet for quirky, inspiring and thought-provoking pieces. Here and Now - an offshoot of Bristol’s Here Gallery - is a small-but-beautiful treasure trove of unusual small-press books, comics and ’zines, alongside artist-made jewellery, posters, prints and more. They host exhibitions, show new work by local students and artists from abroad, and their independent approach has earned them loyal customers as well as press attention from Time Out, Dazed and Confused, and The Sunday Times.

Museums

Falmouth’s own National Maritime Museum has got all kinds of water-based offerings and students get a 30% discount. There's a series of talks and lectures available if you’re keen to learn more about Falmouth’s fascinating maritime history, and the Museum also features an Under the Sea display which offers you an underwater adventure without getting wet! It’s also used as a venue for plays; there have been spectacular renditions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Wind in the Willows, so there’s something for everyone.

Over in Truro, the Royal Cornwall Museum offers a traditional museum experience with collections from Cornwall, the UK and overseas, including archaeological and geological collections together with fine art and social history material.

Other fun

Ocean Bowl in Falmouth is a bowling alley with loads of other ingredients essential for fun times. It’s the lounging area for many students during term time, and with a bar and restaurant, pool tables and video games, it’s an entertainment station. They have special deals on meal and bowling combos so it’s definitely worth checking out.