Welcome back! The Market Inn on Lemon Quay, Truro reopens after £550,000 renovation and three-year closure
After a three-year closure and £550,000 sympathetic renovation, the landmark Market Inn on Lemon Quay has reopened.
Six new jobs are being created on the back of Heineken-owned Star Pubs’investment. Included is a grant from the New Life for City Buildings Project, which is funded by the Truro Town Deal. The much-anticipated reopening will see the stunning grade II listed building, adjacent to The Hall of Cornwall, reinstated as a dog and family-friendly traditional market inn offering regular entertainment.
Karen Hawthorne will run The Market Inn on behalf of Star Pubs. Karen, who was born in Truro, has more than 20 years’ hospitality experience. Most recently, she has overseen the hospitality suite at Truro Football Club.
Karen will be running the pub with her daughter and nephew; her younger son will also be lending a hand.
Karen said: “I have been counting down the days until the reopening of The Market Inn, looking forward to breathing new life into this landmark pub. It is a gorgeous, characterful building and now that it is refurbished looks absolutely stunning. It’s in a fantastic location in the heart of the city and will be a great addition to Truro’s hospitality scene. The team is trained up and equally excited about opening this week.
“The Market Inn will be a top-quality community pub in the city centre and will have a wide appeal for locals and visitors wanting a drink, coffee and some great company. So do drop in and say hello.”
Dating back to around 1900, the Market Inn’s Dutch gable and stunning late Victorian glazed tile façade have been retained and lovingly restored. Two new striking traditional style lanterns and new signage complete the look.
The interior, which had fallen into disrepair, has been completely overhauled with original features restored and using furniture and fabrics in keeping with its Victorian character. The interior has a traditional wooden bar and backbar, wood panelling, wall mounted classic mirrors, and an eclectic mix of seating including artisan stools and deep button back upholstery incorporating rich velvet fabrics. The new flooring is timber boards and chequerboard style tiles. Other features include a new picture rail, decorative ceiling plasterwork, a wooden drinks shelf with traditional tiled backing, and a reclaimed fireplace in the lounge area.
As well as an upgrade of the main trading space, a new coffee station has been created and the toilets refurbished.
Rupert Hume-Kendall, Chair of Truro Regeneration Company CIC (Regenco) says: “One of the main objectives of the NLCB project was to help stimulate the nighttime economy in Truro. Another was to lever in private sector investment to refurbish vacant or underutilised buildings. The grant we have awarded to the Market Inn has helped deliver both of these objectives and it is fantastic to see the building back in commercial use.”
Entertainment at The Market Inn will include regular live music, an interactive quiz which people can play on their phones, and onscreen interactive horse racing game. The pub will also be looking for card teams to play Euchre.
The pub will open daily from 11am to midnight from Monday to Sunday.
