The first rule of Knit Club is to find out where it is! Hidden down a narrow cobbled artery in the middle of Falmouth lies a beating, creaking wooden heart of enterprising creativity. Babahogs is the centre of the universe, for young and old knitters that is - well not just knitters actually, but anybody who appreciates the cosily eccentric, the artistic, and a nice cuppa. Yet this unique venue is unknown to many!

Simon Corry opened Babahogs last summer on 26 July. The name is a dedication to his late grandmother: Barbara Hogg. The café is a non-profit hub for the arts community and as well as offering what one would expect from a café: barista-made Origin coffee, Clipper teas and homemade cakes. It also operates as a gallery, performance space and something harder to define - a mixture of Fight Club and Blue Peter - but instead of Shep the collie, it's Amelia and Steve the budgies.




It's the weekly events that distinguish Babahogs from the rest. Knit Club on Wednesday nights (young and old knitters drinking tea and listening to music), Acoustic Jam nights on Mondays, Drawing Club on Sunday nights, and on the last Tuesday of every month there is the fantastic Telltales: a night of talk and tales. There's also felt-making, book-binding and even moustache-making if that's what you're in to. All of the events are free and open to anyone.

There's great exhibition space for artists to display their work around the cafe and the gallery upstairs can be hired for an extremely low rate (75% cheaper than other gallery spaces in the area). This is an invaluable service for a town like Falmouth, which has a large, creative student population. This population will increase with the arrival of Dartington College of Arts in the autumn. "Not all students want to get drunk, but instead be social, explore and create," said manager Lynsey Woods. "Events like Knit Club are also helping to fuse the community and are a good mix of students and locals from different generations."




Babahogs is an enterprising business, and is slowly building up an enthusiastic client base - but, like all businesses (especially generous ones), it could do with a few more visitors to come and support it by buying some cake. It prides itself on being a homely and social venue and offers free services wherever possible, but they need you to come and enjoy their free stuff, so they can continue providing free stuff. Babahogs cannot afford to advertise and its location down Well Lane, although in keeping with its hidden gem image, is also off the main drag of more mainstream coffee shops. Babahogs is open to any suggestions for functions or workshops and welcomes contact from any local entrenepeurs or sponsors.

So learn the first rule of Knit Club and go and buy some cake. (Julian Munday)

Babahogs Art Café
19b Well Lane
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR11 3DJ

01326 211718
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www.babahogs.com
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