New foodie destination in abandoned pasty shop that was empty for years

A mum who moved to Cornwall just as lockdown hit to be with her partner has opened a new funky restaurant, taking over a Warrens pasty shop that was empty for years. Lou Rose relocated her three daughters to Truro during the pandemic to be with her partner Andy after years of commute between London and Cornwall.

A designer by trade, Lou, who now lives in the city, launched her first food truck idea, Holy Molé Cornwall, from a converted horse box and gathered a following at festivals such as Porthleven Food Festival, Enys Gardens or The Great Estate at Scorrier house.

"I used to walk past the Warrens pasty shop all the time during Covid," Lou said. "I'd look through the window thinking it would make an amazing eatery. After four years it was still empty so I thought it was the right time to go for it.

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"At first we thought we'd be back in London but we all fell in love with Cornwall so we stayed. Now with Ost Eatery it's like a lockdown wish come true."

She said the building had been left in a right mess with everything from flooring to plumbing needing work - even the electrics had been ripped out. She and partner Andy, who has two children of his own, moved in and transformed the building with the aim of being as sustainable as possible, even using old skis for shelves and charity shop finds, alongside Facebook Marketplace-sourced items, for the décor.

The result is Ost Eatery at High Cross, next to Truro Cathedral and the Red Elephant beer cellar, which Lou describes as being "led by Cornish produce, offering street food flavours in a space directed by the community for the community".

"We have a map in the loo showing where everything in the eatery comes from. We're trying to source all we can from Cornwall as a way to showcase what's great about the county," Lou added. "Ost means host in Cornish and that's exactly what we want to be about. We want to welcome everyone to have a lovely time in a relaxed and friendly environment."

Lou said Ost, which employs a total of five staff and has 32 covers, said Friday nights will be about guest chefs coming in and cooking food from all over the world from Korean to Lebanese or Greek. Thursdays will be about the community and welcoming people for arts and drawing or print making classes and even learning to mend clothes while Saturdays will be about smaller menus where customers can come in for a small bite to eat and a glass of wine.

Lou is also looking at film nights and ensuring Ost Eatery becomes a new focal point for the community as well as a hang out for Cornwall's foodies. She added: "We've only been open a couple of weeks and already everyone loves the space. Trade has been very good and we feel that Truro has embraced us."

For more information check out Ost Eatery's website at https://osteatery.co.uk/ or @ost.eatery.