A long-running Penryn café has been reinvented as an evening venue blending cocktails, desserts and tarot, as a mother-and-daughters team bring a new “city-style” energy to the town.
Stargazy Cucina, run by Ruth Cicale for the past decade, has relaunched as Stargazy Cocktail and Cakery, opening Thursday to Saturday evenings serving miniature Italian desserts, handcrafted cocktails and on-site tarot readings.
Ruth has teamed up with her daughters, tarot reader Sorcha Venus and cocktail-maker Willow Cicale-Brown, to create what they describe as a more playful, creative space.
Sorcha said the shift followed trial evening events at the café. She said: “We did a few evenings… and we just really loved the energy. So yeah, then we went to do the full transition.”
Despite initial nerves about changing a well-loved daytime café, she said the community had been supportive. “We’ve been a bit nervous about the transition, but luckily we’ve had a lot of support from the community through it.”
Ruth added the move also reflects changing times for the hospitality industry. “You need to change anyway in life. You can’t sit still… what we need is a bit of fun.”
The new concept replaces full meals with “antipasti dolce” – smaller versions of the café’s Italian cakes and pastries – alongside a cocktail menu inspired by tarot and astrology.
“We used to have big cinnamon buns, big maritozzi… now we do them all miniature size so you can mix and match,” Ruth said.
Sorcha, who also manages social media and offers readings at the venue, said the aim was to broaden Stargazy’s appeal. “We wanted new faces… to make a bit more of a vibe in Penryn and make it feel open to anybody.”
Tarot readings are available on a walk-in or pre-booked basis, with Sorcha in residence until 9pm. She said her practice has grown from a lifelong interest into a full-time career: “Everything always pulled me back to it… I was able to quit my part-time job to do this full-time.”
The family’s background also feeds into the venture, with Ruth previously working in Bristol’s nightlife scene. “People say… it reminds them of Bristol in here,” she said, while Sorcha added: “I feel like we have brought a bit of that city life to Penryn.”
The venue has also been redesigned with help from local artists, continuing Stargazy’s tradition of supporting creatives. “We got to live with the beauty of their work,” Ruth said.
Early signs suggest the new format is working, with customers embracing both the sit-in experience and takeaway desserts. “We had people at 9pm… purely to buy takeaway cheesecake and tiramisu,” Ruth said.
Plans are already in place to expand, including delivery, themed events and live entertainment. “We’ve got loads of ideas,” Ruth said. “We’re just starting.”
Sorcha added the venture reflects a shared family ambition: “I think putting three things into one place… mixing all these different people – three is a magic number.”
