Food for thought
Friday 26th September, 2025
From a wooden static unit tucked behind the Royal Mail sorting office on Newham Road, the mouth-watering aroma of frying bacon wafts tantalisingly on the breeze. Inside the Lunchbox, manager Kat Ryan is flipping rashers for a “build-your-own-breakfast" order destined for a Deliveroo customer. We’re talking hash browns, tomatoes, even black pudding – the works.
Next, Kat moves onto bacon and tomato sandwiches on soft white bread to fill tummies at the First bus depot. “Sandwiches not baguettes? That’s unusual for them,” she comments to Kerry Mylam (on tomato-chopping duty), a clear sign they know their regulars well – and there are many.
“Some are saved by their first names in my mobile phone contacts,” says Kat, referencing “Mr Tea and Two” who calls ahead so the kettle can boil in the time it takes him to pick up his sweet treat.
Talking of which, an array of tray bakes sits appealingly on the side. Today’s offerings, baked by kat the day before, include Biscoff Rocky Road, raspberry chocolate brownies and “applejacks” - flapjacks laced with home-grown apple and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Between 8am and 2pm on weekdays, the ladies are busy with breakfasts and lunches. On Fridays, they are joined by Harley, an extra pair of hands necessary to handle the influx of builders ending the week with a blow-out breakfast.
Owned by Andy and Mary Mortimore, The Lunchbox has been here for over a decade. With a background in catering and a desire to be her own boss, Kat (Andy’s sister) taking over from Mary in the kitchen around five years ago.
She loves life on Newham Industrial Estate: “You get to know your customers and have a laugh.” Then there’s the business camaraderie: “If anyone asks where they can get their cars fixed, we send them to our garage neighbours. In return, they might help me out by taking orders if I get a rush on while Kerry is out on deliveries.”
Unsurprisingly, 90% of customers are on the estate, and will collect in person or take deliveries. Any further afield (including one customer in Threemilestone) is serviced by Deliveroo.
The Lunchbox serves filter coffee, but is happy to send people to Mor Interiors, a stone's throw away, if they want a posh pour. This works both ways, as Mor customers will climb the hill for a bacon sarnie.
Kat is also full of praise for Newham BID: “It has supported us with advertising, training and advice – and fitted some motion-sensor security lights for us, as it can be dark when we arrive in the morning during the winter months.”
It’s time for our conversation to end, as yet another hungry customer has arrived in need of sustenance. I leave to the sound of friendly chatter – and sizzling bacon.
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Skinner’s has been a well-known brand in Truro for the best part of 30 years. It was taken over in 2022 by Goodh Brewing Co, and its key brewery site in Newham Road was transformed into a taproom.
Now open daily until 10pm (11pm at weekends), you can expect around 15 Goodh craft ales at any one time, and between five and eight from Skinner’s depending on the season.
There’s also a fine range of Cornish spirits, in particular from Indian Queens-based Atlantic Brewery & Distillery, as well as ciders including Healeys’ Rattler and still craft ciders from the Bearded Brewery in St Mawgan.
These are accompanied by a lip-smacking array of food including burgers, ribs, wings and grills. Look out for specials; Wings Wednesday is especially popular with Newham’s office workers, and there’s a lobster feast night on September 24 to coincide with Truro Food Festival. From October to March, this is the place to come for a special Sunday roast to wind up your week.
All food is prepared by hand by kitchen staff, with prices kept as affordable as possible to appeal to a wide clientele – including families.
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If you need a decent cup of coffee to get your day off to a flying start, look no further than the vintage copper Citroen H van outside Mor Interiors on Newham Road.
From Monday to Saturday, the kitchen and bathroom designer serves hand-roasted coffee from Cornish coffee roasters The Roasting Room, ground fresh to order to ensure the highest quality from crop to cup. On Friday mornings, you can also acquire Truro's best bacon bap here.
“We were getting asked often by suppliers, reps and customers where you could get a decent cup of coffee on Newham Industrial Estate,” said manager Carly Watts. “We thought, we have a prominent position ready for this - all we need is decent coffee and an eye- catching van.”
The latter was sourced directly from France, and its rundown condition was no match for the flair and determination of the Mor team, who brought it back to life. “This was so much more than just setting a coffee van up to sell coffee,” says Carly. “We have a passion for design here, and this was a full renovation that took a lot of time and effort. Everyone chipped in to help, with the designers busy painting it at weekends. It was an all-round Mor team effort.”
Stick your head into the Mor Interiors showroom during opening hours (weekdays 8am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm) to order your caffeine shot.
