As from Friday 7 May The Rafters in High Corn Mill will be offering an early bird menu.

Open 5-9 (7pm last orders for meals)

Why not join us for a relaxing meal and a bottle of wine to start your weekend or unwind after work with a glass of wine on the roof terrace?

The Rafters is now open on Sundays from 12-4 throughout the summer.

Attention budding Picassos! Enhance your drawing technique or learn a skill from scratch with new art classes coming to Skipton.

High Corn Mill is launching a series of art classes in and around the grounds of the historic mill that dates back to 1310. With the help of local artist Nigel Overton, aspiring artists can learn key techniques in the stunning surroundings of the mill.

Says Nigel Overton: “You can’t help but be inspired at High Corn Mill with such scenic surroundings and interesting architecture. I welcome artists of all levels and ages to come along. The teaching will be informal and sympathetic to the needs of each individual and most importantly an enjoyable and relaxing day out for all!”

Nigel is a former head of art and design at a large comprehensive school in Leeds. He now paints professionally and has a studio based in Ilkley. His work has been exhibited in numerous galleries in the UK and Ireland. He believes anyone can learn to draw and paint given the proper tuition.

Full day courses cost £48 per person and include a morning coffee/tea, homemade lunch in The Rafters Tea Rooms and an afternoon refreshment and cake. The Rafters Tea Rooms is suited within the mill building and boasts a sun terrace with views overlooking Skipton Castle, Skipton Parish Church and the canal.

The day courses start on Thursday 27 May and will be run on Thursdays from 10am to 4pm, until the end of the year. Participants can book a single one off day or a series of classes.

A timetable of classes is available online at www.overtonfinearts.co.uk or pop into The Rafters Tea Rooms to pick up a leaflet. The classes will cover a range of mediums such as watercolour, acrylics, pen and ink and pastels. A range of subject groups will also be focused on such as architecture, painting flowers and landscape.

For further information or to book please contact Nigel Overton on 01943 608447 or nigel@overtonfinearts.co.uk.

Families are invited to take part in High Corn Mill’s Santa Trail for a bit of festive fun!

Running throughout December, the trail takes visitors all around the enchanting mill and children are given the task of finding as many hidden Santas within the building as they can.

Just pick up an entry form from The Home Company (at the front of High Corn Mill), fill it in with how many you find and return it to the Christmas box. The first correct answer drawn after the closing date of 23 December will win a family day pass to Skipton Castle.

Top Santa hunting tips from Andrew Mear, owner of High Corn Mill include: “Keep your eyes peeled: Santa could be up above, in a window, hidden in nooks and crannies, and could be really small or really BIG! Good luck!”

While visiting High Corn Mill you can take full advantage of the surprising variety of treats all under one roof. Enjoy a homemade bite, away from the hustle and bustle of the High Street, at The Rafters Tea Rooms or pick up some more unusual stocking fillers and Christmas gifts at The Home Company, The Beauty and Nail Clinic or Tom Sexton Hair Stylists. You can also wander round the newly opened Steven Townsend art gallery, (the selection of prints are great present ideas, especially with the ideally located The Frame Shop next door.)

Skipton businessman Andrew Mear has come up against a fishy problem.

After investing £120,000 in a project to generate part of the town’s electricity supply via the National Grid, Andrew has been left reeling by the results of a compulsory fish survey. Before he can install a specially commissioned water turbine at High Corn Mill on Chapel Hill it says a fish bi-wash is needed.

Said Andrew: “The survey carried out by the Environment Agency found that fish were living in the mill pond. Water from there leads through to the mill so we had to find a way to allow the fish and turbine to co-exist.

“We are in the final stages of building the fish pass. The work carried out in the last two months will allow fish to pass safely from the mill dam back into the river.

“It was quite a major project and has delayed plans to install the water turbine by several months. We had hoped to start generating electricity at the mill in October but it is now likely to be next spring before we are able to do so.

“I am keen to hear from local fishermen or angling societies who would like to fish the area and manage the stock.”

The launch of the new water turbine will supply power for up to 20 local houses and form the centrepiece of the mill’s new ‘Historical Innovation Zone’.

A Skipton furnishings shop is defying the economic gloom and expanding its floorspace by more than a third.

The Home Company, at High Corn Mill, has increased its existing floor space of 2200sq ft by an additional 1400sqft to accommodate new ranges such as Stressless recliners and sofas as well as contemporary dining furniture from Italian design houses Calligaris and Effezeta.

Owner Robert Hadaway said: “Since moving into these premises in 1999, we’ve expanded three times; and feel very fortunate that we’re able to do so again during such tough economic times.”

Landlord of High Corn Mill, Andrew Mear said: “Given the current climate it’s great to see a shop doing so well. The Home Company now takes up around a quarter of the total space available at the Mill, having started out 10 years ago renting just a small unit from us.”

High Corn Mill houses a mix of retail outlets and independent business services. The medieval building has been completely renovated over the past decade to offer modern shopping and office facilities in an historical setting.

The Home Company has thrived thanks to a belief in bringing together contemporary furniture and accessories that are practical, well displayed and great value for money. Gifts can be picked up from a little as £5, with the choice of goods on offer ranging to luxury suites at £5,000. The spacious show rooms allow the ranges to be displayed in an inspirational way to customers to allow them to pick up ideas for their own homes.  The new showrooms open on 1st July to coincide with the start of their Summer Sale.

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Press Contact: for further information please call Lydia Cambata or Jan Turner at AKA PR, tel: 01756 795374 email: info@akapr.co.uk

Highly accredited local artist Steven Townsend is adding a splash of colour to Skipton’s High Corn Mill!

A collection of around 40 pieces of the award-winning artist’s prints and landscape photography are being permanently exhibited at Christ Harvest Church now based in the historic building.

Paintings on show will feature such Lancashire views as Pendle Hill and Lytham-St-Annes along with scenes around Howarth and Bronte country.

Says Steven: “I am delighted to exhibit my work at High Corn Mill. I’ve had ties with Skipton for many years and frequently visit so I am thrilled to be able to establish a permanent residence for my work here.”

Born in Colne, Steven, was named ‘Artist of the Year’ in 1999 by the Fine Arts Guild, and still lives in Lancashire in Oswaldtwistle. He is married with four children and two grandchildren. He first took up painting as a hobby in his late Twenties before realising his skill and turning professional.

His most famous works picture dogs which continue to sell out on publication and have proved to be a sound investment. Many of his dog pictures have become collectors’ items.

This exhibition will further widen Steven’s presence in the UK, as he already has a gallery in Cornwall which has been established for 18 years. A third gallery is expected to open soon at Samlesbury Hall all near Preston.

The Exhibition opens Mondays until Saturdays from 10am till 5pm.

Originally built in 1310 to mill Skipton’s corn, High Corn Mill today houses a selection of retail, beauty, food and business tenants.

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Press Contact: for further information please call Rachael Hunter or Jan Turner at AKA PR, tel: 01756 795374 email: info@akapr.co.uk