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Issue 22 - June to September 2008 Welcome to our first newsletter as owners of Otterton Mill. It's great to be running such a special and unique place. Thank you to all of our customers who have been so supportive in our initial weeks. We have lots happening over the summer, and hope to see you here very soon! |  |
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GALLERY EXHIBITIONS To end June BEACHED We're featuring a stunning exhibition inspired by the natural environment of the Devon coastlines. Kathy Woolner creates beautiful, serene abstract paintings representing surface patterns found on pebbles and rocks of the North Devon coast. Her partner, John Woolner, makes evocative large-scale ceramic pots on the same theme, plus groupings of flowing ceramic fish set on driftwood. Carol Ballenger produces beautiful contemporary digital photographic art that describes our coast in a fresh,imaginative way. As Devon Guild of Craftsmen member and Royal Photographic Society Fellow, Carol sees her work colours and textures found in rockpools and swirling patterns of waves as they rush around rocks and seaweed. And Chris Polding's intricately constructed wall hangings and mirrors are made from small pieces of driftwood found on Devon beaches. Sat 12 July - Sun 21 September WIRED This exciting exhibition will showcase work by local artists using metal or wire in a variety of media to dramatic effect. David Metcalf creates unusual oil-burning lamps ranging from single flame burners to impressive 12-flame chandaliers. David will also show his trademark sculptural owls made from woven galvanised wire. Emmy-gai Palmer uses hand-knitting and crocheting techniques learnt from successive family generations to create intricately woven copper wire mesh encased in blown crystal glass. Award winning Emmy has already exhibited widely and been selected for the New Designers 'One Year On' show. Owen Thomas has previously exhibited his fantastic sculptural solid fuel burning stoves at the Mill. Here's an opportunity to see more, plus his one-off pieces of furniture which often incorporate recycled metal objects. Nathan Watton, son of a Romany gypsy hawker, has combined his engineering skills and years working as a mechanic with his love of art and creativity to invent weird and wonderful scrap metal sculptures. Meet the artists (12:00-3:00pm) - Owen Thomas and Emmy-gai Palmer will be here on the opening day to discuss their work with customers. METAL WORK DEMONSTRATIONS Sat 26 July 12:00-4:00pm To coincide with "Wired", we're holding demonstration events on 26 July. Resident jewellers Steve Whitford and Ann Bruford will showcase techniques for metal patination, colouring and texturing in their studio while exhibiting artist Owen Thomas will demonstrate patination on larger-scale metalwork in the Mill meadow. Resident textile artist, Emma Paver, will exhibit and demonstrate her knitted wire accessories "collars, cuffs and corsages" - sculptural contemporary jewellery created on her knitting machine! ARTS TRAIL EVENTS - 'OLD AND NEW' Sat 13-Sun 21 Sept To tie in with the Arts Trails events run by the Devon Artist Network, we'll feature exciting work themed 'Old and New'. The 'New' showcases pieces by graduates from across the South West, plus new collections from residents jewellers Steve Whitford and Ann Bruford. The 'Old' is an exhibition of 50's, 60's and 70's clothing by Emma Paver in her studio. |
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RESTAURANT NEWS A Midsummer's Day Supper Tuesday 24 June £18.50 7:00pm Join us al fresco on Midsummer's Day for a fun evening of food and theatre! We'll start with a glass of fizz on the terrace, followed by a barbequed supper prepared in front of you by our chefs. The meal will feature the very best in locally sourced and seasonal produce. Following supper, you'll be entertained by an open-air one act comedy entitled 'New Age Matters', performed by Sidmouth AmDram Society and directed by Cec Hardy. The evening concludes with (what else!) Devon strawberries and clotted cream. For bookings, call 01395 568521 Wine Tasting Evening with Alastair Peebles - 'New vs Old World' Wednesday 2 July £25 6:30-8:30pm We're delighted to offer a master-class in wine tasting for beginners and connoisseurs alike. Your host will be Master of Wine Alastair Peebles. Join him to compare a selection of New World versus Old World wines and judge which taste the best. Wines from Chile, Australia and New Zealand will be pitted against wines from France, Spain and Italy. In all, 4 pairs will be compared, each pair sharing the same grape variety. The evening closes with a tasting competition to test the skills learned throughout the session. Our chefs will serve a tempting array of tapas-style dishes to accompany the tasting. Book now for the Mill's tasting evening by calling 01395 568521. We expect tickets to sell out fast! Alastair Peebles is a 40-year veteran of the wine trade. He was wine director of the traditional London wine merchants Berry Brothers and Rudd for 10 years. He has made programmes on wine for the BBC and now runs the Devon Wine School with his wife, Carol, in Cheriton Fitzpaine. For more information on the School's range of wine tastings, lunches and courses, go to www.devonwineschool.co.uk. A Celebration of Oysters on St David's Day Friday 25 July Free entry 11:00am-3:00pm In case you didn't know, St David is the patron saint of oysters and oyster fisheries! To mark St David's Day, we invite you to join us to sample this fine seafood delicacy. It goes without saying that our oysters will be sourced locally and prepared to the very highest standard. Our chefs will be serving up oysters accompanied by our own breads and delicious dressings during lunchtime in our Courtyard. Just turn up! |
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MILLING DATES We'll be milling our signature stoneground wholemeal flour on the following dates: Thursday 5th June, Tuesday 17th June, Thursday 26th June, Thursday 10th July, Thursday 17th July, Tuesday 5th August, Thursday 14th August, Tuesday 26th August, Friday 12th September and Tuesday 23rd September Usual milling times are 11:00-12.30pm and 2:00-3:00pm. Do come along and watch - it's poetry in motion! Our flour is available to purchase from our food shop, and is perfect for home bread baking. |
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OTHER NEWS Courses We're developing a range of courses and learning events to launch later in the year. These will focus on themes close to our heart at the Mill: the Arts, Food and the Environment. To whet your appetite, subjects will include drawing, painting, environmental art, bakery and cookery classes, wine and beer appreciation, wild food, bushcraft, and encounters with native wildlife and flora. As a starter, we're running a couple of summer events with local wildlife experts, to include a moth and bat watch. Details to follow. |
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Father's Day - Sunday 15 June 11:00am-3:00pm Wood-turner Steve Long will be demonstrating his skills in our Courtyard on Father's Day. Why not bring Dad along and treat him to a special lunch, or any of our specialty beers and wines from our Food Shop. Don't forget we also have an extensive range of gifts and cards in the Gallery. Kids' Cookery Classes - August If you're looking to inspire young budding cooks, sign them up for our summer cookery classes. Our expert chefs and bakers will hold a series of fun, hands-on workshops to cover Fairy Sponges, Bread and Pizza, Sweet Buns and Biscuits. Call 01395 568521. Food to Go and Event Catering If you love our food, don't forget you can order an enticing array of dishes to take away for home entertaining, or a lazy night in. Pick up our food-to-go menu from the restaurant or food shop, then place your order giving 3 days' notice. We also offer an off-site catering service, whether for corporate or private functions. Event meals can be delivered within a 15 mile radius, including Exeter. For enquiries, call Michelle on 01395 567041. Bakery and Shop News Look for a new season of cakes and breads in our shop, including a range of wheat-free cake recipes, frangipane, pizza slices every weekend, foccaccia and olive breads and many more. You can also buy our breads and cakes in a number of outlets in Exmouth, Sidmouth and Woodbury - check our website for details. In June, our Head Baker, Roy Hamilton, continues to share his vast experience with some lucky people in our bread and cake baking classes. Classes are now sold out, but further classes will run in the Autumn. To register your interest, call 01395 568521. |
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Bicton Collaboration We recently commissioned a team of Bicton College horticultural students and tutors to redesign and restock our 35 planters at the Mill. We asked for a planting scheme to complement the Mill's natural environment and historical context. We think they've done a great job! We'll be further strengthening the ties with Bicton shortly when we start sourcing lamb, beef and pork from the College farm. Country Ways Watch out for the Mill in the ITV programme, 'Country Ways'. Our Head Miller, Brian Hart, is to feature in an episode of the series which will celebrate rural life in the Otter Valley. The programme will air in late Summer. |
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