Blair Atholl Water Mill
The Blair Atholl Water Mill and Tearoom was
opened in 1977 although there has been a mill on the site since at
least 1590. It is located in the small village of Blair Atholl, in
the heart of Highland Perthshire. It is run by Kirsty and Rami
Cohen who took over the business in 2001 from Kirsty's
parents.
The mill is one of the few working water mills left in Scotland and
is open for visitors to view the oats and wheat being stone ground.
The mill produces oatmeal and flour which is sold in the tearoom as
well as local outlets. The wholemeal flour is also used in the
bakery to produce a wide range of breads, bagels, scones and cakes.
These are available to buy in the tearoom, at the Perth and
Logierait Farmers Markets and by special order. The traditional
tearoom attached to the mill offers light lunches made with local
produce and home baking from the mill bakery.
The Blair Atholl Water Mill and Tearoom has
been steadily growing each year but it was clear that the existing
bakery hampered the chance of future expansion of the business
especially as the bakery has shown the most potential for growth.
The ovens and other equipment were too small and therefore time
consuming for the volume of production required. This also meant
that there was no possibility of supplying more outlets which was
recognised as a further opportunity of expansion.
The project undertaken was the upgrading of the existing bakery
and its infrastructure such as including three phase electricity.
This then allowed for larger more professional equipment to be
bought which in turn meant the volume of baking which could be
produced increased greatly and a wider range of products could be
offered. The opportunity to supply more outlets as well as
producing more for the tearoom and the Farmers Markets has meant
more staff has been required.
Rami stated that:
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"Perth & Kinross Council provided
a Rural Enterprise Growth Grant and a Rural Business Premises
Support Grant which was very important in helping to fund this
project. Economic Development from Perth and Kinross were very
supportive with the grant application process and in offering
advice and guidance on business planning. |
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"The bakery had to be upgraded in order
for the business to thrive. If it had to be solely funded from the
business itself the whole process would have taken much longer with
a resulting loss of opportunities. We are also now looking to
develop our website to accommodate internet sales and to offer
bakery classes in the New Year. This has all been made possible by
the development of our bakery. |
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"The business support and advice provided
through the Business Advisory Team at Perth & Kinross Council
was invaluable particularly as this was the first time the business
had made such an application for financial
assistance." Rami Cohen, Blair Atholl
Watermill |
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Further details about the Blair Atholl Water
Mill can be found at http://www.blairathollwatermill.co.uk
