Born out of necessity
Made with passion
Having worked all my life, often away from home from Monday to Friday making airports & hotels my second home, I gave up work to care for my elderly father at home in 2018. I quickly realised that I needed an interest something mentally challenging and stimulating but one that didn’t require me to be away from home for more than an hour or so. I bought a Still! Over the next few months it quickly became a bit of an obsession, teaching myself the skills required to operate the distillery and produce a Gin that was improving all of the time. Using my previous knowledge in the food industry to not only gain knowledge but to understand why certain things had the effect they had and how to affect change in a controlled way. The hobby turned into a business and a real family affair building, marketing, website design and so much more.
FounderJane Howes
Black Mill
Black Mill is close to my heart. I am the fourth generation of my family to have lived in Walkington, since the very early days there have been family tales & anecdotes often featuring the Black Mill on Beverley Westwood. From Grandad talking of being away at war arriving back at Beverley train station then walking past Black Mill on the way to Walkington then you knew you were home to dad being so drunk in the 50s and cycling home from a night out in Beverley he would often “rest” at Black Mill to wake up there the next morning to continue his journey. Even today it plays an important part of my life walking my dogs and watching all the different activities the Westwood space offers the local community.