EVERY area has its institutions - places that have survived more or less unchanged for decades, and which lend a much-appreciated sense of continuity to a community.

The Olde Mill at Bardsea is one such place.

The coast road landmark is known by everyone in the area - and there will be very few people around these parts who have not been there.

Weddings, funerals, christenings, birthday parties, reunions, fundraisers... The Olde Mill has done them all - and continues to do so.

It may not be somewhere you can book a table and call in for a meal (although I believe some Sunday lunches can be booked by arrangement), but nevertheless, the Olde Mill provides food for paying customers - and thus merits this page's attention.

I recently had dealings with the establishment twice in one week: first, at a family get-together in the Olde Mill itself; and a few days later when they catered an afternoon tea party at my house.

The first event was a casual family supper with pie and peas. Not my own family, but one of which my husband and I are honorary members, to our great pleasure. This is a huge family, with relations scattered far and wide - and who include Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie, no less.

Around 50 of us pitched up for our pie and peas evening, plus disco. The bar and upper function room were taken over the for the duration, drinks flowed and the pie and peas were fantastic. The pies come from the Farm Shop in Baycliff, run by the Olde Mill's owners Helen and Martin, with their daughter Nicola. They're fantastic pies - and are sold at shops throughout the area, should you wish to sample one for yourself.

At the Olde Mill they were served with meaty gravy, great mushy peas, and all the extras you would expect - onions, red cabbage and beetroot. At £6.50 a head, it was great value.

The venue itself is smart and welcoming (very jazzy loo seats in the ladies, by the way), with plenty of seating in the comfortable bar for those who wish to get away from the music in the main function rooms.

Five days later, I was hosting a much smaller family do of my own at home. My husband's son was over from Malaysia with his family, along with his wife's Chinese godmother.

It was the perfect opportunity to introduce her to the delights of a proper English afternoon tea and, having neither the time nor the inclination to do it myself, I called on the Olde Mill to cater it for me.

Helen and Nicola delivered to my house easily the best afternoon tea I have seen in many a while, all served on pretty, vintage plates and glassware. My only input was to set the table and provide the pots of tea. For £12 a head (prices will vary, depending on requirements), we received a stunning selection of superb food. Cheesy mini quiche canapés, celery and walnut canapés, apple-topped pork pies, sausage rolls, fresh beef curls filled with horseradish sauce, egg sandwiches, smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches and top quality ham sandwiches, all beautifully presented and garnished. And all, as we were soon to discover, absolutely scrumptious.

The sweet elements were even more spectacular: fruit-topped fresh cream meringues, richly-filled chocolate profiteroles, lemon drizzle cake, possibly the best fruit scones you'll ever taste - with large bowls of clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam - and gorgeous little vanilla panna cottas served in shot glasses and topped with popcorn and salted caramel. Two bottles of prosecco were delivered as an extra, in an ice-filled silver bucket. This, of course, could all have been catered for at the Olde Mill itself - but their outside catering is a substantial part of the business (not surprisingly - it's so good); and, with two of my husband's granddaughters wanting the spend the afternoon playing with our dogs in the garden, having the tea catered at home was the obvious option. The days of private catering being the preserve of the wealthy are long gone - and many, many local food establishments are more than happy to provide a service such as the Olde Mill does.

This family-run business is doing a great job, and the service I received is indicative of a company which is more than happy to go out of the way to provide customer satisfaction. Both my recent experiences were top notch and superb value for money. It's great to see such a long-established business thriving like this. Long may it continue. Oh, and if you're wondering - sadly, no, Christine McVie wasn't at the pie and peas do. Her loss, frankly.

Food 5, Service 5, Atmosphere 4, Value 5.

Pros: Flexible menus, lovely gardens for photos, outside catering.

Cons: Groups only at the Olde Mill itself.