Craig Smith Music

James' Places Wedding Venues

Craig is a regular at Eaves Hall and Mitton Hall, and is also available for wedding music at Shireburn Arms, Holmes Mill and Falcon Manor. The events team at James' Places book Craig for many of their biggest annual events, including Christmas Day at either Eaves Hall or Mitton Hall, Mothers Day at Shireburn Arms and their Holmes Mill Gin Festival. The wedding teams at James' Places venues recommend Craig to prospective couples as the number 1 recommendation for piano. A visit to Craig's Instagram will show you loads of places to position the pianos at these venues, as well as lots of decor inspiration too!

Pianist Eaves Hall Wedding Piano

A gorgeous exclusive-use country manor with expansive gardens, Eaves Hall is equipped with a grand piano in the entrance foyer, which Craig is often booked to play for guests' arrivals, drinks receptions and/or evening turnarounds. In addition to this piano, Craig also plays in the Ballroom and Dining Room for ceremonies and wedding breakfasts. Usually, couples ask for his white portable baby grand piano for these rooms, but gloss black is also an option. Craig's pianos can also be set up outside Eaves Hall, for example on the veranda, on the gravel forecourt, at the side of the hall by the bowling green, or by the swing tree for lawn ceremonies.

Eaves Hall is Craig's most regularly booked Ribble Valley wedding venue, alongside sister hotel Mitton Hall, and he's the team's number 1 recommendation if you're looking for a pianist. Catch him playing at various open evenings across the year.

Based on "usual" timings, Eaves Hall wedding prices range from £550, up to c.£950 for a whole day of music covering guests' arrivals until the end of the evening turnaround.

Pianist Mitton Hall Wedding Piano

Mitton Hall is a top class country hotel and restaurant with a modern function room with a beautiful orangery, from which you can head outside onto the terrace with views of the river below. Craig is available to play any part of the day, from the moment guests first arrive until they're called to the evening party. There is the option to book exclusive use of Mitton Hall, and a small baby grand piano in the great hallis suitable to use in this instance, but generally bookings at Mitton Hall are for ceremony (including music for guests' taking their seats), drinks reception and the wedding breakfast in the main function suite.

As well as one of Craig's favourite places to play, Mitton's restaurant is one of his favourite places to eat. He often provides the entertainment for Christmas dinner here - a fantastic afternoon! The decor of the function room probably lends itself best to the white portable baby grand piano, but again a gloss black version is available too, and either can be used outside on terrace.

Craig's Mitton Hall wedding prices usually range from £550 to £850, assuming all music is in the main function room and/or on the terrace.

Pianist The Shireburn Arms Wedding Piano

The Shireburn Arms is a smaller James' Places venue in Hurst Green, not far from Clitheroe or Longridge. As well as offering a brilliant country pub, the function spaces to the rear of the building are a fantastic setting for weddings with views over open countryside. Craig is available to play Shireburn Arms wedding piano for any part of your day. The layout of the function room , with its partition allows it to be turned around without guests having to leave, so it lends itself to the piano being set up at the start of the day with no need to move it from room to room. As such, Shireburn Arms is ideal for Craig's whole-day packages.

Craig's Shireburn Arms wedding prices start at £550 up to c.£900 for ceremony, drinks, meal and evening turnaround combined.

Pianist for Holmes Mill Wedding Piano

Holmes Mill is quite simply one of the coolest wedding venues there is! The industrial chic interior works for classic and super modern wedding decor and Craig can provide music to suit both styles, from classical to current chart hits. Why not add sax, or acoustic vocals?

The bistro is often used for drinks receptions, and with its own grand piano, a pianist is the perfect accompaniment to proceedings. In fact, Craig was offered the residency in the bistro when it opened, but, sadly, he was too busy to take on the commitment.

Pianist Mytton Fold Wedding Piano

Mytton Fold, a golf course and hotel complex not far from Whalley, is another wedding reception venue with its own baby grand piano.

Recently rennovated and under the new management of Patryk (who brought Craig with him from Eaves Hall as his teamn's recommended/resident pianist), this is now an absolute must-see venue!

The piano is situated in the larger suite, so Craig is almost always asked to play ceremonies and wedding breakfast entertainment. All styles are accommodated, from Debussy to Dr Dre! Don't forget Craig is also available with singers, saxophonists and more. Craig is able to provide a portable baby grand piano for use in the smaller suite for guests' arrivals, drinks receptions, evening receptions and ceremonies held in this space too.

Craig's Mytton Fold wedding prices start at £650 (£550 off-peak), and as his own wedding reception venue, it's always a special place for Craig to play!

Pianist Sparth House Wedding Piano

Sparth House is an elegant family-run hotel situated in Clayton-le-Moors, between Accrington and the Ribble Valley. The venue has undergone further rennovations in early 2023, with a new larger bar/lounge space, and boasts with some fantastic spaces in which to enjoy your wedding day, along with plentiful gardens. Craig is available to play any part of your Sparth House wedding, indoors or out. Craig can provide portable baby grand pianos in gloss black or white, perfect for your ceremony or wedding breakfast, or for arrivals, drinks receptions and evening turnarounds in the newly extended bar!

As a recommended supplier, you'll find Craig at many of Sparth House's open days, and you can ask Olivia or Katie for more details about Craig's music.

Craig's Sparth House wedding prices begin at £550 off-peak.

[Middle photo by Jules Fortune Photography]

Pianist Browsholme Hall & Tithe Barn Wedding Piano

Another of Craig's favourite venues to play wedding piano is Browsholme Hall Tithe Barn. Craig is available to play piano in the barn, or in the more modern bar area, and also outside. Couples often book a whole day package at Browsholme Hall, with two pianos: one set up in the barn and one in the bar. Portable baby grand pianos and full size grand pianos can both be supplied and really complement the antique feel to the barn itself, and the bar area tends to better suit a more modern-looking electric piano.

Craig's Browsholme Hall wedding prices usually range from at £550 to c.£950.

Pianist Hobbit Hill Wedding Piano

A new Ribble Valley wedding venue, and instantly a favourite on Craig's first vist, is Hobbit Hill. A modern barn style wedding venue, with spacious, bright rooms and breath taking views thanks to its glass frontage, a stone flagged terrace and the option to have your ceremony outside amongst the trees, Hobbit Hill truly is a must-see venue!

Craig is available to play any part of your Hobbit Hill daytime proceedings, including, guests' arrivals, ceremony, drinks and wedding breakfast, and all of his equipment is suitable for use outside too. His white portable baby grand piano is the perfect match for the blank canvass decor the venue offers. He's also go got a gloss black version if white isn't your thing - your photographer will get awesome reflection shots with this one given all that natural light!

Hobbit Hill wedding prices start at £550, with whole days of music from £800.

Pianist The Tithebarn at Bolton Abbey Wedding Piano

Another magnificent barn conversion, The Tithebarn is set in the beautiful historic grounds of Bolton Abbey, close to Skipton in West Yorkshire.

Craig's Bolton Abbey Tithe Barn wedding piano bookings usually begin with guests arriving at the venue through until either the end of the drinks reception (£650 peak; £550 off-peak) or until the end of the wedding breakfast (£850-950, depending on timings), and always include a portable baby grand piano in your choice of gloss black (most popular at The Tithebarn) or white.