a new creativity retreat

2027 bookings now open: writing, drawing, open fires and transformative chats | plus! this week’s latest obsessions

Perhaps it’s a cooling thought, to imagine a hoar frost on neatly clipped yew and languid sunrises. Woodsmoke and the smell of freshly baked cakes, endless rounds of tea and gathering under blankets, sharing stories with strangers who will become friends.

This is what went down at the inaugural creativity retreat I hosted with artist and designer Lisa King a couple of years ago, and it’s what I’ve been thinking about over the past few weeks as we put the finishing touches to announcing our next collaboration at the utterly gorgeous Pye Corner House, taking place in January 2027.

Bookings will open publicly tomorrow, but I wanted to give savour members a chance to secure their place first - we sold out quickly last time we did this.

We’ve had kitchen table conversations that have led to book deals. We’ve had tiny drawing dance parties to Minnie Ripperton. We’ve broken through manuscript structures by the pool and while stomping around the countryside. We’ve laughed a lot. We’ve shared big things. The WhatsApp groups still ping from time to time with photos and recipes and words. I still think about a particular pasta our beloved chef El Kemp made. Someone described it as “the chicest hen do ever”, only there was no bride. You can read more about our previous summer solstice retreat in Conde Nast Traveller, courtesy of Emma Gannon.

Think you’re not good enough / writerly enough / artistic enough for a weekend in the company of other people doing wordy, painterly things? You are, you really are. Being there is enough.

Full details below: