Retreat East

Me and my partner had such a lovely time staying at the Retreat East. When we arrived, the staff were so helpful checking in us and providing us with a tour. The cabin was incredibly clean, with a cute welcome basket given too! It was beyond peaceful. The staff were also so friendly at breakfast and the food was delicious! We had a great time.

My sister and I were purchased a spa day for a thank you gift. The day started with a smoothie shot which was delicious. Followed by exclusive use of the outdoor hot tub and facilities. (Sauna, steam room, ice bucket & showers) We then got showered and ate lunch in the barn in our gowns. Lunch was amazing. We had the roast beef fried Capers, Cornichons, Crispy Onions and mustard dressing and a chicken club sandwich and fries. We were asked to fill out a questionnaire which would allow them to choose the correct products for us. We then had the most relaxing 60 min massage and 90 minute facial. They had thought of everything. The bed was heated, bolsters under your knees, weighted blanket on top of you. Eye mask to cover your eyes and the perfect relaxing music. We had Lucy & Andrea as our therapists and they were amazing. Talked us through everything before we went in and checked a couple of times if the pressure and heat was ok. The massage alone will have us travelling the hour journey back again. This really is such an amazing retreat and will we definitely be coming to try out one of their cabins. Perfect for a couple of friends/ family or a couple.

We booked a 2 night stay. Communication was good and on arrival the receptionist was extremely friendly and helpful. We stayed in a shepherds hut, which has everything you need in a compact package. The first night we at at the restaurant on site, they use locally sourced ingredients, both the food and service were excellent. Our package also included continental breakfast, again the service and quality were excellent.

My wife and I had heard so many positive things about Retreat East that we decided to have a long post valentine weekend stay, even though it was a mere 15 mins away. When we arrived we had a lovely lunch before checking in. The self catering lodge we stayed in was beautiful and spacious and the four poster bed was exceptionally comfortable. The lodge was more than warm enough, but we lit the log burner at night to add to the cosy ambience. On one day we went on a local hike. There is an abundance of well maintained footpaths, so plenty of options for a distance to suit your needs, and everywhere was so picturesesque. We also made good use of the spa, undergoing treatments and used the steam room, sauna and hot tub. The friendliness, thoroughness and helpfulness of the staff is one of my residing memories, whether that was at reception, or in the spa or restaurant. We shall return.

Another fantastic stay at Retreat East, the staff and service were second to none. We stayed in one of the elements barns which had a lovely outdoor bath, ideal for sitting out and watching the stars. We love Retreat East and wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to our friends and families. Keep up the good work. 5 stars from us.

We had high hopes for Retreat East as a venue for a significant family event, given our previous stays. However, our experience with their service has been nothing short of appalling. We arranged an in-person visit to discuss hosting our event and made a considerable effort to get there, bringing my partner and our newborn along. Retreat East isn’t exactly somewhere you just “pop in”—it involved time off work and a three-hour round trip for us. Upon arrival, we were told that the events manager, Caitlyn, wasn’t there—she had simply forgotten about the meeting. No apology, no explanation, no attempt to rectify the situation. Thinking this must be a one-off mistake, I followed up with Leyton, their commercial director, expecting at least some form of acknowledgment. Instead, I was completely ignored. No response, no accountability—just silence. Retreat East is undeniably a beautiful venue, and we’ve enjoyed staying there before. But while the accommodation might be 4-star, the service is firmly in the 1-star category. Their brand promises a premium experience, yet their actual service is completely misaligned with that image. No doubt they’ll respond to this review with a generic insincere “We’re sorry you feel this way” message, but if you look at other negative reviews—both here and elsewhere—you’ll notice a consistent theme: poor service, lack of accountability, and an unwillingness to improve. Unfortunately, our experience was just another example of that. Very disappointing, and I’d strongly caution anyone considering them for an event.