25/05/2026
Why we do what we do 🤍
The reason behind the Lodge has evolved alongside us.
Initially, we simply wanted to create the kind of escape we desperately needed ourselves whilst living the corporate life in London - burnt out, stressed and barely coming up for air. I remember googling “weekend retreat 1 hour from London” late one night whilst working at a tech start-up and feeling desperate to get away.
I still remember first driving down the lane to the Lodge and physically feeling my shoulders drop. And it’s something we’ve always hoped our guests would feel arriving here too.
Because the truth is, we’re all carrying so much these days. Stress, grief, overstimulation, loss, loneliness...there's something incredibly healing about being in nature and spaces that allow you to slow down, breathe and reconnect with yourself again.
Over time, the Lodge has become more than just a break away. It's become about healing, support, connection and community. A place for both group and solo retreats, treatments, sauna sessions and likeminded people coming together.
Truthfully, if Ollie and I hadn’t both experienced grief ourselves, we probably wouldn’t even be here at all. Both our dads died when we were young. Ollie inherited the Lodge after losing his dad, and later I sold the home I grew up in (the house my dad built) to help fund this project.
A dear friend who helped shape the vision for the Lodge in the early days, and who even sketched out our logo, sadly later took his own life. So in many ways, all of these people are woven into this place and remain part of its story.
And just days ago we had the heartbreaking news that one of Ollie’s oldest friends sadly lost his battle with terminal cancer at just 42. Another stark reminder of how precious life really is 💔
So being finalists in the Muddy Stilettos Awards for ‘Best Wellness Break’ honestly means more than we can say. We would be so grateful for your vote via the link in our bio. Voting ends in 2 days. You just need to select 'Best Wellness Break' from the drop down and confirm in your email.
A huge thank you to our incredible practitioners for both helping us and making the Lodge what it is today ✨
