August 2021

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PEOPLE Launched in 2017, and voted one of the top five wellbeing festivals in the UK by the Guardian, The Big Retreat has a capacity of 3,000 for 2022 and will welcome headliners Reef and Toploader. Wild swimmer Laura Owen-Sanderson has come on board to help develop the brand. “Laura is now also our sustainability director as well as running wild swimming sessions at the Little Retreat, she also runs our own community interest company (CIC) We Swim Wild and I have just set up The Big Retreat CIC with her and Dale Barker (who curates some of the music at The Big Retreat)”. In recognition of their business prowess, Laura and Amber both won the top <strong>2021</strong> Welsh Women in Business award from media company Llais Cymru, supported by the Development Bank Wales – Laura in the nature category and Amber in tourism and hospitality. Amber now also works with Pablo Janczur and his team at Orchard Live, the company behind the events at Cardiff Castle, on the Big Retreat. Off the back of the festival, Lawrenny will play host to a four-day LGBTQ wellbeing festival later in the year. “It makes great sense as they take over the site and infrastructure after our event finishes, which cuts costs.” INVESTMENT AND GROWTH “We are going through a period of sustained investment and growth at the moment,” explains Amber. “The total investment in the business is around £800K – we have borrowed around a third of million, invested some ourselves and also received a grant from the Welsh Government Coastal Communities Fund to develop teaching spaces and fit out the kitchen and dining areas. The Welsh Government Coastal Communities Fund is funded by the Welsh Government and administered by The National Lottery Community Fund. “The expectation is that once the business has settled, our accommodation side should provide a strong return on investment. It is worth pointing out that the pressure of looking after people’s highest expectations can be quite mentally tasking so it’s not “WITH REGARD TO THE FESTIVAL, WE ARE RECOVERING FROM THE LOSS OF TWO YEARS’ TRADING DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE WELSH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF EVENTS SUCH AS OURS AND HAS HELPED US STAY ALIVE” all plain sailing! Also, the physical workload can be immense. There is a lot of very hard graft when you start out, so aches and pains are definitely part of the package! “With regard to the festival, we are recovering from the loss of two years’ trading due to the pandemic. The Welsh Government has been extremely supportive of events such as ours and has helped us stay alive. We were fortunate to receive money from the Cultural Recovery Fund and are looking forward to coming back stronger in 2022. We cannot wait to see our Big Retreat family again!” EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS Looking forward, Amber has plans to expand on corporate retreats. “The festival has opened a lot of doors for us. We have made lots of contact with local businesses for sponsorship etc. and had lots of exposure through social media, which has had a great knock on effect for the Little Retreat. We get enquiries three to four times a week from corporates wanting a place with a sustainability and wellness ethos to host influencers they are working with”. One current development will cement Lawrenny as a true destination venue. Amber is overseeing the conversion of an old potting shed by the walled garden into a restaurant offering a foraging and dining experience. “The foraging dining experience with Michelin trained chef Matt Powell from Fishing and Foraging Wales is opening in about four weeks and features a 10 course foraged meal. “Our plan is to continue to deliver on our foraging and feasting vision, to rebuild some of the glass houses and turn the gardeners' cottages into further accommodation and therapy rooms. We also want to create some inspirational outdoor teaching spaces and a walking ‘labyrinth’. “Laura and I are bringing out a book too – The Feel Good Guide to Pembrokeshire – combining wellbeing and the power of the great outdoors. Everything we do is about finding your feelgood!”. 14 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM
PEOPLE AN ABUNDANCE OF EXPERTISE With nearly 30 years’ experience in the industry, Amber is perfectly positioned to drive the retreat business. “I have an inherent understanding that wellbeing and nature are interconnected and this is a far cry from the more superficial fitness industry. We are lucky here in Wales to have some of the most beautiful spaces in the world and, as a nation, have decided that wellbeing is fundamental for us to be a thriving country. “Government policy and planning frameworks are very supportive of what we are doing and there is an abundance of expertise to be found, which we are continually learning from. Through social media we have created connections all round the world with others on this same frontier, which is pushing the industry in this direction”. Amber doesn’t fear competition. “Everyone who creates spaces and experiences here in Wales has something unique to offer and as a nation we are going out to the whole world saying Wales is very special in terms of wellbeing, discovery and experience. I don’t believe there is a limit to this market; my husband constantly (and boringly) keeps repeating that the best thing for a good restaurant is when another great one opens up next door!” DETAILS Lawrenny Pembrokeshire SA68 0PW www.littleretreats.co.uk www.thebigretreatfestival.com See us the Glamping Show - stand Stand OSA18 • Super hygienic LDPE interior lining for quick handovers. • Durable and classic Thermowood exterior complements the glamping setting. • Choice of Internal or External wood fired heaters. • Two sizes available 4 person / 8 person. Snowford Hill, Southam CV47 9QE t 01926 504067 e sales@glamptubs.com www.glamptubs.com WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 15
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August 2021

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